Get into Graduate School A Strategic Approach

9780743240956

0743240952

Chapter 1: Assessing your Goals You've probably heard the good news: A person with a master's degree can earn around $500,000 more over their lifetime than a person with a bachelor's degree, and earnings increase by about $1,000,000 for each additional degree, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Maybe that's one reason there are more people than ever in the United States applying to grad school. But while the rewards of advanced study can be greater fulfillment and a higher salary, the competition of getting into a good graduate school is fierce. There are many people out there thinking about going to graduate school. Meanwhile, the variety of graduate programs offered by graduate institutions is also growing. And the cost of education continues to rise.That's why, now more than ever, deciding to go to grad school means you have to realistically assess what graduate school will do for you, and exactly what program will suit you best.WHY SHOULD YOU GO?If graduate school is so much like work, and if the degree doesn't guarantee you the career of your dreams, why did over a million people enter U.S. graduate programs last year? Despite the difficulties, there are still compelling reasons to get a graduate degree.A Career in AcademiaTo teach at two-year colleges, you'll need at least a master's degree; to teach and do research at four-year colleges, universities, and graduate programs, you'll need a doctorate.Professional LicensingSocial workers, psychologists, therapists, and others who directly treat or counsel clients will almost certainly need graduate education to meet national and state licensing requirements. The proper licensing and credentials are essential not only for employment reasons, but also for insurance reimbursement. There are many insurance carriers that authorize payment only to practitioners who meet certain educational and licensing standards.Career ChangeMany people make the decision to return to graduate school after working in "the real world" for a while. Their interests and abilities have developed over the years and may have nothing at all to do with their undergraduate education. A graduate degree is necessary training for the new field.The Switch from Practitioner to AdministratorAfter working in the trenches for a while, and developing a strong sense of how an organization, school, clinic, or department could be better run, you may be interested in moving up to the management level of your field. This may also require some graduate education.Career and/or Salary AdvancementThe upper levels of your field may be closed to people with only a bachelor's degree, no matter how talented or industrious you are.Because the Job Market is LousyA slow economy is a popular reason for going directly from undergraduate to graduate school. The reasoning is: Since I'm not going to get a job anyway, I might as well go to grad school now. Maybe I can ride out the job scarcity and even come out more employable than when I went in.Because You Love ItThere are plenty of people who choose graduate school because they simply love the field or because graduate school provides welcome intellectual stimulation.Making Your Investment Pay OffShould you go to graduate school? The simple fact that you are reading this book indicates that you have already given this question some thought and are considering pursuing either a master's or a doctorate. But it's a question worth considering in some detail. First, even a master's degree is a significant investment of time, money, and work. Most master's programs take two academic years to complete; at a private institution, the cost can run over $30,000 a year in tuition alone. A doctorate generally takes a minimum of four years, and while true financial aid is more available at the doctoral than at the maste