There is no doubt that a graduate degree can immensely benefit your career, or even be required for it. Before you begin the process of writing personal statements and taking your GRE’s, however, take a step back and ask yourself if this is the right step for you right now.

Statistics support the idea that graduate school will boost your salary and your chances of employment, but it’s important to look beyond these potential benefits to really figure out if graduate school is a worthwhile investment for your career. A graduate degree takes a lot of time, energy, and money! Depending on the degree you are seeking, graduate school can take from two to seven years.

When you decide to go to grad school, you are basically committing your 20’s to it (the entire decade where your friends are making money and buying homes.) Are you okay with that? If you have a clear goal in mind, this sacrifice will likely be worth it to you. But it’s a good idea to ask yourself why you want to go to graduate school and how this degree will help you before making a commitment. Use the resources on this page to help you make that decision!