Being a senior is both exciting and terrifying. After graduation, what happens next? Many students are ready to take on the professional work force, while many others would rather continue into higher education.

Whether you’ve made up your mind or not, grad school has a lot of advantages that definitely make the decision worth considering.

Karen Hagans, the director of career services, believes that everyone should give graduate school a chance.

“This is an exploratory time when you’re in college, especially those who are lower classmen,” she said. “Upperclassmen have to come closer to making a decision relatively soon. But I consider this a pretty safe environment to be able to explore the possibility.”

While Hagans said that not everyone has to go to grad school, she still believes it can give students more job flexibility.

“I think people should at least explore it as an option and decide if it’s right for them,” she said. “And what might not be right now could be right a few years from now.”

David Kokandy, career specialist for the colleges of nursing arts and sciences, agrees that grad school doesn’t have to be an immediate choice.

“You don’t have to go straight from college into graduate school,” he said. “I know many people, myself included, that took some time off to work professionally; however, I was certainly thinking about it while I was still in college.”

Statistically, students with a master’s degree have a larger income than those with only a bachelor’s or associate’s degree.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, adults 25 years and older with a master’s degree make $10,000 more than those with only a bachelor’s degree.

Hagans said that even though many students realize that grad school has benefits, some are afraid to make the commitment.

“I think students that are in debt don’t want to think about it now,” she said. “But the truth is, it can be economical to go to grad school. For example, my assistantship paid for my grad program. All I paid for was my books.”

It’s clear that when considering grad school, there are a lot of variables to think about. In addition to the Career Service Center, many faculty members on campus—some who did their undergrad at Ashland University—can offer grad school advice.

Laura Kruger, a professional instructor of health sciences, graduated from AU before going on to her master’s at Kent State.

“I attended [grad school] immediately after my undergraduate experience,” she said. “I knew I needed it to pursue my graduate degree to reach my career goals and I didn’t want to stop my ‘academic momentum.’”

Kruger encourages students to think about their own professional needs and, if the timing is right, for grad school.

“Does your industry prefer experience and/or additional experience?” she said. “Talk to others in your field and learn from their experience….Then make a decision for yourself. ”

Deborah Sullivan, a professor of family and consumer sciences education, believes keeping an open mind when considering graduate school is very important.

“Don’t wait. Find ways,” she said.” “My husband and I both had our graduate school paid through assistantships.  They are competitive, but worth it.”

Karl Walley, a professor of educational foundations, waited several years before making his grad school commitment.

“I waited five years [after undergrad] before starting,” he said. “That was a good thing as it gave me a perspective on my field, education, that I would not have had if I started grad school right out of college.”

Walley agrees that having an assistantship is crucial, but preparing for grad school mentally is equally as important.

“Study hard now,” he said. “Develop the habits of a student, and most of all, write, write, write.  It will all pay off when a steady stream of papers are required, research is expected and self motivation is an assumed trait.”

Grad school might seem intimating, but in most cases, the pay off is well worth it.

Angela Hopkins, career specialist for the college of nursing and health sciences, said that grad school is more specific to your interests, which makes the hard work a lot easier.

“It’s challenging,” she said. “But I think it’s challenging in a different way than college because it’s going to be a topic area that you are intrinsically motivated by. You’re paying for a degree that you are passionate about.”

Deciding to attend grad school or not is a very difficult decision. Luckily, there are many faculty members who can offer guidance.