[M. K. THOMPSON] Should you go to graduate school?

Students who have both the opportunity and the financial resources (or financial aid) to attend a college or university for a bachelor`s degree often do so. However, the decision to stay in school and pursue an advanced degree can be more difficult.

When deciding whether or not to attend graduate school, there are a number of factors to consider. First, you should determine what you would like to pursue as a career. The purpose of graduate school is to increase your depth of knowledge and expertise in your current (or in a closely related) field. It offers little or no opportunity to take exploratory classes and investigate areas outside of your field. As a result, it is poorly suited for students who are unsure of their future path.



Next, you should ask and determine if you need a graduate degree for that career. For example, many research and faculty positions require a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent). Your application will not be considered without one. In 48 out of 50 states in the United States, individuals who wish to become certified public accountants must complete 150 hours of course work -- usually by obtaining a master`s degree. But engineering has no such requirement. You can become a professional engineer with just a bachelor`s degree. Academic and professional qualifications vary widely by field.

If you are unsure of what degree(s) you need, you will have to do more research on your chosen career. Colleges and universities often provide some type of career counseling and have many resources available for undergraduate students. You can also find career information on the internet or at the library. It can be very helpful to discuss your career plans with a professor, your undergraduate academic adviser or another mentor. Finally, you can often arrange to speak with professionals in the field you are interested in pursuing. Many colleges, universities and professional societies offer programs to help connect students with alumni or established professionals.

Then, you must decide if you want a graduate degree. Graduate school may be a good fit for you if you have an unbridled joy of learning and wish to take more advanced classes in your field. Or, you may want a graduate degree if you have unyielding curiosity and want to do research.

Graduate programs offer more opportunity to do interdisciplinary work than undergraduate programs. The Graduate School of Culture and Technology at KAIST and the MIT Media Lab are both good examples of interdisciplinary programs that bring science and engineering together with the humanities and social sciences. If you are interested in research at the boundaries of several fields, graduate school may provide the best opportunity for you to do so.

But graduate school will be very different from the undergraduate experience. Graduate courses are more difficult. They move faster, cover more material and include more detail than undergraduate courses. They also require more independent study. For example, many graduate course instructors will assign homework but will not collect or grade it. Students are expected to master the material covered in the homework assignments without additional external motivation from the professor.

In addition, many master`s and doctoral degree programs organize their students into research labs directed by a faculty member who serves as the student`s advisor. Much of the students` education (and sometimes social activities) are based in the research lab. Affiliations with your class year are much weaker. Some students find it difficult to make friends outside of the lab when attending a new school. In addition, there are fewer general requirements, so your research and education will be strongly dependent on your research adviser.

Graduate school can be great fun, but it is a different kind of fun than your undergraduate years were.

Finally, you must decide if the costs associated with attending graduate school are worth the benefits that you will reap from the experience. A typical master`s degree requires one or two years to complete. A typical doctoral degree takes four to five years to complete, although they can take as little as two years and as many as 10. During this time, you will work long hours, suffer many failed experiments and experience many frustrations. Your salary may be small or non-existent. And tuition, if not supported by your adviser or department, can be very high.

A graduate degree may result in a better job, greater income, more flexibility, and more control over your future. After completing a graduate degree, you will be a stronger, more capable, and more professional individual. You will have more knowledge and experience than many of your counterparts. But graduate school is not for everyone. Ultimately, the decision is up to you.