Why I'm Going to Graduate School

Graduating with a bachelor’s degree is a tremendous accomplishment, and the first step in obtaining your ideal job. Some people decide to go beyond an undergraduate education, however, by enrolling in graduate school. This higher level of study often helps students gain specialized instruction in their field, expand their professional networks and become more qualified for future positions.

We explored our own personal reasons for enrolling in graduate school below.

Allie Barton
Journalism and mass communication, BA- Arizona State University
Mass communication, MMC- Arizona State University

Convenience
- I am currently enrolled in the 4+1 accelerated degree program, that many majors offer at ASU. This means that I am currently taking some of my graduate courses, while still completing my undergraduate course requirements. I will then only be enrolled in graduate school for two semesters. This will ultimately make it less costly, because it will only be a year of studies and I will still have in-state status.
Career preparation
- By enrolling in a grad program, I am able to bridge the gap between my education and career. My master’s program has a strong emphasis on creating a practical work environment through professional programs, specific to what my interests are. I plan on participating in a Spanish-language news broadcast, which is related to what I want to do in my future career. The opportunity to get more practical experience, while still earning my degree, is one of the major reasons I’m enrolling in grad school.
Growing my network
- Being in graduate school will allow me to meet more faculty, who are experts in their field, which will increase my access to knowledge and to future employers. I feel as if my focus during my undergraduate education was on the courses themselves, rather than how to apply the skills learned to my future career. Grad school will be the ideal atmosphere to gain experience, but more importantly, to establish professional relationships with professors who are well-connected in the field of journalism.

Sai Nikhila Reddy Gaddam
Mechanical (production) engineering, BS - Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology, India
Industrial engineering, MS - Arizona State University

Deeper understanding of my major:
- My bachelor’s, being in mechanical engineering, has more width than depth in the courses. The intention of pursuing my master’s was primarily to gain in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in my focus area (industrial statistics). Graduate schools introduce us to world class professors, who stimulate our thinking and help us connect to industry experts.
Meet people of diverse backgrounds:
- I lived in the same town growing up until I graduated from undergraduate university. Although I have a passion for travelling and have travelled to many parts of India, I thought studying in a different country and interacting with people of different backgrounds would give me exposure and open me to different perspectives and ideologies. Such an experience, I think, will help in broadening my thoughts and giving me a new perspective and better understanding of the world around me.
Career advancement:
- A master’s degree from a reputed university would be the first step toward establishing a career in any field I want to get into. The connections we make, the workshops we attend, the projects and assignments we do and the profile we build during grad school is unparalleled.

Zaire Caldwell
Economics, BS - Arizona State University
Creative writing, MFA - Undecided

Cost
- The program that I’m attending is fully funded, and I’ll be getting paid to be an editing or teaching assistant. So I’ll actually be getting paid to participate in the program. I want to make it clear, however, that not every program functions like this one, so it’s important to do thorough research in order to find these opportunities.
Timing
- I’m a realist, and I know that if I take a break from school...I likely won’t go back. This just happens to be the direction that the universe is steering me towards, so I must take it.
Area of study
- Many people are too scared to take risks, especially as far as it comes to pursuing their passion. For the duration of my undergraduate, I’ve been that person. Which is why I was so excited when I was googling one day, and heard of a creative writing MFA program. It’ll allow me to focus on a career in what I love, and allow me to continue to work on my craft. How can you beat that?