This evening at my dorm we had a discussion from some grad students–one of whom I’m actually friends with–about going to grad school and what it could potentially mean for us. We had there a student from the engineering department, a higher education and ecology studies major (my friend Renata) and an artist who also teaches art classes in the undergraduate school. All were current grad students, and all gave us a candid and honest look at grad school without trying to gloss over the bad parts or say we had to go to grad school.
All in all, it was very informative.
However, it left me a question: should I go to grad school? I’m still a sophomore, and I’ll stay that way for a little while longer, so I don’t exactly have to worry about it any time soon, let alone paying for it or what I’ll do once I get there. But what if I did? I’d probably pursue a Masters in Fine Arts because, for the same reasons I’m majoring in English and in History, I want to improve my writing and storytelling skills. I might already have a novel or two out at that point, so that might help me a little bit.
But is it right for me? Can it make me a better writer or at least give me more job security? I have no idea. At the very least, when graduation is a little closer, I’d definitely have to look a little closer at the possibility of going to grad school. And luckily, my school has a course on publishing that’s taken by both graduate and undergraduate students, so that’d be a good preview of what I might be doing in grad school if I were to go (I’ll have to talk to my advisor about that one when I meet with her in spring to arrange my fall semester classes).
So now I turn it over to you. Have you ever been to or are you in grad school?
What school?
What was your experience?
Did you find it beneficial in the end?
Please let me know. I’m curious, and as much weight as the opinion of three grad students carries, I’d like to hear from more people with experience in this.
Rami Ungar The Writer 
I did not go to graduate school. I studied Psychology and Buddhist studies in college, and really should have gone to grad school to make money in my field. It is hard to get a psychology job without it. I did end up working for a great Buddhist therapeutic organization called Windhorse Associates in Massachusetts with that education.
I went on to study massage therapy and herbalism, and now I try to integrate all with writing.
I sometimes consider going to graduate school…but I’m still not sure and I’m almost 30 🙂
well, at 30 you’re still young, and with the way medicine’s going, you’ll be younger. i wouldn’t worry too hard, but i’d also seriously think about whether or not you really feel it’s what you want for yourself.
of course, i’m still an undergraduate, so i’m not sure if i should be giving advice on grad school.
Haha yeah, it’s super good that you are seriously considering it at this moment though. I think I always just assumed I’d go when I was in college, and then got wrapped up in traveling and stuff, and now I don’t feel as inclined. The job market changed too, and my attachment to money in general and to the field..it is nice to get some life experience in the field as well so that you don’t end up spending $30,000 on something that it turns out you don’t quite like after all, ya know? You will figure out the best thing for you, for sure 🙂
that’s the hope.
Great post Rami! Like I said, grad school is a big choice to make and I think for those who might be considering it, it is sometimes more an issue of WHEN and not IF they should go. You thankfully, still have plenty of time to think about it!
Thank God for that!