DIVERSITYinEd.com — 50 — Spring Issue 2020
by Deborah Vieyra
Should You Go to Grad School
Right A er Undergrad?
I
f graduate school is calling you, but you're not
sure if the timing is right, know that you're not
alone. Decisions like these are the hardest to
make because there is no one path to go on, no one
example to follow and no way of knowing for sure if
one route is better than the other.
Ultimately, there are merits in both avenues. Go-
ing to graduate school for a Master's or Doctorate
straight after your undergrad is beneficial because
you can capitalize on the momentum you've gained
from the preceding years. Of course, this route
also means that you will get to that grad school
commencement that much sooner, if that's a factor
that's important to you.
On the other hand, taking some time between your
undergraduate and graduate degrees will provide you
with the opportunity to explore the job market, ma-
ture as a person and consolidate your research ideas.
While we can't tell you categorically that either
one of these options is the correct route, we can
offer you some food for thought that will help you
answer this important question for yourself.
Consider your career objectives.
Are you looking to become a professional academic,
or would you prefer to carve out a career beyond ac-
ademia? If you can answer this for yourself, some of
the pieces of the question of whether to go to grad
school may fall into place immediately.
If you're looking to embark on an academic career
as a professor or researcher, going straight into grad-
uate school may be advantageous. You'll have the
opportunity to get teaching and research experience,
as well as form connections that will help you down
the line. In this instance, it may help to get those
letters behind your name sooner rather than later.
If, on the other hand, you are looking at another
career path or are not certain if academia is right
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Photo Credit: Vanderbilt University
