Should I Go to Grad School? Here Are 5 Bad Reasons

We've all thought it: "Should I Go to Grad School?" But that doesn't mean that a graduate degree is right for all of us.

There are many things to consider when deciding whether or not to pursue a secondary degree. For some of you, there are many reasons to go to grad school; but if any of the following five things are true for you, then you may want to think about pursuing an alternate path.

1. Maybe grad school is not necessary to advance in your career

Pursuing a graduate degree can be an expensive and time-consuming endeavor, so it’s important to do your research to determine if it’s actually a necessary step for achieving your career goals.

Start your research with some good old fashioned networking! Schedule a few informational interviews with working professionals or representatives from graduate programs in your field of interest, or attend an Idealist Grad School Fair to gather more context about programs that interest you. Speaking with others will help you determine if continuing education is required to get where you want to go, and at what point in your career you should consider enrolling.

If your contacts tell you that a degree may not be necessary, ask them what steps they took to advance in their own careers. There are plenty of alternatives to enrolling in a graduate program, such as professional development workshops, individual college classes, or certification courses; you may want to consider one of these options instead.

2. You can change career without another degree

If you're interested in transitioning to a new role or field, you may not need a graduate degree to make that happen. Something like a continuing education course may offer you an opportunity to explore without taking on the cost, effort, and time commitment of a graduate program.

To dip your toe before diving into a career change, consider volunteering or interning at an organization you might like to work for. This can give you insight on whether the job would be a good fit without committing too much, too soon.

3. You're able to explore new interests outside of school

While grad school can be wonderful for discovering your passion and opening doors to new opportunities, it’s possible to learn about a given topic without enrolling in a graduate program. Depending on your particular learning style, consider:

• Volunteering with a mission-driven organization, such as the American Red Cross if you’re interested in public health and safety.
• Taking a continuing education class at your local community college. 
• Joining a membership organization that allows you to learn more about a topic through group discussions, lectures, and training programs.

If after exploring one or more of these avenues you find that you are still wanting more, then a graduate degree may be a good option.

4. You just don’t like your current job

Unfortunately, it’s not entirely uncommon to feel unhappy or unsatisfied at work, and while a drastic change may sound like the perfect solution, attending grad school isn’t a decision to be taken lightly.

Unless you were already considering a graduate degree or feel that you’ve reached a point where continuing education is necessary, graduate school may be a bit of an extreme way to improve your job satisfaction. There are other ways to transition to a new career.

5. You don’t know what to do with your life 

Despite its many benefits, graduate school is not a recommended means to gaining personal or professional clarity, as it probably won’t help you identify and define your personal and professional goals (if you didn’t already have a few in mind to begin with). Besides, there are other ways to figure all of that out. Consider these suggestions instead:

• Research jobs or organizations on Idealist to get a better sense of what opportunities are out there and which ones interest you. Create a targeted employer list to help you put your desired organizations together and track networking opportunities for each.
• Network with peers or mentors in potential fields of interest, and utilize online networking tools to do informational interviews.
• Find free professional development and advancement resources, such as Idealist’s Designing Your Dream Career email course, to help you prepare for next steps.
• As mentioned above, find an intern or volunteer opportunity that allows you to “test drive” a variety of professional experiences and roles.
• Participate in a service program like Americorps or the Peace Corps (which may eventually set you on the path toward continuing education).

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We've all thought about whether or not we should go to grad school. A good litmus test for the clarity of your vision may be your personal essay; if you are having a difficult time articulating your reasons for applying to a graduate program, you probably won’t be able to convince an admissions committee—which may mean you’re not quite ready for that next step.

If you’ve gone through this post and are still eager to move forward in your graduate school journey, that’s great! To find the right program and get all of your grad school-related questions answered, join us for the next Idealist Grad School Fair in New York City!