Dear Ms Henry,

I will be graduating from University at the end of this academic year and am therefore trying to decide whether or not I should pursue graduate studies immediately afterwards. What are some of the factors to consider in order to help me make a decision.

TO be adequately prepared for a dynamic and challenging job market, pursuing graduate studies immediately after a bachelors degree is becoming the norm.

Another factor, which contributes to this decision is the difficulty graduates face in finding employment within a reasonable time frame (six to nine months) after graduating with a bachelors degree.

Pursuing graduate students, however, should be taken seriously as you should be very sure of your career objective. At this level, you are becoming highly specialised in your area. You should be convinced that this is the area in which you would like to make your contribution to society, while achieving your personal goals.

To decide when to pursue graduate studies, ask yourself the following questions:

. Do you have the needed time to prepare?

Since you are currently pursuing a bachelors, will you have enough time to make the necessary preparations to move directly into graduate studies.

You may be required to research universities and their programmes. If overseas, this becomes even more time consuming. You may also need to source scholarships and other forms of funding.

This is a time when you are focusing on meeting the requirements to qualify for graduation. You need to arrange your time effectively.

. When do you apply for specific programmes?

You will need to find out when applications are submitted. Most programmes require applications to be submitted between six and nine months ahead of the date of commencement.

. Will you be physically and psychologically ready for graduate studies?

Individuals differ. Some people will want to go straight into graduate studies. They often comment that they prefer to do all the studying then get on with other aspects of their life.

Others will say that they are tired of studying and need a break. They prefer to gain work experience and do some things they did not have the time to do while pursuing undergraduate studies.

You should, therefore, do your self-assessment and determine which of these categories best fit you.

. Are you financially ready?

After completing a first degree, some people may not have the financial resources to begin graduate studies and may have to consider finding employment.

Are there student loans to be repaid? What are the regulations regarding repayment of student loans after graduating? Saving towards graduate studies could, therefore, be a very important consideration in the decision-making process.

Additionally, you should consider whether there are personal financial responsibilities which must be met and that could create a financial strain if you begin to pursue graduate studies immediately after undergraduate studies?

Will the programme of study selected meet your needs?

If you have to work to maintain your financial independence and take care of additional expenses incurred due to studies, you should consider finding a programme which will meet you needs.

In this case part-time, evening, and weekend programmes would be appropriate. You may also need to investigate the opportunities for on-line programmes. These are becoming popular options, since they may be even more convenient than weekend or evening programmes.

They can be accessed at convenient times and eliminate the hassle of travelling to and from classes. You must also be comfortable doing a lot of work using the computer.

In choosing on-line programmes, however, you should know yourself. Are you the type of person who learns best in the traditional classroom setting? Do you like interacting with classmates and working in groups, while having face-to-face interaction with your lecturer.

. What is your present academic performance?Merrit Henry is career counsellor and students services manager at the Placement and Career Services Unit, UWI, Mona. She may be contacted at merrit.henry@uwimona.edu.jm

Ensure that you maintain good grades. To pursue graduate studies, most universities require that you prove – by way of your grades – that you are academically capable. An upper second class honours degree from a reputable university is the minimum requirement.

If your grades are low, you may need to wait in order to gain work experience. This could improve your chances for gaining entry to your programme of choice. Some graduate schools also require participation in community and co-curricular activities.