Making the Decision

Graduate School 101

Graduate education involves obtaining specialized knowledge in a concentrated or specific area of study, with two basic types of degrees: academic and professional. An academic degree involves research and scholarship in a particular discipline. A professional degree provides training to acquire skills and knowledge needed for a particular profession (e.g., law, medicine, business).

There are three basic degree levels: master's, specialist, and doctoral. Master's degrees are offered in almost every field of study, although some universities only offer doctoral programs in certain fields. Specialist degrees are usually completed in addition to a master’s program and often require additional training or internship experience; this type of degree prepares an individual for certification or licensing requirements necessary for some professions. Doctoral studies usually require the pursuit of original research for an academic program or the practical application of knowledge and skills in professional programs.

Individuals who have received a bachelor's degree but have not been accepted to graduate school are classified as post-baccalaureate. You may want to consider this option if you:

  • want to take more classes but are not seeking a graduate degree. This includes those individuals who have changed their professional goals, want to expand their educational background, and/or may need certain courses to complete certification or licensure requirements.
  • intend to enter a graduate degree-seeking program but need a substantial number of prerequisite courses.

Is Graduate School for Me?

Before applying to graduate school, give careful consideration to your goals. Become familiar with the working conditions, employment prospects, and other requirements of the field you plan to pursue. It may be that graduate study is not necessary in this phase of your career planning. If it is needed for the pursuit of some profession (e.g., law, medicine), take time to investigate what the profession is really like.

Consult with faculty to estimate your readiness for graduate work and to evaluate the programs that best fit your goals. As Whittier College alumni, you should still be able to contact faculty departmental representatives at Whittier College to get some basic guidance about graduate programs (should you not have any other current relationships with faculty). A significant commitment of time, money, and energy is involved in graduate study, so it is important to investigate your options thoroughly.

Consider these important questions:

  • Is graduate study necessary for me to accomplish my goals?
  • Why am I planning to attend graduate school? What do I hope to attain?
  • What skills and abilities do I have that have prepared me to be successful in graduate school?
  • Am I choosing graduate school because I feel I have no other options or am feeling pressure from others?
  • Am I choosing graduate school to delay the decision as to what kind of career or job I want?
  • Am I willing to invest the time, money, and effort to undertake a program that requires prolonged concentration in an academic setting?
  • Do I know where to get advice and help in planning my career and future goals?

The most frequently given reasons for dropping out of graduate school are length of time required, poor preparation, dislike of concentrated work, expense, academic burnout, and realization that "I was not cut out for academic life." You can avoid problems later by honestly facing the questions above before you pursue graduate education. Consult with career counselors, pre-professional advisors, or faculty and staff already working in those disciplines to help you evaluate potential programs.