It’s back-to-school time! To help you prepare, each Tuesday over the next few weeks, we’re featuring advice on finding, applying, and paying for graduate school. Want more information? Be sure to visit our Graduate School Resource Center and attend a free Grad School Fair near you!

Eager to go back to school? Be sure to think it through! (Photo Credit: Blue Square Thing, Creative Commons/Flickr)

With a new school year starting, many people are wondering if it’s time to consider an advanced degree. However, before you begin searching or applying, it’s important to assess your reasons for wanting to go to graduate school, as pursuing a graduate degree requires a significant investment of time and resources.

Among the best reasons to go to graduate school are:

• It is necessary for your desired professional field such as healthcare, law, teaching, and social work to name a few
• It can improve your career by increasing your responsibility and/or income earning potential
• It can enhance your professional prospects, whether you are switching careers or simply want greater flexibility and options

Because of the investment required, we also want to highlight an especially bad reason to go to graduate school: you’re avoiding a problem. Whether the problem is professional (you can’t find a job or don’t like the one you have) or personal (you don’t know what to do with your life or are facing financial difficulties), the amount of money and time required to finish graduate school will likely exacerbate these problems or lead you to make hasty decisions.

Are you considering grad school? Why or why not?

Still wondering if grad school is for you? Attend a free Idealist Grad Fair! We’re visiting 17 cities across the U.S. this fall.