If you are thinking about going to graduate school, the first question you should ask yourself is why. If, for example, you want to be a university professor, graduate school is a must. If you are deeply interested in a subject and have the time and financial resources to devote to studying it in depth, that is another good reason to get an advanced degree.

What are your motivations for attending graduate school? Be honest with yourself. Do not go to graduate school out of fear of having no other options. Choose graduate school because you are working toward a goal, not looking for "an easy way out." Going to graduate school without a career plan is a risky undertaking. It may not provide the clear direction you seek, and you risk coming out of graduate school with a specialized degree that could pigeonhole your career.

Graduate school will probably turn out to be a satisfying and valuable experience if:

	You have a clear sense of the career you want to pursue, and if an advanced degree is the ticket to entry into that field. College and university teaching and research require education beyond the baccalaureate level.
	You want to immerse yourself in the study of a particular academic discipline purely for the love of it. Under these circumstances, you would probably really enjoy life as a full-time graduate student, which is quite different from your experience as an undergraduate.

Think twice if you're considering grad school solely for one of the following reasons: You haven't decided what kind of career you want to pursue and regard the campus as a sheltered place to "find yourself." This view is common and acceptable for undergraduates, but it is a problem at the postgraduate level, where students are expected to have clearly defined interests leading to an area of specialization. Graduate school is quite different from undergraduate. Especially in Ph.D. programs, grad school is much more than a series of classes; it operates on more of an apprenticeship model. While you'll take classes during the first couple of years, your later years will emphasize research (and you probably won't take any classes). Most of what you learn will come from other activities, such as research and attending conferences. You'll work closely with a faculty member on his or her research. As an apprentice of sorts, you'll learn how to define research problems, design and carry out research projects to test your hypotheses, and disseminate your results. The purpose of grad school is to master your discipline through independent reading and study, and to become an independent scholar and design your own research program.

Approach grad school as a full-time job; it's not "school" in the undergraduate sense. Most grad programs require that you take initiative for your learning and demonstrate commitment to your career. You must provide your own motivation. Don't pursue graduate school for any of the following reasons:

	You're getting pressure from your friends, parents or professors. Your interests and motivation for attending graduate school are what's really important, not everyone else's opinions or family expectations or "traditions."
	You're doing it simply to postpone the inevitable job search, or think you will automatically command a higher salary. If you go after a second degree under the mistaken impression that, "if one degree is good, two must be better," you might be in for a surprise. Depending on the degree you earn, you might actually earn less money than with a bachelor's degree. Remember, no degree, including a graduate degree, is a guarantee of a job. Additionally, the cost of graduate school (and opportunity cost of not earning money during your graduate years), may outweigh the increase in salary.
	You think there's nothing you can do "with a major in..." Regardless of your major, keep in mind that your undergraduate education has equipped you with many skills that are highly valued in the workplace, such as research and analysis, critical thinking, and communications.

There are myths about graduate school that keep many students from ever seriously considering and exploring it. They include:

Myth: Graduate school is just like undergraduate school, only harder.
Fact: You do study a lot in graduate school, but you are studying areas that interest you. You are also on a much less tight schedule. If you are a full-time student, you will most likely enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow graduate students.

Myth: I can't afford to go to graduate school.
Fact: There are many ways to pay for graduate school for engineering. There are fellowships, scholarships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships for potential graduate students. There will probably be financial support for you to attend full-time. Taking out loans to get a master's degree is a good investment in your future.

Myth: If I earn a master's or doctoral degree and don't go into academia, I will be overqualified and unable to find a job.
Fact: The US is outsourcing many jobs that do not require higher education. However, some large engineering companies are hiring more than half of their new employees with a graduate degree. There are fewer students with graduate degrees vying for those positions than the number of engineers with bachelor's degrees vying for the other half of the new positions.

