Grad School: When Should You Take the Next Step?

I always thought that I would come out of my undergraduate years in college and immediately enter the professional world. As a communications major, it never crossed my mind to consider graduate school.

Even when I started my undergraduate career, the only thought I had about in regards to graduate school was the possibility of being paid by an employer to get a higher degree later in my professional career. I had heard that some companies were willing to help their employees advance their careers through further education, but again, I was mainly focused on graduating with a four-year degree first!

This is a common mindset among communication majors. When asked about graduate school, oftentimes, individuals do not see a need to jump into a further degree in our field right away.
However, as the job market becomes increasingly competitive, it may be time for students to change their thinking.

Universities are beginning to see the change in job market as well, and many schools are starting to offer accelerated programs for students to earn their master’s degree is less time or even during and after their undergraduate careers.

The positive side to starting an upper level degree as soon as possible is that students still have the academic momentum from their undergraduate work to put towards this new opportunity. Oftentimes, waiting until you have been out of college for a while can make it harder for you to get back into the rigorous environment of continuing education.

Also, you will never know where your life will go in a few years. It can be difficult to return to college once you have a family and other commitments. By starting a master’s degree earlier rather than later, you will be able to plan ahead and know your limits better than trying to predict things well in advance. Of course, nothing is set in stone, but it is much better to plan ahead for the next few years than for many years in the future.

What are your thoughts on starting graduate school sooner rather than later? Tell us in the comments below!

Mapping Your Next Steps

As summer comes to an end, many of us are thinking about what the next step in our professional lives should be. Some may be preparing for another semester at school, others may be preparing to graduate and enter the real world or are looking to take on a different job than the one they have now. Each of these phases can be scary, but are much easier to process and manage with a little planning ahead. Whether you are looking for your next internship, first job or are looking to switch jobs, here are some tips to get you started:

Remember your goals: Your long and short term goals should always be guiding factors when making new decisions. Make a list of short and long term professional goals that you would like to accomplish in the following weeks, months, and years. Nothing is too big or too small. A short term goal could be as simple as starting a blog or updating your portfolio, and a long term goal could be to get published or go to work for a large firm. 

Plan to take risks: Don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zones when planning for your future. This may mean planning to take an internship in a different city that you're unfamiliar with, or relocating for a new job. You never know where opportunity can take you.

Get inspired: Sometimes it can be hard for us to think outside of the box. Sit and talk with friends and other professionals to see what some of their future plans and goals are. You never know when someone else's vision will inspire your own.

Don't get stuck: Life may cause us to take detours and veer off of our mapped out plan, and that's ok. All that matters is that we do not allow ourselves to get "stuck" in any place. If you aren't settled doing what you love, you should be planning a way to get there! You should be just as passionate about your professional life as you are your personal life.

Have you set future professional goals? Share them with us!