1. Whether good economy or bad, no one should ever rush into the decision on attending graduate school – whether for a master's, professional, or doctoral degree. Graduate programs are designed to enhance, augment, and fine-tune your existing skills and experience, preparing you for more advanced jobs and work. Going into a graduate program on a whim or without a strong vision of your future career will seriously dilute the value of your degree – and perhaps even hurt your chances of landing a job upon graduation. With these issues and concerns in mind, when is it time to go to grad school? This entry is the third in a series discussing four wrong reasons to go graduate school.
   

Continuing Education Because Have No Clue About Career. One of the biggest wastes of your time, effort, and money is continuing on to a graduate program simply by inertia because you have no clue what you want to do with your life. A graduate program will not provide you with career clarity – perhaps just the opposite. Instead of applying to graduate programs, use that time and energy to obtain career counseling (from professors, campus career center, career coaches) and/or for conducting self-assessment exercises.

1. Choosing to earn a graduate or professional degree for the right reasons can provide you with much success and rewards, but pursuing graduate studies for the wrong reasons will almost inevitably hurt you personally and professionally. Have you taken advantage of all our graduate school resources? Find everything you ever wanted to know about locating and attending graduate school – as well as jobs for job-seekers with advanced degrees.