Is graduate school the next step for you?  Use this resource to ask yourself why you should go to graduate school.

Hear from Clare Maus, Master of Public Policy, Hayley Wight, Criminal Justice  PhD, and Jackson McLaren, Media & Communication PhD, about what motivated them to attend graduate school.

Motivation

The first step in considering graduate school is to begin thinking about why you want to go.  Below, you will see some questions to help you figure out your motivation for graduate school.  Ask yourself:

• What factors are motivating me to go to graduate school?
• What topics am I passionate to learn more about?
• What kind of graduate programs do I want to pursue?
• What do I want to do after I finish my graduate degree?

Program Type

Graduate education delivers specialized knowledge in a concentrated area.  Before pursuing graduate school, it is valuable to think about which type of program is right for you.  Consider the following options:

• Master’s degrees offer specialized training in a field of study that includes both applied and theoretical topics.  Some programs provide preparation for a specific profession.
• 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 you for professional certification or licensing.
• Doctoral degrees usually require original research for an academic program or practical application of knowledge and skills in a professional program.