GSRM: Why grad school?
For this first article in the Grad School Road Map (GSRM) I briefly discuss why one would go to grad school and if one should go to grad school. I want to preface this by saying this is written from the perspective of someone living in the US and studying a physical science (chemistry).
The best way to know: Undergraduate Research
For those still early in their undergraduate care or even in high school the only real advice I can give is to do undergraduate research. The best way to know if graduate school is for you is undergraduate research.
While doing research as an undergraduate is different than doing research as a graduate student (typically undergraduates are given more guidance), undergraduate research still gives a window into to the graduate experience. From an undergraduate research experience you should consider answering these questions: Do I want to keep doing this sort of research activity? Do I want to do the kind of work the graduate students around me are doing?
These questions are important but should also be considered abstractly. Research experiences can vary dramatically from lab to lab. If possible try to get research experiences in multiple different labs as an undergraduate if possible.
More General Advice
Fundamentally the most important thing to consider is: Do you want to go to graduate school?
Something that commonly happens is that people finish undergraduate and don’t know what to do next so they continue school as a graduate student. This is a big problem for Phd programs (much less so for masters programs) as research advisors typically have to payout a round $100K/year/student (around $60K in tuition and $35-40K in stipend). As such advisors are highly invested in their students and want someone who is committed to the program. People who actually want to do research are more likely to finish the program.
To determine what it means to want to go to graduate school there are a few options. Principally undergraduate research is the best option as a mini trial of graduate school. Beyond that many faculty, graduate students, post-docs, and previous graduate students would be more than happy to to discuss what it is like to be a graduate student. You should feel free to reachout to them over email or linkedin.
What about the money?$$$
In many subjects, especially those beyond the physical sciences (ie engineering), graduate school can be a key part of career advancement. This means some people pursue a graduate school purely for the pay bump they might get after they finish the degree.
As Phd programs typically take at least 5 years in the physical sciences, if you are money minded its important to consider you will likely make very little money during those years. While agreements can often be reached with specific faculty, departments, or universities, many Phd programs forbid you from having another job. That is to say in general all you would get is your small stipend.
For many areas (ie engineering) a masters degree is a shorter course of study that provides similar (in some cases better as one won’t risk being over qualified) career advancement. It is worth considering if a Phd is really the right course for your career. To gauge this you can talk to your boss or those in the positions you strive for. Alternatively, you can investigate what qualification the people in roles you aspire for have on linkedin. In some cases, employers will pay for graduate education so it is worth talking to your employer about if the Phd or masters path is right for you.
