Happy Friday, Reader, you made it!
Today, we’re talking about the decision before the application.
Admit it: There may be outside forces in your graduate school decision-making.
Maybe it's your workplace, a mentor, or the people around you who have the degree you're considering. FOMO (fear of missing out) is real, and it can be a strong influence.
Here's what almost no one says out loud: Being capable of something isn't the same as needing to do it.
And a reason that comes from outside you isn't the same as a decision you've actually made.
Two quick examples.
Story #1
Someone I worked with for years recently reached out about pursuing a well-known program. It felt like a majority of their friends and coworkers had that degree, and they were starting to feel the pull.
We talked about what the degree would actually do for them – both the pros and cons. They sat with it for several weeks.
Next came the a-ha moment.
They realized their career and life priorities in the next few years hinged more on staying the current course than on going back to school.
Beyond the decision to hold off on graduate school, the bigger lesson was trusting their intuition to lead them to the right choice for them.
Story #2
My own path started with the same question, with the opposite ending. Early in my career, I worked at a university where a master’s degree was required for most entry-level roles. I got the master’s, began working, then later felt the pull for a doctorate.
Originally, I was interested because it felt like the only way I could move into a leadership role one day.
Right before applying, I realized it was the first time I was making a major career decision completely on my own – not in response to a suggestion from someone else.
Even though I had a vague sense that getting the doctorate could potentially open career doors, I was more interested in the academic and personal challenge of the experience itself. Going back to school also fit into my life and work priorities at that time.
What made the decision right for me turned out to be less about the credential, and like the story above, more about trusting my intuition.
We both had the same question. Different answers. Both correct for us at the time we made them.
Before you jump into application mode, here are a few reflection-based action steps to make sure this is the right decision for you.
Action Step 1: Get clear on where you’re heading in 3-5 years.
What do you want to be doing in your career? More than a title – think about the actual work itself. (This is a great opportunity for the "envision your perfect day in detail" exercise).
Action Step 2: Ask yourself whether this goal requires a degree, or if it just seems to.
If it does, name exactly what the degree unlocks that you can't access today.
If it doesn’t, take note of the alternatives: a certification, a different role, or even a stretch project.
Action Step 3: Consider the true payoff.
Will the opportunities – and potentially salary – after graduation justify the cost in both money and time at this stage of your life?
Action Step 4: Check your true readiness for the experience.
Going back to graduate school is a mental, emotional, financial, and even physical undertaking, all at once. For one to seven years (depending on the program), graduate students often feel the weight of what they could or should be doing during every waking moment of the day.
Are you ready to hold those competing demands?
Action Step 5: Listen to your gut.
In a time where we can outsource this type of logical reasoning to AI, give yourself the gift of quiet space to feel what is the right decision for you.
The answer might be yes, it’s go-time. Or yes, in a year or two. Or it could be a maybe, to revisit when circumstances have changed.
If you need a guide, I built something for this moment. It’s a decision-making workbook that takes you through these types of questions in order, the same ones I talk through with people who are considering whether graduate school is right for them right now.
I used to sell this, and decided I’d rather share it for free to get it into the hands of those who need it most.
What I'm working on ✍
I’m finalizing slides for City Year’s How to Apply to Graduate School workshop on October 1st. I’ve facilitated it before and have new content I’m so excited to add in.
It’s the first of a five-workshop series, and this week I also finished drafting the post-workshop emails for each one. Beyond the recordings I’m also including relevant resources (like the workbook above).
Teaching is one of the best parts of my job, the countdown is on!
So what’s the moral of the story this week?
The degree is only worth it when you’ve made the decision yourself based on every aspect of your life in this season.
If you’re in the decision-making process, don’t rush it. Give yourself time to feel the feels, work through the logic, and ultimately trust your gut.
And if you land on yes, we’ll move on to the next question: how to tell your story to show the weight of this decision and why you’re ready now. (Stay tuned for next week!)
You can do this.
Thanks for being here, make it a great weekend!
Dr. Jena
P.S. Step 5 above works better with the right setting. A few other places to consider: a walk or run in a local park, a screen-free afternoon at home, or even a long shower. My best thinking happens during music-less car rides on country roads (we have more than a few in Ohio). Where is your go-to thinking spot? Hit reply and share yours, I read every response.