In slumping economy, more students turn to grad school

Over the last few years, GCSU has seen an increase in enrollment of students in the graduate school program.

“One reason for more students choosing to pursue graduate school has to do with the economy and the fact that there are not as many jobs being offered,”said University Career Center Director Mary Roberts.

In 1957, GCSU established its first graduate program offering a Master’s in Education. Now, with more than 900 students currently enrolled in graduate studies, there are more than 30 programs available for students to take advantage of and further their education. In comparison to larger programs that schools like Georgia State University and University of Georgia have to offer, GCSU can stand its ground.

“Georgia College has a strong reputation and the graduate programs we have to offer students are strong and reputable,” said Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management Suzanne Pittman. “Our creative writing program, for example, is very competitive and the spots are filled quickly.”

Pittman agrees with Roberts, saying that the job market and the economy are large factors in students deciding to continue their education in graduate studies.

Some students are opting to attend graduate school hoping that their expertise in a specific area will make them more marketable when they start looking for jobs.

Graduate student Chase Freeman explained his enrollement.
“I chose to go to grad school mainly because as a business student, having a bachelor’s degree now is almost as common as it was ten years ago to have a high school diploma. So I believe that by attending grad school and getting a higher degree, I am able to bring more to the table,” Freeman said.

By continuing his education in graduate studies, Freeman said he has been able to go broader with the subjects he is studying and has taken the opportunity to get away from the textbooks and vocabulary part of schooling and get more practical hands-on experience in his field of study.

But, Roberts does not recommend that every student attend grad school.

“It really comes down to an individual decision,” Roberts said. “You need to ask yourself why you are going, because if your answer is just to delay the inevitable of moving on and finding a job, then grad school might not the right choice for you.”

Some advice Roberts gives to students, is to research what the expectations are for the field they will be pursuing a career in, because some employers may want to hire applicants with more practical experience in their fields, rather than more education or vice versa.

The University Career Center is hosting a Graduate & Professional School Fair on Monday, Oct. 20 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Centennial Center. Schools that will be showcasing their programs include the University of Georgia, Emory University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Georgia State University and more than thirty others.

Roberts encourages all students, whether freshmen or seniors, to attend the fair and discover what each program has to offer. She suggests that students start researching early if they are interested in continuing their education after graduation to discover the programs that fit them the best.

“GCSU offers a lot of options, so it’s a good idea to go ahead and talk with advisors about what is available if you’re interested in applying for graduate school,” Pittman said.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 3 2008. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry