Should You Attend

Graduation is looming on the horizon. So, what's next?

For many, graduation means finally stepping into the "real" world, earning a weekly paycheck, perhaps even making major purchases. If you're investigating this page though, chances are you're considering the prospective of going to a graduate program in your chosen field of research. On this page specifically, we will try to address the primary reasons for entering into a graduate program as well as the type of students most graduate schools will target. We will also summarize the major pathways that most students will pursue upon earning a graduate degree. Lastly, we will provide a brief list of pros and cons of going to graduate school.

Goals of A Graduate Program
Most Graduate programs have a specifically noted Mission Statement clearly stated on their web page. For example, the University of Tulsa Graduate School has adopted the overall Mission Statement of the University of Tulsa which reads,

"The University of Tulsa is a private, independent, doctoral-degree-granting institution whose mission reflects these core values: excellence in scholarship, dedication to free inquiry, integrity of character, and commitment to humanity."

When considering a graduate program, the mission statement is a very good place to begin. More than likely, a university's mission statement will include the primary goals and focus of that particular institution. If your goals align, it may be a good place for you.

Furthermore, a primary goal of graduate school is, of course, to further one's education and qualification for further opportunities in a chosen career field. Once again, then, those particular programs that are specifically noted on the webpage might be considered to be the most well-known or even best-qualified even in a school with many various departments.

Other helpful resources would be third-party collections such as the Princeton Review and U.S. News and World Report, both of which conduct annual surveys of the various programs and student life at undergraduate and graduate programs nationwide.

Target Students for Graduate Programs
Generally speaking, most students qualifed for graduate programs are high achieving undergraduate students who complete a bachelor degree and desire to further their education and knowledge of a particular subject as well as further their prospects in the field of their choice.

Most directly speaking, any student graduating with a pre-professional degree or focus, such as pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-law, etc. will of course be seeking out a graduate program. Just as common, though are Masters and Ph.D. programs in departments such as English, Engineering, History and more.

On their Masters of Science in Administration description page, Lincoln University describes the type of student they seek as:

"To be considered for admission to the Master of Science in Administration Finance and/or Human Resources Management concentrations, a matriculating student must hold a bachelor’s degree, in any discipline, from an accredited four-year undergraduate college or university and have a previous record of academic and professional accomplishments that clearly demonstrate the ability to complete a graduate degree. Successful admission is determined on the basis of a careful evaluation of the applicant’s letters of recommendation, statement of professional goals, undergraduate/graduate transcripts, grade point average (GPA) and a personal interview."

Additionally, TU's website gives an overview of the goals of their typical graduate student:

"The reasons graduate students select TU are often the very reasons they decided to pursue graduate studies in the first place. Our graduate students want to...
 * Be exposed to some of the best minds in their chosen field.
 * Learn as much as they can in that field.
 * Advance in their careers."

The continuation of any degree in a graduate program most often depends on its usefulness in the actual workplace. For some industries, a graduate degree means nothing more than just a more specialized knowledge of a specific subject, while others, like doctors and professors, it is mandatory. Therefore, when considering graduate programs, it is important to evaluate the necessity and benefit of a graduate degree to your chosen profession.

Where Will I Go With My Degree?
As is to be expected, some professions required a specialized graduate degree for any sort of practice. These of course include M.D.s, J.D.s, D.D.S.s, and more. Additionally, most accredited universities require their professors (those of tenured status at the least) to have Masters Degrees or above.

Not as well known, though, are some careers that are requiring Masters Degrees or higher just for regular employment in their field. This should be more and more expected as the culture continues to push college educations.

The Top Ten Fastest Growing Careers Requiring a Graduate Degree are as follows:

1. Medical Scientists (except epidemiologists)

2. Physician Assistants

3. Biochemists and biophysicists

4. Veteranarians

5. Physical Therapists

6. Anthropologists and Archaeologists

7. Environmental Scientists and Specialists

8. Prosthodotists (specialists in dentistry)

9. Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

10. Geographers

On the same note, students desiring to be at a higher pay rate in their chosen profession will often decide to pursue a graduate degree.

The Top Ten Highest Paying Jobs Requiring a Graduate Degree are:

1. Physicians

2. Dentists

3. Professors

4. Lawyers

5. Optometrists

6. Judges

7. Physicists/Astronomers

8. Financial Managers

9. Chiropractors

10. Chemists

Some, though not, all of these programs can be found through the graduate program at the University of Tulsa. It is important to take into consideration the type and distinction of the particular program you will be working through as well as the credibility of the program as a whole.

The location and resources at the University of Tulsa make it quite benefiical for certain programs such as art, engineering and business. This is important to consider when selecting an institution.

Postives and Negatives of Graduate School
Pros
 * More common likelihood of higher paygrade. You just earn more.
 * Open up more opportunities and promotions in your career. You can even change careers.
 * Continue and enhance your education and knowledge.
 * Receive more recognition for research, both within your community and internationally.
 * More opportunities in general: travel, teaching, research.
 * Access to advanced projects, equipment and tools.
 * Free tuition or incentives from employers.
 * To stand out as an employee and a person in general.
 * Because you have an interest in the topic and you enjoy continuing knowledge.
 * Gives you the chance to work with specific professors who are top in their field.
 * Just because you want to!

Cons
 * High competition and stress.
 * Makes it more difficult mentally to ever leave school and enter the workforce.
 * Must be able to set priorities
 * Puts strain on relationships.
 * Hard. Must write a thesis in addition to coursework and research.
 * Takes time. 2-7 years of your life at minimum.
 * Just another standardized test to take.
 * Extra cost. Can be very expensive. Can cause extra debt.
 * Requires a strong support system.
 * No guarantee of higher salary or promotions so the return on your investment into graduate school can be very slow.
 * Limitied opportunities. Especially in undesirable locations.
 * Makes you too qualified for positions. Especially during economic stagnation.