Each year, many of our students and alumni make the decision to attend graduate school. If you think this might be the path for you, it is essential that you discuss your interest with faculty members at Yale who can give you the best advice on programs, funding, trends and the academic job market.
When deciding to pursue an advanced degree you should do the following:
- Define your career goals. Are you planning a career in academia or research? Have you discussed your career aspirations with a UCS counselor? Talk to your DUS, professors, and graduate students about the field you’re contemplating. Use the Yale Career Network to conduct informational interviews to ask others about the trends in your area of academic interest, the benefits and challenges of research, teaching, and obtain general advice about pursuing academic or research careers. View the informational interviews tips and steps (PDF) to learn more about this process.
- Be sure that graduate school is not a means to avoid making career decisions. If you are unsure about your career path, talk with a UCS counselor. There are ways to explore your career interests and earn money which will help you define your career aspirations without committing to graduate school.
- Be honest with yourself. Are you passionate enough about the field to spend the next several years studying a narrow subject in depth while living on a limited income? Even with financial assistance, the graduate student’s life can be an austere, solitary experience.
UCS serves to supplement the advice of the faculty by focusing on how your decision integrates with your overall career goals, by supporting you through the application process, and by providing helpful resources to you.
