Career Advice - Is Grad School Right for Me?

How Do You Know When You're Ready to Go?

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

I've been working in marketing for two years and I am considering going to grad school to advance my career. I'm just not sure if it's the right decision, financially or career-wise. Everyone gives me different answers when I ask them if I should go--my dad would love to see me get a Master's degree, my boss thinks that I should stay at the company and work my way up the old-fashioned way and my boyfriend says I should do whatever makes me happy.

When do I know when it's the right time to go?

Sincerely,

Going for Grad

Dear Going for Grad,

There is no blanket rule for when and where to go to grad school. Your boss, your dad and your boyfriend have very good points, and only you can decide which one actually applies to you, and how you can get where you want to get in your career and personal life.

However, there are good reasons not to go:

* Don't go to grad school because you don't know what else to do, and the application is easy to fill out. Those online masters degree programs look tempting, I know. Grad school should not be a procrastination technique. It's too expensive and time consuming, and you may still not know what to do when you get out of grad school.

* Don't go to grad school to avoid working in the real world. Deal with your problems head on. Even grad school ends and if you don't deal with your fear of work, you'll still have the problem and you'll be older.

* Don't go to grad school if you're pregnant and going to deliver in three months. Does the term, "Too much on your plate," have any meaning in English to you?? You'll stress yourself out. You'll stress your baby out. You'll stress your husband out. And that's just the list for starters.

* Don't go to grad school because you're fulfilling someone else's dream. Too many people do what their parents want them to do or their spouses want them to do, only to build resentment that comes out later in a harsh burst. If you're avoiding conflict by going to grad school, do yourself, and your relationships, a favor and gather the courage to be honest. With yourself and others.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

© 2004-2009 AskApril.com, LLC. All rights reserved. AskApril®, AskApril.com®, and Ask April® are registered trademarks owned by Masini Enterprises, Inc. This material can only be republished and redistributed if it is kept in it's original form, including, but not limited to, all AskApril branding, banners, links, books, and credits.