Every time I get in a situation where there is no escape, such as a car ride, with my father he inevitably brings up the topic of grad school, one of his favorites now that my graduation date inches closer and closer. My father always harps on the importance of furthering my education and networking after Auburn with graduate school. Does he have a point? Ehhhh…maybe so.

Graduate school is almost becoming a necessity now to get a job. Back in the day, school after college was for doctors, lawyers or some business people (accountants, business administration, ect.). This sort of graduate school is for specialized discipline where graduate school is used to explore every aspect and become a master of these subjects. The end of graduate school is usually marked with an examination such as the bar or CPA.

More and more undergraduate majors are simply preparing you for graduate school instead of the real world now. Psychology majors must attend graduate school to practice their degree. Even to be employed as a counselor in a school district now almost always requires a master’s degree.

Molly Free is a first-year Auburn grad student in Communication and Journalism, which encompasses communications, public relations, journalism and media. She decided to go to graduate school after interning at E! Entertainment for a summer and realizing that she needed to be more specialized in her field to keep up with her co-workers.

Every graduate school program differs depending on the school, the area of interest, whether the program requires a thesis or not and more. Free is working on a communication research paper on fraternities and secret societies.

“I have to observe fraternities and their social circles, how they interact and how it relates to my communication theories,” says Free. “I would have never done something that requires so much work and this in-depth in undergrad, but I am learning so much.”

There is the obvious downside of money. Graduate school is not inexpensive and it may not guarantee a high paying job. However, with research assistant and GTA programs, often universities will financial help graduate students out with tuition.

Whether you enter graduate school right after graduation or like others, you may enter the work force for a few years then decide to further your career, grad school might be the option. No matter what, applying to graduate school can be tedious with letters of recommendation and required tests.

Studies conducted by the GMAC, or the Graduate Management Admission Council found that employers said they currently want employees with “soft skill” such as communication and leadership and they believe that people with graduate degrees attain these qualities the most.

Yet, maybe my dad does have a point. Grad school allows you to be immersed in a field you are passionate about and become an expert it in. Plus the higher educated you are, the more likely you are to get a job. Which is, after all, what we all want after college, right?


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