Why Go To Graduate School? - 2003

David H. Snyder, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.

Professor of Biology (retired 2002)

A Personal Decision:

The answer depends on your goals, your values, and your situation.

Think about it. Talk about it.

THE TOP TEN REASONS TO GO TO GRADUATE SCHOOL:

10. IF YOU DON’T, YOU’LL HAVE TO GET A REAL JOB.

9. ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY SAY YOU SHOULD.

8. YOU ADMIRE ERUDITION IN OTHERS, AND, BEING VAIN, THINK A LITTLE MORE OF IT WOULD LOOK GOOD ON YOU.

7. IF YOU DON’T, YOU WILL BE OUT OF THE SOCIAL AND PARTY LOOP ON CAMPUS.

6. YOU JUST LIKE TAKING CLASSES AND WRITING PAPERS.

5. IF YOU GET A REAL JOB NOW, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT–PERHAPS TOO DIFFICULT–TO COME BACK TO SCHOOL LATER.

4. YOU’RE NOT SURE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE, AND STAYING IN SCHOOL WILL GIVE YOU MORE TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT.

3. AN ADVANCED DEGREE WILL HELP YOU GET WHERE YOU WANT TO GO IN LIFE.

2. YOU ENJOY THE INTELLECTUAL ATMOSPHERE OF COLLEGE, AND THE DISCUSSIONS AND EXPLORATIONS OF THE WORLD AND OF YOURSELF THAT YOU CAN HAVE WITH OTHER STUDENTS AND WITH FACULTY.

1. AN ADVANCED DEGREE WILL TRANSLATE INTO MORE MONEY.RANK ORDER IS PERSONAL.

A TOP TEN REASONS NOT TO GO TO GRADUATE SCHOOL LIST IS ALSO POSSIBLE.

BUT THAT’S NOT MY JOB.