Thinking about the future is part of the tradition of making a new year’s resolution. Now, more than ever, college graduates add pursuing an advanced degree to their list of professional goals. Because the current workforce is comprised of one of the most educated generations to date, graduate school offers a competitive edge for insuring professional success. Personally, an advanced degree adds to self-management and personal satisfaction, with the added benefit of creating a habit of lifelong learning.
There are many reasons people choose to pursue an advanced degree. Knowing that there is a link between future economic success and earning a graduate degree is a significant reason to go back to school. Opting for the graduate school career path, to increase your economic success, to develop your knowledge, skills and abilities, and to be competitive in a global market, may be one of the wisest investments you can make for a successful economic future.
As noted in the U. S. Census web site, there is documented evidence that makes a connection between achieving an advanced degree and increased earnings. The historical change in relative earnings by educational attainment may be explained by both the supply of labor and the demand for skilled workers. In the 1970s, the premiums paid to college graduates dropped because of an increase in their numbers, which kept the relative earnings range among the educational attainment levels rather narrow. Recently, however, technological changes favoring more skilled (and educated) workers have tended to increase earnings among working adults with higher educational attainment, while, simultaneously, the decline of labor unions and a decline in the minimum wage in constant dollars have contributed to a relative drop in the wages of less educated workers (census.gov). The value of pursuing an advanced degree directly corresponds to earning a decided edge in today’s competitive global workforce.
Realistically, is there ever a great time to carve out more time in your busy schedule to earn an advanced degree? If you stop and think about the fact that we have become a global economic system and competing in the marketplace means achieving the highest level of education that you can attain, then the choice for an advanced degree seems to be worth the initial sacrifice of time, money, and personal investment.
If you consider yourself a lifelong learner, you accomplish professional milestones to add value to your work, and you have developed keen time-management skills, it may be the perfect time to consider adding an advanced higher education degree to your resume. Here are several good reasons to attend graduate school in 2017.
Once you decide to enter the graduate school career path there are ways to push through the obvious graduate school life challenges. Time-management and financial planning are two essential ingredients for graduate school success. Research from scholarship.com provides tips that will give you an edge in surviving the rigors of graduate school:
Top ten tips for surviving graduate school
Planning early for your fall graduate school experience is essential to beginning your career with confidence. There are many web sites designed to make the process easy for you, including financial information like how to obtain a federal loan, and mining for scholarship money.
Deciding if and when to attend graduate school is a significant personal decision. Adding an advanced degree goal to your new year resolutions can be one of the most life-changing decisions you ever make. At West Virginia University, we are waiting and ready to help you enter the higher education environment with ease. Please visit WVU’s “Graduate School Decision Guide:” to get started pursuing your graduate school goals.