“I want to pursue a graduate program and advance my career.” It is a great thought. However, the desire to achieve this goal and the path required to reach it are often very challenging. An overly complicated application process, choosing the right school, job prospects after finishing, and even convincing spouses to join the adventure are some of the factors that can play a decisive role when making the final decision to move forward or to decline.
Choosing a school sounds simple, but with more than 20,000 universities around the world and nearly 2,000 in the United States, the abundance of options, each with unique program characteristics, makes this decision very difficult. In psychology, this is called choice overload, and research shows that when the number of possibilities exceeds natural cognitive resources, the act of choosing can become a source of unhappiness. You can probably picture a friend who struggled to decide which school or program suited them best and eventually abandoned all options. Likewise, every school has the freedom to choose candidates who best fit its prospective goals, and aligning yourself with those goals in your application requires a great deal of research into the nature of those institutions.
When it comes to the application process itself, the amount of preparation needed before submitting an application is completely overwhelming. Letters of recommendation, transcripts, testing requirements, language prerequisites, multiple application forms, and even housing options for the coming years are constant concerns. One wishes that all documents could be stored in a common database from which every university could retrieve what it needs, instead of requiring everything individually. The applicant must also be familiar with the application process and with the intricate knowledge of academia and institutional structures (internal culture and hidden curricula). This information is rarely written anywhere, and must be learned through experience or through someone else’s guidance.
Then there are the job prospects. It is difficult to decide between gaining work experience and pursuing an academic path. There is a perception that academia removes you from the labor market and encloses you in a golden box of books. Once you graduate, some companies may overlook your application because of your limited years of practical experience. Since the financial aspect is always challenging, many conclude that the cost of studying is not worth the uncertain prospect of a better salary or the ability to support a family.
Now, if you are married, convincing your spouse to join the adventure is decisive. If you move, your spouse and family move with you, and that opens an entire universe of considerations. Will your spouse be able to build a career as well? What about children? There seems to be a large gap in the way family considerations are integrated into academic program structures. Spousal work opportunities, school options for children, affordable housing, and a healthy environment are all part of the research needed before making a decision.
All these pieces of information must be gathered by the applicant through various means, such as studying university websites, speaking with alumni when possible, and even visiting the campus to see it firsthand. This time investment is something many people simply cannot afford.
Despite all these challenges, there is evidence suggesting that earning a postgraduate degree increases the likelihood of having a higher salary. One important consideration students should keep in mind is the institution’s ability to blend academic learning with real professional experience. Some studies suggest that this combination significantly increases the chances of success. Additionally, it is essential to consider how well the institution’s academic community is connected to the professional marketplace, as strong networks can further enhance a graduate’s opportunities for success.
Editor's Note: Applying to graduate school can be overwhelming, so committing to it is a brave thing to do. If you are currently applying to grad school, do not despair! What I find helpful, as a current applicant, is finding others in similar positions and supporting each other as we gather all the necessary documents, submit applications, and wait for the best outcome. Grad applications are not easy, but they are not impossible. Stay strong, academic warrior! — Aiko Ayala
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.