Should you go to grad school or just prepare yourself for the adult world?

Your time at college has an expiration date, but you're not sure if you're ready for the "real world." You've been wondering, "should I go to grad school?." It's one of those things where a masters degree is vital for some fields and totally inconsequential for others. If you're thinking graduate school might be an option for you after tossing your cap, here's some questions you should think over.

Do you have any idea what you want to do?

What has you thinking that grad school is an option? If you're eyeing a job that requires more schooling, then we totally get it. Some people see grad school as a way to delay the inevitable…graduation. If you're not entirely sure what you want to do and want another year or two to think about, then don't go to grad school. You'll just be spending a shit ton of money. Why not get a job and make some money while you try and decide what field you want to be in?

What line of work do you want to go into?

Some careers pretty much require a masters degree. Look for job postings that you're interested in and see what the requirements would be. If you're seeing a lot of places want candidates that have a graduate level degree, then you should start looking at schools.

Library science, social work, urban planning, political science, and many aspects of the medical profession, call for graduate degrees. Some of these fields have better salaries than others. Make sure you do enough research to see how much growth there is in your field.

Ask people that basically have the job you want either via LinkedIn or connections you've made through internships. Grab coffee with them and see if they went to grad school. Some will tell you it was a total necessity to get the job and others might explain why it's utterly useless for that profession. If you feel like you want another opinion, set up a meeting with your advisor or career services. They'll be able to advise you about great post-grad programs and if they fit with your career goals.

Can you afford it?

Grad school is major investment. You've likely acquired some debt after taking on student loans. Are you ready to do that again? Get a good look at your financials. A lot of people hold off on grad school and get a job to make some cash. They might even going to grad school at night instead of taking a year or two off work. Some companies will even help pay for grad school so that's definitely something to consider, right?

Are you ready for more class?

You've been in class for the vast majority of your life. If you go to grad school, you've probably got another two years in lecture hall. The rest of your friends are going to move off campus and get jobs. They'll have their weekends free and making money while you're sweating over a paper for the third Saturday in a row.

A lot of people recommend taking about a year off inbetween graduating and returning to school. It gives you time to recuperate after 16 years of schooling. Plus, some schools like to see that you've stepped away from the classroom. You're less likely to burn out if you're taken some much needed time for yourself.