Is Grad School Right For You?

U.S. News & World Report Asks: Is A Post-Graduate Degree Worth The Time And Expense?

(U.S. News & World Report)  So, you're thinking about going to graduate school. Or you've at least entertained the notion long enough to be reading this book. So far so good.

But are you sure you want to go? Seriously. Graduate study is not for everyone. Sure, most master's programs can be relatively painless, one-year affairs, and business school is over in 20 months. Don't be fooled, though. Grad school is competitive, time-consuming, and, most of all, expensive. In short, a grad program is not a good place to go if you're just not sure what else you should do with yourself. Choosing the wrong program can swallow up huge chunks of your life. And remember, you don't necessarily have to go. To run a successful business, to name just one example, you don't need an M.B.A.

Ideas. If you've made it this far, though, this book can help. It will give you a better grasp of what kinds of schools are out there, along with tips on how to find a job afterward. You'll also get a taste of what grad student life is like — how the blogosphere, for example, is providing new ways for students to test out their ideas.

Most important, though, this book will help you decide whether grad school is right for you. If you want to practice law, you will need a degree. If you want to do high-level, technical research, same. Want to be a physician? Please, for all our sakes, go to med school.

No doubt, once you've made it through, you'll be happy you did. You'll make more money, for one thing. Your academic horizons will expand, too, as you become a certifiable expert in your subject. Oh, and that little abbreviation after your name will make you feel important.

Plus — bonus — in some fields, in particular, the future for those with graduate degrees looks undeniably bright. If you love math or science, there has never been a better time to be a teacher. If you're an engineer with a talent for bio- or nanotechnology, you were born at the right time. And as baby boomers retire, doctors and nurses will be in ever higher demand.

All well and good for the happy few in today's chosen professions. Are you one of them? Should you be? Read on to find out more.

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