If you are looking for a strong return on investment from your career, now is an ideal time to be thinking about pursuing an advanced STEM education. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that jobs in the STEM fields will be some of the fastest growing and most profitable careers across all industries — with more than 1 million jobs being added in the 2020s. 

We took the liberty of exploring several STEM master's degrees that we think are worth pursuing in the next few years.

Did you know that the average person will change careers 5-7 times over the course of their professional career?

Why do people change careers so often? 

There are various reasons why people change careers: from wanting a more lucrative salary to looking for a more fulfilling job. But especially since the global pandemic, the professional landscape has evolved, and people have shifted their career focus and have sought out more flexible and fulfilling options. 

The pandemic put things (both...

If you’re considering applying to graduate school, a crucial step in that process might be taking the Graduate Record Examination, or the GRE. 

But, the system isn’t perfect. Some schools are transitioning away...

For many graduate students, securing a graduate assistantship is critically important to their grad school experience and longterm career trajectories. The real-world, practical professional experience that a graduate assistantship position offers is invaluable to students interested in pursuing a teaching-focused or research-driven career.

We spoke to one graduate assistant — Shelby Bradford —

*WVU Photo/Brian Persinger

Leading research institutions, like West Virginia University, are among a select list of universities pioneering research forward at high frequencies on some of the world’s most pressing concerns, such as neuroscience, Alzheimer’s disease, the opioid crisis, and so many more challenges.

Distinguished institutions that excel in research are granted the prestigious R1 classification by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Higher Education. 

West Virginia...

Professional athletic careers are incredibly competitive, and only the most lucky are fortunate enough to pursue a meaningful, extended career in sports. But ​​even for those lucky enough to play professional sports, it is often a short-lived career — due to injury, aging, or even the desire to pursue a less physically demanding career. 

What are athletes supposed to do when they can no longer make a living on the field? 

Let’s explore some careers for former athletes who want

Looking for a new job? You’re not alone.

Since the start of the pandemic, Americans have voluntarily left their jobs at a higher rate than usual — many in search of new careers that offer better work-life balance, higher pay, and more flexibility — in what experts are calling “The Great Resignation”.

Bottom line: people are looking for more satisfying careers they actually enjoy. 

But with so many people on the hunt for new, more fulfilling careers, the bar is higher than ever when it comes to...

There are a lot of moving parts that come with applying to graduate school, and with those moving parts comes the possibility of making mistakes, but as you tackle the graduate school admissions process, remember that you're not alone!

Here at West Virginia University, we're prepared and excited to help you in whatever way we can. And that's why we took the time to list out a few mistakes and faux pas that you should definitely avoid when applying to graduate school.

We've talked before about the value of a graduate assistantship, and we're here to give you one more real-life story about one graduate student who participated in a grad assistantship as a way of gaining professional experience and off-setting the cost of graduate school.

Here's what Amelia, a teaching graduate assistant at West Virginia University, had to say about her experience.