Social sciences senior Emily Hill is excited about the prospect of attending graduate school for her master’s in anthropology. She wants to study with new professors and gain a more well-rounded intellectual experience.
Even with the option of graduate school and the bad economy, some students still choose to take a chance in the job market directly after graduation. Graduate school can offer advancements later in a career while an immediate job offers experience, something many employers look for in a potential employee. But what’s the better option?
If the truth is to be found through statistics, it seems that many students feel graduate school is the wisest choice.
Nationwide, graduate school enrollment numbers have steadily increased in all industries. In a study released by the Council of Graduate Schools, a graduate advancement organization, roughly 52,500 more students enrolled in graduate school between fall 2007 and fall 2008, a jump from the 1.6 million students from the previous year. At the same time, Cal Poly saw the overall number of undergraduate students applying to graduate school increase from approximately 395 to 407 but noted a 1 percent decrease in the total number of graduating students attending graduate school. Even so, in the last 10 years the number of Cal Poly graduates attending graduate programs has stayed between 18-24 percent.
For Hill, the choice to attend has a lot to do with her need to differentiate herself from the competition in her field.
“In anthropology, you really can’t get anywhere without going to grad school,” she said. “Soon enough, getting a bachelor’s is going to be like getting your high school diploma. People are so educated these days, so it really steps up the competition.”
Daniel Walsh, senior associate dean of the College of Engineering, calls himself an “unabashed advocate for graduate programs” and credits many of his life experiences with his decision to get a master’s and a Ph.D. A particular goal of his is to encourage the students with 2.5 grade point averages as well as the 3.5 and 4.0 students to pursue further educational options. But his main priority is to make sure that students make an informed choice before applying to graduate schools or jobs.
“I don’t think enough of our students have looked at graduate school as an option. I have done things, I have been places that I would never have been, in my opinion, if I hadn’t gotten a Ph.D.,” Walsh said. “Our business at Cal Poly should be the people who want to get that master’s degree. This is just a logical extension of what we do and do well. And that’s for everybody, that’s liberal arts, that’s science and math.”
Debra Valencia-Laver, associate dean for the College of Liberal Arts, said all students should enter Cal Poly planning to go to graduate school regardless of their major or their actual plans, because it keeps doors open. Her biggest advice is to speak to a professor before graduating about writing a reference letter. While Carole Moore, program coordinator and career counselor for Career Services, agrees that a graduate program isn’t for everyone, she thinks that in the long run, there is no harm in furthering education.
“I’m an educator, so I think getting an education is always a good thing,” she said. “Grad school is never going to hurt you; education is never going to kill you. This is a good time to go.”
Graphic communication senior Brandon Lutze said he’s not going to fully consider applying to a graduate program because his industry hires more on knowledge and skill rather than a higher education. A big contributing factor for him to apply or get a job hinders on the economic downturn affecting job opportunities and the financial cost. For him, the financial results of attending graduate school need to outweigh the cost.
“If you’re guaranteed to make more money by going to grad school, it probably wouldn’t be that big a deal, but if you go to grad school, you better hope it pays off,” he said.
Mark Shelton, associate dean for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, advises students against going to graduate school strictly because they believe it will make them more marketable.
“If you want a broader educational experience, if you need an extra year to move forward professionally, then go for it,” he said. “But if you have the notion that it’s going to make you more money or you’re going to be more employable, I question that.”
For biomedical engineering senior Brandon Reynolds, attending graduate school wouldn’t be worth it because he’s too unsure of why he wants to spend an extra year in school. A trend he’s noticed among peers in his major is that many are attending graduate school either because of the economy or because they don’t want to move on from school, not because they’re interested in learning. But Reynolds said he’s done with school.
“My plan basically is to get a job, find something that I’m really passionate about and if I want to go back to school or need to go back to school, then I’m cool with that,” he said. “I just want to get out and work because I’ve had a few internships, so I know what it’s like to not have to deal with school, and I liked it.”
While working in his internships, Reynolds also said he didn’t see a direct correlation between position level and a person’s number of degrees. On an engineering job-posting Web site, of the 50 engineering companies hiring, only 16 posted jobs that required a master’s degree or higher and only one company stated that an employee’s pay was directly correlated to their academic qualifications. For the most part, the companies stressed experience as a potential employee’s main attraction.
Adam Kampa, a 2005 Cal Poly electrical engineering graduate, didn’t attend graduate school and now works as a system automations superviser for PG&E. He said that when it comes to hiring, the most important aspect PG&E looks for is a bachelor’s degree, because unless an employee is applying for a very specific job, a master’s doesn’t mean much.
“I can say without a doubt internshps are the most important thing when looking for a job. Grades don’t mean shit without real-life experience,” Kampa said. “To be honest, a master’s just means they spent extra time in school.”
While both graduate school and getting a job after graduation have their advantages, in the end, it seems that stating one or the other is the better option can’t be done. Brian Tietje, associate dean of undergraduate programs for Orfalea College of Business, said that graduate degrees depend on where a student is in their career and their future plans.
“I think it can help a lot, but only if it’s right for them and their career,” Tietje said. “It’s a great learning experience if it’s at the right time in a person’s life, and that’s the big ‘If.'”
As for Hill, she will be the first person in her family to attend and graduate from college, a goal instilled in her by her parents. Now, as she edges closer to graduation, Hill is feeling the pressure to attend graduate school.
“It used to be ‘You will go to college,’ and now it’s like ‘Well, why wouldn’t you go to grad school?’ I just want to take every opportunity that I can.”