Pros and Cons of Grad School

Graduate school is the last refuge from the rat race. Half the people I went to college with are stuck behind desks doing jobs they don’t like or learn from. Imagine going to college only to end up working at Circuit City for the rest of your adult life. Doesn’t sound like view of paradise. Grad school can provide you the edge that you need to get ahead in the career driven workplace. However what if you do find another opportunity before you decide to pursue grad school, or you find out this lifestyle just isn’t for you.

Many people begin graduate school and never finish. This is especially true for those pursuing Phds. Some of these people quit for financial reasons, but many leave because they find that the life they’re living is unacceptable and just not what they envisioned for their life when they started out.

A friend of mine said recently while the path he set out was clear, he found out later that the person he had become had changed and Grad School was no longer neccesary. So it’s not for everyone but the journey is often what matters. My brother always said he’d never go to Grad School, last year he got his Phd in Physics and is looking forward to an enjoyable career in Renewable Energy Research. Goes to show you that people can change and you should always match your life with the school and the educational path that is best for you.