Admit it.  It’s tempting to go directly to grad school – do not pass “Go”, do not collect $200 – after graduating with your bachelor’s degree.  After all, the real world is scary – why not put off the inevitable job hunting and settling down for a few more years?  If you’ve hit that senior-year panic, consider the following scenarios to determine whether or not grad school makes sense for you.

Your desired career requires an advanced degree

If you’re planning a career in medicine, law or business, you’re going to need an advanced degree to work in the field.  However, there are many other career paths that require graduate degrees.  If you’re interested in working public policy or as a high-level government official, you’ll likely need a degree in public policy in order to advance in your field.  The same goes for careers in veterinary medicine and advanced research – think marine biology or education policy – as well as for students interested in eventually working as college professors.

A quick note about working as a professor.  It’s easy to romanticize the life of a college professor – working with bright young minds, traveling the world to pursue your research interests and enjoying a few months off in the summer.  However, if you’re serious about this career path, you’ll need a Ph.D. degree to teach at four-year colleges and universities.  Make sure you’re prepared for the challenges associated with this field – constant pressure to publish and the dual demands of teaching and researching – before you sign up for a 7+ year Ph.D. program.

Your career field is extremely competitive

Maybe you don’t really need a graduate degree to find a job in your field, but you know that the competition for available positions will be fierce.  In this case, it may make sense to enter grad school immediately after your bachelor’s degree.  The field of engineering is a great example of this trend.  Sure, you’ll be able to find a job with just a four-year degree, but you’ll face stiff competition and you may not be considered for some of the better positions available.  And since many Master’s degrees in engineering require only one year, it’s definitely something to consider.

You aren’t sure yet what type of job you’re looking for

You’ve probably already guessed what I’m going to say about this one.  If you don’t know what you want to do at the end of your undergrad career, grad school is not an acceptable alternative!  Burying yourself in the comforting bosom of academia is tempting, but jumping into a grad school program you aren’t 100% committed to won’t help you make up your mind.  Instead, apply for jobs that interest you and get some real world experience in the field.  You can always go back to grad school if you eventually decide on a career that requires an advanced degree.

Grad school programs aren’t for everyone – they’ll be harder than your undergrad courses and may take several years and several thousands of dollars to complete.  Spend time exploring all your different post-grad options before you commit to further education.