When to Go Back for a Degree, and When Not To

One of the most common questions among those who are new to the workforce is whether or not they should consider going back to school. Attending grad school can certainly be a great way to take your career to the next level, but to say that it is the right decision for everyone would be a gross misstep. Rather, grad school is only necessary in certain situations, and should never be viewed as an absolute necessity for everyone. By determining whether or not grad school is right for you, you can make an educated decision that will serve you well in the end.

Here are just a few things to think about when considering grad school.

Have You Reached a Ceiling?

Depending upon how long you’ve actually been in the workforce, you may feel as if you’ve hit a ceiling and cannot progress any further in your job. This happens to people in all industries, but is particularly common in the medical industry. If you have dreams of working as a doctor, you can only do so by attending grad school. Caribbean medical schools are perfect for those who wish to obtain a doctorate while still getting the most out of their 20s, as there’s nothing better than kicking back to study on a warm beach. The same can be said for those who wish to move up in the field of law, as becoming a lawyer requires a very specific type of education.

Do You Even Need a Better Degree?

There’s another side of the spectrum that many people choose to ignore for one reason or another. While grad school is a necessity for those who find themselves working in certain industries, it simply is not a requisite for many people. If you find yourself working your way up the ranks at a marketing or PR company, for example, there’s a strong chance that’d be better off sticking with your job than pursuing another education. Your higher-ups likely know that you have what it takes to get the job done, and sometimes the experience you learn on the job can be even more valuable than what you’d learn in a classroom.

Which Is More Valuable: Experience or Education?

People who have begun sewing themselves into a company may want to stay away from graduate school and focus on experience or internal growth at their company. This is a good question to ponder before you know what you should do. Some people can accomplish a lot more in a year or two at work than they can in a classroom. Stay at work to gain responsibility and experience could be the right move.

Your Employer Won’t Contribute To The Cause

Some companies encourage higher education and some just think it is a nice benefit. Some employers encourage it and will chip in to get you a degree, after all bettering their own employees will motivate them to remain with the company after what the company did for the individual. However, some employers may only chip in a little bit or no money for your degree. Add the full cost of tuition on top of increased workload and less free time and grad school might become impossible for some people, especially if they are a bit later in life and have children to raise.

If you have all the time and money in the world, then you would of course benefit from going back to get your masters. In situations where having the degree is not a necessity, however, it’s sometimes best to take an alternative route. In the end, the decision you make should be based upon your own personal circumstances.