Benefits of Going to Grad School

Graduating from undergraduate college is a very exciting event. You have your whole life ahead of you and the possibilities are endless. However, in our current economy, it can be difficult to find a job with only a Bachelors degree. Many jobs want you to have years of experience and since the job market is doing poorly, many over-qualified people are applying for the jobs typically filled by recent graduates. Specifically in the field of science, it may be necessary to get a higher degree to attain the job you desire. Here are some factors to consider when thinking about attending graduate school.

Cost

Many graduate programs will actually pay you to go to school. Yes, that means no additional debt! Although this is not the case for everyone. In the case of the programs that will pay you, tuition is waved, but you may have to pay fees for the term you're enrolled in. These fees usually amount to a few hundred dollars and are paid out of the stipend given to you by the school. So while you're enrolled, tuition is waved, you're given a stipend to live off of, and you'll receive medical insurance (in most cases). This is a pretty sweet deal considering that once you're done with the program, you'll be worth much more as an employee than before. However, don't think it's going to be a piece of cake. Graduate school is work! You'll have to find an advisor who has funding to take you on as a student and if they don't you'll have to work as a teaching assistant to pay for it if positions are available. Generally, you'll be paid as a research assistant and you'll work as a teaching assistant for a few terms while pursuing your masters or doctorate degree.

Time

Most masters degrees take 2-3 years to complete, while doctorate degrees typically take about 5 years. To some people, this may be a huge chunk out of your life spent in school. You should consider this while making your decision, but also think about how much it'll be worth it once you've completed your degree program.

Travel

Sometimes you'll be traveling as a graduate student, which can be quite exciting. Science grad students sometimes fly to other countries to collect samples or conduct research and you can apply for travel grants which will make the trip relatively inexpensive. Besides this, consider the fact that you can choose where you go to school. So if you don't like the state when you did your undergrad, choose a state that interests you more and apply to schools there! However, you're going to want to ultimately choose your top schools based on the work you'll be doing and the skills you'll attain.

Friends

Bonding with other grad students can be a great experience and will allow you to form long-lasting relationships with people who will be entering the same field of work. This can be great for your career as a whole and it can make it easier on you if you're moving to a new place. It can be scary moving somewhere where you know no one, but in grad school, there will likely be plenty of other students in the same boat as you. Just arrive with an open mind and a friendly attitude and making friends should be a breeze.

So there you have it, things to consider when thinking about attending grad school from funding to social life. Make sure you are honest with yourself about every element that goes into it and be prepared to work very hard. The people that you meet while in grad school whether it be professors or students could influence your career later on, so make sure you want to be there!