Myth: I don't need an advanced degree if I go into industry.
Fact: In general, there is a difference between the industry jobs done by a person with a bachelor's degree and a master's degree. Hopefully, you will be able to do an internship in industry while you are an undergraduate and will be able to see this for yourself. With a graduate degree, you will typically have more interesting assignments, earn a higher salary, rise to project management positions more quickly, and be more likely to represent your company in presentations.

Myth: I am not a "brain." I couldn't possibly go on to graduate school.
Fact: Some students have low-self confidence, but if you have a 3.0 GPA, you should be able to do graduate work. At the same time, if your GPA is not this high but you have worked throughout your college career or have at least a 3.0 during your last two years or in your major, you should also be able to earn a graduate degree. For some students with lower GPAs, working in industry after graduation is a good choice. While working, the student can take a few courses to better prepare for graduate work.

Do you have the skills and motivation needed for graduate school? Here is a list of skills that contribute to success in graduate studies in engineering and science. These are some of the same skills that contribute to success as a practicing engineer. Note that many of them are "soft skills" that complement your technical skills. In deciding whether to pursue an advanced degree, carefully consider questions such as:

	What do I want to accomplish in my lifetime?
	What are my long-term and short-range professional goals?
	Is graduate school necessary for me to achieve these goals?
	Do I have the interest and ability to succeed in a graduate program?
	By going to graduate school, am I simply delaying my career planning and decision-making?
	By not going to graduate school, am I missing an opportunity to expand the possibilities and rewards of my career?
	Will the amount of time and money spent on a program ultimately translate into greater career mobility and financial possibilities? The master's degree recipient often commands a higher yearly rate of pay. A $3,000-$4,000 differential is common, while in some technical disciplines $6,000-$8,000 is not uncommon.
	Am I reluctant to leave my college friends behind and enter the "real world?" This is a common concern all new college graduates faced with the prospect of leaving the "known" of the college campus for the "unknown" of a job and adult responsibilities.
	Am I willing to meet the extensive research, course work and major paper demands of another academic program?
	Would continuing education alternatives, such as University Extension, vocational school and community college courses, or professional seminar and workshops, be equally effective in achieving my goals?

To help answer these questions, become familiar with the job outlook for the fields you hope to enter. One way to do this is to seek advice from people currently working in the field. Ask people at companies you'd like to join, and inquire about how many degrees and program options are currently being offered, and which ones are important to those who make hiring decisions. Talk to faculty, prospective employers, and students currently pursuing programs in which you are interested, in order to hear their perspectives on the advantages of immediate vs. delayed entry into graduate school.

Another great thing to do to help you understand whether you might enjoy graduate school is to seek out and participate in research and internship opportunities during your undergraduate studies. There are various opportunities, for example: working on your own campus or at a National Laboratory; obtaining an Industrial Summer Internship; and participating in a co-op program. Talk to faculty in your department about your interest in pursuing research; ask about independent study projects, assisting graduate students in research programs, or doing an undergraduate thesis. Investigate the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.

Go to the Career Development office and inquire about Co-op programs. Participating in a research activity or gaining work experience will help you:

	Attain a higher level of competence in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology
	Understand the methods and process of research
	Make informed judgments about technical matters

If you desire an advanced degree now, then it's time to begin exploring the many graduate school programs that are available to you. And if you decide to wait, graduate school will always be there, ready when you are. However, it will be more difficult if you choose to go later. It is very difficult to give up the salary of a full-time job to go full-time to graduate school and still support a house, a family, and other obligations.

After studying the pros and cons of going to graduate school, a studnet now completing her master's degree said, "To go for a master's degree after completing a bachelor's degree is a no-brainer: it is a win-win situation. The big decision and commitment is for the doctoral degree."

Some students know before they complete their bachelor's degree that they want a Ph.D., so they go straight for their doctorate without being in a master's program first. Other students prefer to make their decisions one step at a time, and use the master's degree program to help decide if they will go on to the Ph.D.