Graduate School

Why go? If you are...

• Interested in more in-depth study in a particular field.

• Interested in maximizing earnings potential.

• Have a question you would like answered through in-depth research.

• Need qualifications for a particular field.

• Want to learn more and expand your mind.

Why not go? If you are...

• Clueless about what to study.

• Not internally motivated.

• Avoiding the job market.

• Stakes are higher with graduate programs.

• A typical full-time graduate course load is 9 hours (3 classes).

• Quality, thinking, and integrating the information are more important than the quantity of courses.

• No more C's; only acceptable grade is an A or B in graduate school.

• Graduate advisor is there to facilitate your intellectual knowledge, not logistics of your graduation.

• More seminar and discussion courses in graduate school.

• Professors don't pressure you if you don't do the work in graduate school.

• A Master's is usually achieved in 1-2 years. A Ph.D. is usually achieved in 4+ years.

• More funding is given to Ph.D. candidates in school.

• There are many funding opportunities for Master's candidates in sciences (as opposed to humanities/social science).

• A Ph.D. is a lifetime commitment, while some people pursue a Master's out of personal interest.

• It's easier to get into a Master's program than it is a Ph.D. program.