GRADUATE SCHOOL

Even if you love your industry, you might find that you need additional training to advance your goals and position your career. Attending graduate school might be an option for you.

Obtaining an advanced degree is an important decision that will dramatically change your life for the next two to four years. In other words, it should not be taken lightly. If, after weighing the potential financial and emotional burden on you and your family, you still decide this is the right course for you, take the following three steps to enjoy every advantage graduate school has to offer.

CHOOSE A PROGRAM

Once you’ve been accepted into a few programs, deepen your research. You should have already conducted a fair amount of research into the schools and programs before applying, but now your research can take a different form — that of a comparative pro/con list. This also holds true if you’ve only received one acceptance. Get to know the professors and their research. This is the first step in building a new professional network. These people will be invaluable to you.

HAVE A FINANCIAL PLAN

Who will be responsible for paying for tuition, books and supplies? Most graduate students do not live on campus, so where will you be living? Will you have to move to be closer to your university? All of these things should be budgeted for wisely. If you plan to take out any student loans or receive scholarship or grant money, be mindful of how much money you will receive and what it will be put toward. These will be financially leaner years — unless you plan on continuing to work full time — and it will pay off to be prepared.

DEFINE TIME BOUNDARIES

You will need to dedicate a lot of time to your research. You also will need to spend time performing the mundane tasks that make up life. (Laundry and dishes, anyone?) Spending quality time with family and friends might also be high on your priority list. Balancing all these things can be easier said than done when you throw graduate school into the mix. Be sure to set aside time for each of these activities. You might even have to resort to a physical block schedule that you post on the fridge. While it’s not glamorous, it is effective.