Graduate School

Step 2: Identify and Research Graduate or Professional Programs
Step 3: Take Admissions Tests and Complete Applications
Step 4: Choose the Best Program for You
Step 5: Find Ways to Fund Your Future Education

Step 1: Decide if Graduate School is Right for You

Graduate school is expensive. Entered with a lot of forethought and planning, it’s a significant investment in your future. Entered hastily, it can be an expensive mistake. Even the testing and application process can be pricey, so the more forethought you can give your decision, the better off you will be. Below are some questions you should ask yourself before making the decision to pursue an advanced degree.

• Have you spent some time really thinking about YOUR vision for your future?
• Are your career goals well defined?
• Are you sure that attending a particular program is the correct path to that particular career?
• Have you done some “hands-on” work in your field of choice that has exposed you to the realities of the field?
• Do you have enough experience to make a graduate degree helpful to obtaining placement after graduate school?
• Will having an advanced degree be necessary to pursue your career in the future?
• Have you achieved academically at St. Lawrence, and are you academically prepared for the greater rigor of graduate study?
• Are you excited about the prospect of being a student for several more years?
• Can you and your family manage the expense of a graduate education including the years of income you will lose?

If you can’t honestly answer YES to all of the above, you may want to think again about choosing graduate or professional degree right now. Don’t be completely discouraged. Perhaps waiting a few years (to gain experience or clarify your goals) is all you need. If you’re struggling with any of these questions, please stop by or call Career Services and Leadership Education and make an appointment with a career advisor to talk through your decision.