Questions to Ask Yourself:
 
When thinking about continuing your education, it is important that you examine not only the school or program you are interested in attending but also yourself. The following questions are designed to help you reflect on who you are and exactly what you want out of life. Sit down with pen and paper and write out your responses to these questions. Then review your thoughts in a few days to see if you really feel this way about yourself and the possibility of graduate school.

• What is it that I want to do with my life?
• What are my immediate and long-range career goals?
• Is graduate school necessary to reach these career goals?
• Can I afford to enter graduate school immediately?
• How important is a master’s degree to me personally?
• Do I have the abilities to be successful in a graduate school?
• Am I prepared to take on such a long-term commitment?
• What are the pros and cons of waiting a year or two to enter graduate school in exchange for work experience?

The Decision:
At this point, you may have decided to head straight for graduate school immediately after graduation, or to wait a few years before starting an advanced career. Either way, they can both be good decisions depending on your personality and circumstances. Many people work for several years before entering graduate school and use that time to earn extra money and gain valuable experience in the career that interests them before investing in additional schooling. Keep in mind that if it is a Master of Business (MBA) you are considering, some schools require that applicants have a few years of work experience before even considering them for their programs.