With the second semester underway, the topic of graduate school is growing more popular among seniors who are finishing up their final months at Cabrini. They question whether it is the next step they need before branching out in the work field.
“Deciding when to go to graduate school truly depends on the individual,” Kareem Calliste, assistant director of the center for career and professional development, said. “Some students experience burnout and decide to take a year off to work, while others prefer to pursue graduate school immediately after receiving their bachelor’s degree.”
In the fall of 2015, The Council of Graduate Schools surveyed more than two million graduate school applicants and found that there were over 850,000 acceptances and that approximately 480,000 of the applicants enrolled as first-time graduate students.
Before deciding on whether to continue their education, students need to research and take into consideration how many degrees are needed for their job field.
“I plan to get my Master’s degree after I graduate,” Maureen Sullivan, an elementary and secondary education major, said. “[so] I am better fit for a job after grad school.”
On some job requirements, applicants may see, “Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s preferred.” When this occurs, students with master’s degrees may have a better chance of receiving an interview than the other.
Students need to start considering if they want to proceed with the graduate school process their second semester of their junior year.
“You may be thinking, ‘junior year?’ Well, yes. Many graduate school applications are due in December; therefore, the earlier you begin thinking about it, the sooner you can begin the process of preparing for graduate school exams,” Calliste said.
The Center for Career and Professional Development assists students who are interested in attending graduate school, but don’t know how to begin the process.
“I went to the career center and they gave me websites like Peterson.com and resources that really helped me out,” Krista Hoffman, a psychology major, said.
The Career Center offers books, periodicals and online resources to assistant students with the process. The staff members working there are also available to help if students have questions about applying.
Financial struggles might be holding some students back from furthering their education.
“I’m taking a semester off to save money because I want to save as much as I can before,” Hoffman said. “Different majors have an easier time finding a job, but for me and psychology, I need to specialize in afield.”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2.8 percent of Master degree holders were unemployed in 2014.
“Unfortunately, finding a job is not easy. Going to graduate school does not make it easier; however, it can lead to more job opportunities,” Calliste said.
