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What To Consider Before Attending Graduate School

If you’re considering a graduate degree, don’t skip these all-important first steps.

In the past 20 years, the number of people in the U.S. with graduate degrees has doubled. Which shouldn’t come as a surprise. The benefits of earning your graduate degree are clear: increased earning potential, professional advancement and, the ability to better control your career direction.

Deciding on the ‘what,’ ‘where,’ when’ and even ‘if’ of graduate school can be daunting. It takes a significant investment of time, effort and, potentially, your hard earned finances. So, before you take the plunge, here are three things you should consider first.

Outcomes

Why do you want to earn your graduate degree?

This is a good first question because it sets the stage for everything that comes after. A graduate degree is a great way to set yourself apart from the competition and for that reason, and for many people, for that reason, it can be an excellent career tool.

But for others, the joy of learning, of exploring a subject deeply and engaging in the acquisition of high-level knowledge for its own sake is worth the investment. 

Ask yourself: What are my goals and will a graduate degree get me closer to reaching them? Does advancement in my field require an advanced degree and, if not, will I benefit from investing in a graduate education?  Or is the experience in and of itself worthwhile?

In most cases a graduate degree will increase your earning potential, offer prime opportunities to advance or change your career and give you a substantial return on your investment. But, it’s not a universal truth.

There’s no wrong answer to this question. Whatever works for you individually is the right way to go. Now is the time to identify both your motivations and expected outcomes. Doing so upfront can make a world of difference down the road.

Affordability

Graduate school can be expensive. Looking at it from a return on investment perspective, a high upfront cost may be more than worth it based on future earning potential. But, again, that’s not always true.

It’s a great idea, then, to do your own research and investigate financial opportunities available through the school you’re considering. Some colleges offer things like assistantships to help with the cost.

Also, along with the up-front costs—tuition and books, for example—be sure to consider the less obvious expenses like student technology fees and transportation. A graduate degree can have a great future pay-off, but in the short-term, you want to be sure you’re able to cover the costs.

Experience

For most areas of graduate study, you have a lot of schools to choose from. Everything else being equal, then, the deciding factor about where to pursue your degree may come down to the educational experience as a whole.

Finding a program that fits in with your work and life responsibilities is key. Location and questions about online learning versus traditional coursework are important to figure out before you apply. One often overlooked consideration is how much individual attention from faculty and staff is available to you as a student. While graduate work requires quite a bit of self-discipline and self-direction, the ability to engage with the faculty outside of the classroom is a huge benefit as you learn, grow and take the next step in your career.

A graduate degree can give you an edge as you pursue the life you want. Finding the right program can make all the difference. Keep these three things in mind as your next step toward fulfilling your goals.

If you’re interested in learning more about the individual attention and transformational support you’ll experience through Ashland University’s nationally-recognized graduate programs, click the link below.