Graduate School...a buring question indeed

To attend Grad School or not attend Grad School…tis the question. And what a burning question it is. Obviously Graduate School would be well worth it for my career in the long run…but the prep…the work…the time…and most importantly, the money that goes into it. Applying just alone is a struggle…taking the dreaded GRE, trying to find two recommendations (being out of school for four years and having the same job for the past two really puts a damper on the search), and the thought of having another 70,000 in school loans on top of what I already owe alone deters me from applying…which is probably why I didn’t apply the last time I considered Grad School as an option almost two years ago.

But the fact of the matter is… I need a plan of action. I’m working in a job with no advancement, within or outside my company. I’ve tried applying for travel agent professions, sales positions, and numerous other jobs in a variety of areas… all “satisfactory” jobs that I wouldn’t mind working in outside of what I went to school for…and what did I find within those areas…nothing. I’m still in that same dead end job. I realize the economy is bad, and there are plenty of people competing for those positions. But it becomes a little frustrating after a while…especially when they are jobs that I don’t even know if I would really like…basically I’m applying for something that isn’t my passion. Is that even worth it?

This past week I found two positions in my dream field. Both jobs, of which, I have no chance in hell of getting. So label it as a wake up call in getting my butt back to school.

I actually tried going back to school once last year (not a master’s program, but a technical college)…in interior design, again a “satisfactory” job that I probably wouldn’t mind doing. How did I do you ask? Not well at all. It wasn’t the actual classes…they were fine. It was setting (not finding) time aside for studying and completing the work for the class. What happened…I dropped out within a month of the courses, and lost 400 plus dollars. Now, did I not do the work out of laziness, or did I not do the work because interior design is not my true passion…would I actually do the work in a Master’s program, working towards a career in which I dedicate myself? Again, this is a burning question that I don’t know how to answer. $400 for a lost semester is one thing…but spending $4,000 and dropping out (along with all the work it takes to apply) would be such a bigger waste.

So I go back to my initial question…to attend Grad School or not to attend? I have some great positives on that list…but have realistic negatives that go along with those positives.

And I haven’t even mentioned the foreign language requirement that goes along with my field. I would have one year to be fluent in a foreign language. Can I do it? I would have seven months to teach myself a language before starting Grad School (if I were to be accepted into the program that is). Then I would have another 2 semesters, while in Grad School before having to take a fluency exam…and pass. Otherwise I would be dropped from the program…..eeek! And I am terrible…absolutely terrible at languages. Tried Spanish…not so hot. Attempted Italian…same outcome. Then in college I thought “I need to take Latin…it is the root of all Romantic Languages after all. If I learn Latin, I’ll be able to learn any language.” Beep. Wrong. Latin didn’t work out to well…and in fact, brought my GPA way waaaaaay down.

So what to do? Do I apply…if I’m accepted it’s a sign…right?! And if I’m denied…that’s another sign, and I would keep trucking along until something…hopefully something brilliant…works out for me.

Through this babbling I believe I found my answer…sort of that is. Apply or not to apply…apply and see what happens. It could open a new door…or maybe answer the burning question of “what the hell am I doing with my life?”