The Pros and Cons of Going to Grad School Right After Undergrad

Picture this: you're in your senior year of college.

You're working on your final project for your major in between going to the bar because you're *finally* legal and cramming for that biology test because you waited until the last possible second to meet your lab requirement. You still find time to hit up Walmart, CVS, or whatever other random destination your classmates consider to be exciting in your small college town with your friends and find the perfect (and least expensive) cookie dough to bake for your Friendsgiving soirée.

As you look around the room at the faces you've spent the last few years with, you realize that a year from now you won't be swiping your ID card to get into your dorm building. You won't be piling into someone's bathroom to get ready to go out on a Friday night. You won't be gossiping about the latest Greek life scandal or horrible professors. You will be doing...well, who knows.

There is both beauty and darkness when you look ahead to your future. On one hand, you're leaving behind the life of papers and exams and sneaking in alcohol past your RA. Without the academic calendar, you'll have more time to travel, go to concerts, and get home for the holidays at reasonable time. You can finally start applying what you learned to your real life. This is it. This is the time to be excited about.

Or not.

Finishing college is a great achievement, and no matter where you went or how long it took you, you should be remarkably proud of yourself (and I'm proud of you, too). Everyone's college experience looks different- sure, maybe you weren't making your way to Barrett's Alehouse every Friday night like I was, but I'm sure you had your own routine and memories to last a lifetime regardless.

Leaving all of that behind to enter the great unknown is absolutely terrifying. There is so much pressure on college graduates to find a job in their field, move out on their own, and validate the sacrifice it took to get their degree. Everyone will be asking you "what's next?" before you even have your diploma in your hands. This pressure can often lead seniors to explore their options for grad school, whether they are ready for it or not.

I was one of those seniors. Although I didn't apply to grad school just to get out of this dark unknown, I didn't feel like I was ready to settle anywhere. I didn't want to be tied down by a full time job; I wanted to have another adventure and continue learning. Starting my Master's program right after I graduated from Bridgewater State was the right choice for me, but there were cons to this that I hadn't planned for. While I loved my time at NYU and am eternally grateful for that experience, there are things I wish I knew before enrolling.

If you're thinking about grad school, I strongly encourage you to go for it! However, here are some pros and cons based on my own experience that you might want to consider before sending in your deposit...

Pro: You're Already in "School Mode"

One of the major reasons why I wanted to go directly to grad school is that I was worried that I wouldn't be motivated to do school work if I spent too much time away from it. I feared that I wouldn't be able to bring myself to write essays and complete projects if I had been free from it for too long. While some may think a break is best for them, if you can relate then you may want to consider continuing your education right away.

I also found it helpful to be up to date with the latest technology, research practices, and formatting. It was definitely to my advantage to be used to using online portals to search the library and be familiar with APA format already.

Con: You Might Be Burnt Out from School

As I said before, some people need that break from school. As crazy as this sounds, sometimes I envied my friends that had all of this free time on their hands. Even if my friends hadn't started their careers or done anything that exciting, I saw them going out on the weekends, traveling, going to shows, and having fun while I was tied down with a research paper on a Saturday night. It felt like everyone else had broken free while I was still stuck in the undertow. Sometimes, grad school felt like Senioritis 2.0.

Pro: You Have Less to Lose

Grad school is a sacrifice, especially if you already have a life established outside of school. While many programs are totally flexible and possible to do, I don't know if I could have handled time away from my life had I already established my career and my family. While I truly admire my colleagues that went to school full time after working all day, teaching small children, and raising a family, I did have the freedom to focus all of my time and energy onto my academics. This is definitely a pro if you intend to move away for your graduate program, too. While I missed my dog dearly when I left him behind in Massachusetts, I didn't have to worry about leaving behind a good job or a dependent. I was free to just go do what I needed to do.

Con: You Might Not Know Exactly What You Want Yet

Everyone figures out what they want to do at a different time. While some of us may have had our heart set on a career when we first declared a major, it's not uncommon to graduate with a degree you have little interest in by the time you finish it. Grad school can be a way to explore something new, but you might need a little time after undergrad to figure out what you want to study.

Pro: You'll Start Paying Off Student Loans Later

To my knowledge, you don't have to start paying off your student loans until you finish your education. If you take time off in between undergrad and grad school, you'll start paying off your loans earlier and likely still be paying while you're in grad school.

Keep in mind, while this may be a pro for some, grad school may add to what you owe overall.

Con: You've Had Less Time to Save Up

Getting through undergrad was already a financial burden, right? If you were like me, you spent your summers working as many hours as you can and probably had a job (or two) during the school year. Grad school can be an added financial burden in many ways, and going into it without any savings may be unrealistic.

Pro: You'll Gain More Connections in Your Field

Grad programs are typically smaller than undergrad, and smaller programs can mean deeper connections. Your new professors are a vital resource in jumpstarting your career. The more closely you can work with them, the better!

Con: You Have Less Experience to Base Your Work Off Of

This may not be true for all programs, but when I was sitting in my dance education classes, I often found myself with less to offer in class conversations. Sure, I had worked with theater groups and completed my student teaching practicum, but my colleagues had decades of more experience than I had. When writing and talking about my experiences, I often repeated myself or came up short with examples.

Pro: You'll Learn from Seasoned Professionals Before Starting Your Career

The amount of mentors I gained in my graduate program is priceless. I was studying alongside well-rounded teachers that had extensive and diverse life experiences. Getting direct feedback and ideas from people actually working in your field is useful when planning out your own career path.

Pro: You Get to Study Something You Love at a Deeper Level

Sure, this is a pro whenever you decide to get your advanced degree. However, grad school is often more hands on than undergrad, so it can be really engaging to dig deeper in theory and practice before working full time. And if you attend another school or at least have new professors in your grad program, you'll gain new perspectives on your subject, too.

Grad school was a positive experience for me and if you're considering it, I highly encourage you! Just think when would be the best time for you to go. Maybe it's now, or maybe it's a ways off.

But if you're like me and want to go right after you graduate, be sure to get your apps in early so that you can enjoy your senior year!