CMU Career Guide Central Michigan University Career Guide | Page 38

graduate school
To go or not to go? That is the question.
Consider going to graduate school if...
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You discover that many of the positions you are interested in recommend further education.
You want to develop experience in a particular subject or field to maximize your future earning potential and
opportunities for career advancement.
You have been awarded grants, fellowships, scholarships, or assistantships that will help pay for your education.

Don’t go to graduate school if...
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You are solely trying to delay your entry into the “real world” with bills and added responsibilities.
You are unsure about your future career goals and would like to get some real-world experience before investing
thousands of more dollars in a graduate program.
The graduate school prefers some work experience before admission.
You cannot afford to go to graduate school now and you haven’t applied for any scholarships or assistantships.

If you decide not to go right away but may want to eventually...
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Identify your true strengths, interests, and values to discover the best program for you.
Talk to faculty, friends, and family who have gone to graduate school and get perspectives about the differences
between undergraduate and graduate education.
Prepare to sign up for required admissions tests.
Research graduate schools to help find a good match and apply to schools of interest.
Investigate the admissions process and the current student body profile of your targeted schools to evaluate your
probability for admissions.

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