Should You Go to Grad School?

By Kelsey Alpaio, Senior Associate Editor

I got a text from my friend the other day that pretty much sums up what it feels like to be in your 20s. It said, “I can’t tell if I want to go to grad school or if I’m just bored.”

After sending the obligatory “lol mood,” I followed up with some hard-hitting questions as the good, journalistic friend that I am: What do you think you’d want to study? What’s wrong with your current career path? Would this actually help you get to where you want to go?

I went to grad school shortly after graduating from college — my master’s program started about a week after I graduated. So I tend to get a lot of questions about it from friends who are thinking about going themselves: Was it hard? Did I like it? Is it worth the effort and money?

My answer to all these questions is: Yes. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But the things I learned and the people I met made the experience 100% worth it. I use lessons from that time every day at my job, despite the fact that I’m not even in the field that I studied (entrepreneurship). I still reach out to the connections I made for their career advice and opinions. And I’ll never forget what it was like to help my classmate start her own business.

Sometimes I think about going back to get another degree. (Yes, I’m a nerd and I love school, okay?) Here’s the thing: It’s nice to dream about going to grad school, but actually going is a different story. You have to decide if it will be worth your time, energy, and money. Like, a lot of money. And the best way to figure that out is to take a beat and actually decide what it is you want out of your life and career. Sometimes grad school can help get you there. Sometimes it can’t.

Which is true for you?

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One major item in the “pro” column for going to grad school: It can help you quickly develop valuable connections with other professionals.

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Deciding Whether to Go to Grad School? Here Are 3 Tips.

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