Attending graduate or professional school may be a path you are contemplating after completing your final year at Naropa or after being in the “world of work” for awhile. Your decision should be based on careful reflection and clarification of your life and career goals because the reason for attending graduate or professional school is a very personal one and varies from individual to individual. The following questions may help clarify your decision to attend graduate or professional school:
Self Exploration and Assessment
What do I want to do with my Naropa degree? Why do I want to further my education? What would I like to be doing in five or ten years? Have I clearly defined my interests in order to find a school and program that will fulfill them? Am I willing to commit the time, effort, personal resources and financial resources that pursuing a graduate degree requires? Will a graduate degree help me achieve my long-term goals? Do I enjoy this field of study so much that I can picture myself spending most of my time on it for years to come? Do I have the academic and professional qualifications that will enable me to pursue this degree? If not, what do I have to do to make up for my lack of qualifications? Do I have the motivation, self-discipline, self-confidence, interpersonal skills and persistence required to earn a graduate degree?
Timing
Is this a good time to go? Do I need an advanced degree to do what I want to do? Do I want to go to graduate school immediately after graduation or should I wait a few years? Do I need a break? Do professionals or graduate programs in the field of interest to me recommend practical experience before attending graduate school?
After assessing your true interests and motivations in attending graduate school and considering the timing, you may want to schedule a time to meet with the career services coordinator to discuss in further detail your academic pursuits. For more immediate assistance, visit Career Services’ Web Resources, specifically Peterson’s which provides readers with a Graduate School Planning Guide.
Sarah Steward, career services coordinator
Arapahoe Campus ~ Allen Ginsberg Library
second floor (6210)
303.245.4863 ~ ssteward@naropa.edu
