Going Back to Grad School Instead of Getting a Job

The current job market is not ideal for anyone, but there are ways to cope:

Communicate and connect with friends, family, alumni, professors and previous employers. There is no shortage of advice that may be helpful, and the power of networking during a job search should not be underestimated.

Open your mind to new ideas. It may not be the perfect, but it may help define future plans more clearly. Be innovative and creative with the options you do find, and optimism always helps.

Plan for change. It was never my own intention to head to graduate school right out of undergrad, but like all well-laid plans, mine changed. The ability to be flexible has been key to considering each opportunity as it comes my way.

Experience. If you don’t have plans, look for experiences. Many of my peers have decided to teach English in a foreign country, join programs like Teach for America that combine higher education with teaching, or travel with a non-profit to promote a cause. Others are shadowing alumni in interesting careers over the summer, or working for free to try out different careers while applying for graduate schools or continuing their job search.