Grads pick between career, furthering education

By Alex Weininger
Collegian Staff Writer

As graduates throw their caps high in celebration of the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, many graduates are carefully weighing their options for the future.

Some of theses options include entering either the work force or the realm of graduate school.

The enrollment of students in graduate school has been steady as students look for an edge in the job market.

"(Generally) the more education you get, the higher income you can expect," said Lynne Goodstein, Associate Dean of the Graduate school at Penn State.

And universities across the country have been responsive to the growing need for graduate degrees.

In the fall of 1999, the number of graduate students at Penn State reached 10,060 and the university offers more than 140 master degrees and 90 doctoral degrees.

With advanced developments on the Internet, students need not step foot in a classroom by taking distance education classes online. According to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics, about 1 in 10 of the 2.1 million individuals taking graduate-level courses in the 1997-1998 school year were enrolled in distance education classes.

Goodstein cautions students to be aware of several things regarding graduate school before applying and enrolling.

Students tend to jump into graduate school without a real focus as to what they would like to do or study, Goodstein said.

"There's an attraction in going to graduate school, because school is something you understand. At the same time, it's probably wiser to have some experience in the world — some work experience to help you make a good decision and to give yourself time to research graduate programs," Goodstein said.

Tim Nordstrom, (graduate-political science) who is graduating in May, recommends taking a year off before deciding on graduate school.

Nordstrom said a student could always go back to school after time off.

"I got a job at a casino after spending five months in Europe and then I decided what I wanted to do," Nordstrom said.

However, taking time off is not necessarily the best option for all students.

Matt Rupert (graduate-political science) was told during his government internship to take time off and decided against the recommendation.

"If I had, I would have never come back," Rupert said, referring his belief that it's hard to get back in the school routine, once out of it.

Still, many prospective students have the fear that too much school may leave them counting the days until it's over.

"I'm afraid I'll get really burnt out. From what I understand, it's a lot more work," Jen Reigle (junior-civil engineering) said.

Another decision students must make after deciding to enter the ranks of the graduate student is what type of graduate degree they need to pursue their career, Goodstein said.

One type of graduate degree is the MBA. According to the booklet, Graduate School and You, produced by the Council of Graduate Schools, an MBA is for those who want to be in school for a year or two and are more interested in working in a private sector. Master degrees include, but are not limited to, business and government.

"MBAs help people pursue certain advantages in the business world; it's necessary sometimes," Nordstrom said.

Goodstein said the doctoral program, on the other hand, is more focused on research and requires students to attend school for at least another four years.

"It's a focus on learning research skills and becoming a master in your field," Goodstein said. She also said most students hoping to earn a doctorate are determined to go more into academia such as research or teaching.

According to Graduate School and You, a doctorate is traditionally for those looking to have a career in teaching. In many fields, particularly science, those with doctoral degrees find employment with corporations where research and development of new products or services are important.

As students make the decisions that will undoubtedly impact their future, prospective graduate students question what life will be like attending seminars, completing dissertations and basically living the graduate student lifestyle.

Erdat Cataloglu, (graduate-science education) Graduate Student Association treasurer, said that as semesters are completed, students grow more accustomed to the graduate school routine.

Cataloglu said the first semester is spent adjusting and learning about the department. It's also when the students begin to hone into what they particularly want to study.

Nordstrom said in the beginning, the graduate program stresses critical and analytical skills.

"You learn how to read something and assess the argument," he said.

Depending on the degree program, the rest of the semesters are spent focusing and researching on the area of interest and are no longer concerned over adjustment, which is required for many students who are leaping right from undergraduate.

At first, graduate school can seem a little overbearing, especially when working so closely with professors after only listening in lectures as an undergraduate, Norman said.

Adjusting and preparing for entrance to graduate school is an individual thing, Goodstein said, and it differs with student personalities and graduate programs.