Grad School? No Thanks.

With my undergraduate commencement ceremony just a few weeks away I’m more calm about my future than many of my other peers. Family members and strangers, curious about my plans, have asked the same question countless times: Why aren’t you going to grad school?

It’s not exactly news that the job prospects for recent graduates are still slim in this economy, and I understand why many fresh grads are going back to school. Yes it costs more money and amounts to unwanted stress, but it welcomes more internship possibilities and ways to beef up the resume.

I personally don’t agree with going to grad school though, at least not right now in my life. For the past seventeen years I’ve been a student, and truthfully I’m a little tired of it. There were a few instances where I seriously considered the prospect of applying and thought about embarking on a new educational chapter, but when I spoke with my advisors and professors at school they said it wasn’t necessary, especially because of my areas of study: marketing and advertising.

According to them, many people who have gotten their bachelor’s degree in marketing have been able to get successful jobs without pursuing further studies. While there certainly are great programs, like Miami Ad School, for those who want to gain another type of education, it’s not the only way to impress employers or have a booming career. These advisors also said that, in some instances, employers will request that current employees attend graduate school or a specialty program that relates to their job or a new assignment. Here’s the best part: the company covers the costs.

I have been lucky to have a handful of excellent internships the past four years and participate in the American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition. The valuable experiences and education I have achieved from those are better than any time I have ever spent inside a classroom. I can’t say that I won’t ever go to grad school because it’s possible that my attitude may change in a few years. For right now, though, I’m content with my part time retail job and sending out hundreds of resumes to agencies all over.

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