thegradstudent

So you’re an intelligent and successful college student who after several years of intense study still has passion for your field and the desire to pursue it further. We’re going to call that field something-in-the-humanities because I can’t pretend to be qualified to speak on law, medicine, biology, etc. How to decide whether, when, and where to apply to graduate school? Today’s entry deals with the first part of that question, how to decide whether you want to apply to grad school in the first place.

How can you know whether grad school is for you? The difficult truth is that you probably won’t ever be completely sure. In my program I can think of two or three students who never expressed any doubts about their chosen path, who clearly fit the grad student mold perfectly from day one, and who will waltz happily down that path to eventual employment as a professor without so much as a glance at other fields or opportunities. They are not the norm, however. It’s natural to be unsure about the decision to pursue grad school. It’s also natural to be utterly gung-ho about grad school during the application process and then doubt the decision later. But even if you can’t be 100% sure about your decision to apply to grad school, you can become reasonably sure that it is the right path by thoroughly assessing yourself and the field. For example, you should try to pin down your primary reason for attending grad school:

1. I need the degree for my dream job, which in the humanities probably means that you want to be a professor. In that case, spend some time figuring out why you want to be a professor. Is it so that you can teach students at a high level? Interact with a community of your intellectual peers? Be supportively pushed to publish articles and books? Be paid to travel and do research? Have a flexible work schedule with summers off? Figure out whether what draws you to teaching college could be found in other positions (i.e. would you be just as happy teaching gifted high school students, or earning enough money in industry that you could fund exciting travels yourself?). Talk to your professors about what exactly their job entails, what they love and hate about it, and how easy or difficult it was for them to land the position. While you’ll learn that it has its drawbacks and difficulties, I’ll be honest – being a professor is a really sweet gig. That’s why it’s so hard to attain, however, so you really need to want it; there will be many times when it needs to be the incredibly strong light at the end of a long and dark tunnel. If you think you could be just as happy teaching at a slightly lower level then I would suggest going for your MA first and deciding about the PhD later. Most private schools, for example, are much more likely to hire an MA than a PhD. That’s right, an advanced degree can actually hurt you on the job market because it makes you overqualified (which usually means they have to pay you more) and school heads suspect that the position in question will be a temporary one for you before you move on to a different job. If you know that you want to be a professor, however, go for that doctorate.

2. I love my field and I want to learn, read, write, and speak more about it. This is perhaps the best reason to go to grad school… as long as it isn’t your only reason. A passion for your field is essential for grad school, obviously – you are there first and foremost to learn more about your chosen field of study. If you enter with this mindset grad school will be one of the most amazing experiences of your life. You will learn an incredible amount and be surrounded by smart and stimulating people with your same interests. Just make sure that you understand the competitive and political side of graduate study and that you have considered the financial (especially for unfunded MAs) and temporal (remember a PhD takes 5-7 years) costs of the program. Also note the warning above about doctorates sometimes being detrimental on the job market. You don’t need to have a 10 year career plan mapped out before you apply to grad school, but do keep in mind where you might want to end up after you leave.

3. I’m used to being a student and I don’t know what else to do with myself. Believe me, I understand the feeling. And you may be right – you may be a perpetual scholar through and through and grad school may be the perfect place for you. But resist the urge to rush into something because you believe it’s your only option. At least consider taking a year (or, if you’re ahead of the game, a summer internship) to try another possible career. I took a year off and worked in education, and I know others who explored an entirely foreign field. Not only did I have the opportunity to teach non-college students and try out that career, I also learned how to function in the real world. It was an enjoyable and productive year but it convinced me that I definitely wanted to return to school, something I was unsure of during my senior year of undergrad. It was a win-win situation all around and I strongly recommend it.

4. My parents, friends, and professors think that I should. I also had professors encouraging me to attend grad school, and I myself have tried to propel some of my younger friends to apply. You should value this advice, especially from your professors. They are going to be the ones writing your recommendation letters and giving you guidance throughout the process; why would they make work for themselves and you if they thought you were a weak candidate? Ultimately, however, remember that grad school is your decision. Talk to as many informed and trusted people as you can, but then make the choice that you believe is best for you.

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