Graduate school: An appealing alternative
Post-undergraduates seek higher education as opposed to work experience. What is the appeal?
By Megan Stechler
An office bursting at the seams with stuffed animals, Disney action figures, craft supplies and miniature furniture acts as a ray of sunshine among a span of sterile smelling operating, recovery and waiting rooms that are all too familiar in the eyes of the children of Inova Children’s Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia. Children’s crayon creations and crepe paper chains coat the iridescent walls evoking a sense of innocence. Becca Wagner, 25, bright-eyed and sporting purple scrubs, sits at the only piece of adult-sized furniture in the room, a computer desk. Above the desk, surrounded by the lively artwork, hangs a degree from Ohio University. Outlined in an elaborate fame, the degree proudly proclaims Wagner’s master’s degree in child and family studies.
In observing this kindergarten classroom-like space, one may not easily assume that it is, in fact, the professional office of someone with a master’s degree. Yet, to work in this lively, child-like environment, “it is highly preferred, and soon will be mandated, that employees have graduate degrees,” Wagner says.
Wagner is not alone in her need to obtain a graduate degree. “In many careers (science, law, medicine) a graduate degree is necessary to move beyond entry-level work,” says Kate Anania, an economic analyst referencing the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in a 2016 article on the website Invetopedia.com. However, whether a graduate degree is necessary for future employment, or not, “millennials currently enrolled in high school, college or graduate school are particularly ambitious — about half want to go on to earn a graduate or professional school degree,” reported Paul Taylor and Scott Keeter of the Pew Research Center in 2010.
Enrollment in graduate school following undergraduate education acts as an alternative to seeking full-time employment. However, not every young professional desires to obtain a master’s education. Kathleen Wazevich, a graduating senior Communication major from John Carroll University, thought about getting her master’s in business administration following graduation, but says, “I was just so burnt out from four rigorous years of school that I needed a change of pace, a time to gain experience and figure out my favorite components of my field.” She has since accepted a full-time marketing position with American Greetings.
So, if graduating students are experiencing burnout and graduate degrees are not a necessity for all professional fields, then why is a large portion of today’s post-college graduate community opting to remain in school rather than gaining professional work experience?
Wagner identifies premature career decisions as one of the many answers to this question. “Asking a child to go to college at the age of 18 and decide what they want to do is virtually impossible and incredibly unrealistic. The prefrontal cortex is not yet developed at this age, so students are not making the most logical decisions.”
Wagner herself admits falling victim to a premature career decision. “I studied public relations with minors in leadership and marketing, and I graduated from Baldwin Wallace in 2013,” she says. However, “I realized that I wanted to go for my master’s during my junior year of college, after working at a camp for terminally ill children. I found that I had a passion for this work and decided I wanted to drastically change my career path.”
In reflecting on this professional shift, she claims, “Having that extra time to decide, as a mature adult, what you want to do is crucial to ensure that you are following the right path for you.”
Deciding to continue to graduate school as a young graduate is a complex process that depends on more than premature career decisions. In fact, many recent graduates choose to attend graduate school for monetary reasons.
“Contrary to popular belief, graduate school does not break the bank,” Wagner explains. “I only paid $3,000 in tuition, and I had a graduate assistantship, which reduced cost as well. The university made achieving my higher degree relatively affordable.”
Although the decision to continue on to graduate school as a recent graduate concerns logistics such as time and money, a lack of mental readiness to enter the “real world” also acts as a driving factor for increased graduate school enrollment.
“I did know a lot of people who definitely used grad school as an escape from entering the real world,” Wagner explains. She and many of her peers had very vague ideas of how they wanted to contribute to the professional world upon college graduation and, for some, the pressure to enter the workforce was all too much. Graduate school seemed to be the only acceptable option.
As Wagner mentioned, forcing an 18-year-old to decide the professional field in which he or she wants to work is challenging. Although young undergraduates may feel as though they have a grasp on the future, when it comes time to enter the business world, a mental fear of being unprepared can take over. Pursuing a master’s degree seems to be a safe and societally justifiable buffer from entering the professional realm, especially in an economy that is still recovering from a recession and high unemployment.
Deciding to enroll in graduate school immediately following undergraduate education is a complex, yet growing, norm among today’s young professionals. However, it contrasts trends of earlier generations who generally entered the workforce following college graduation.
The factors that contribute to the graduate school enrollment spike are numerous, and depend heavily on one’s own professional aspirations. Yet, as Wagner grips her nametag and glances at the innocent artwork around the workspace that she studied heavily to enter, she says, “Going to grad school was necessary for personal reflection. It was exactly what I needed, to be where I am now. I know who I am and what I am supposed to do. I have no regrets.”
