5 Questions You Need To Ask Yourself Before Applying For Graduate School

Because the "student forever" fantasy comes with fine print.

Published on Sep 1, 2025

Questions to ask yourself before applying for graduate school

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There's a strange, almost disorienting stretch of time after college when the world feels both wide open and impossibly small. You're armed with a diploma, a handful of experience through internships or part-time gigs, and maybe a fuzzy sense of what you want to do. But then reality sets in: Do you commit to the career path you’ve already started carving out? Do you risk veering off-course and figuring things out on your own? Or do you take a more traditional detour—grad school—as a way to deepen, refine, or completely pivot your trajectory?

We're not here to talk about sticking with the familiar, nor about gambling on a self-made reinvention (though those can be valid paths too). What we are here to explore is grad school—the middle option that, at least on paper, feels structured, safe, and productive. But before you commit years of your life, and potentially your family's savings, to another degree, it's worth pausing to ask some tough questions.

Here are five key things to consider before deciding if grad school is the right move for you.

5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Applying For Graduate School

1. Why are you interested in going to grad school?

Be brutally honest with yourself. Are you genuinely curious about diving deeper into a field of study, or are you looking for a safe place to hide from the uncertainties of adulthood? Neither answer is wrong. But make sure you're clear on your "why."

If you're soul-searching and you have the time, financial support, and energy to spend two to three (or even four to five years) tinkering with ideas, that’s fine. Just be honest with whoever is funding you that that's what you’ll be up to.

But if your main goal is career advancement, then your degree should align tightly with your ambitions. For example: Wanting to write for a magazine someday doesn’t automatically mean a creative writing MA is your best bet. A professional writing course, or even a specialized degree in fashion, lifestyle, or media studies, might serve you better. Match your academic steps with your professional goals, or at least set you up with a community that will get you where you want to be.

2. Where do you want to go to grad school?

For many, the dream isn't just the degree but the scene and lifestyle that comes with it. A fresh start in a new city or even a new country sounds so enticing, especially when you're young and free and full of travel FOMO. And while grad school can be a legitimate way to migrate or to merely gain experience in a different place, please know: if the lifestyle and destination are your primary motivations, it is essential that you weigh whether grad school is the smartest route in the long run. Could a remote job that lets you travel scratch that same itch?

If migration is part of your plan, grad school can open doors, but it comes with financial landmines. In the US, for instance, non-citizens don't get federal financial aid for schooling, which means private loans are your only option as a Filipino. These loans are often predatory, with interest rates that can tether you to debt for decades. So if your main motivation is to secure residency abroad, do your homework—and your math.

Closer to home, a local degree might save you from crushing debt, but it comes with its own challenges: long commutes, limited course offerings, remote options that keep you away from the magic of the classroom, or fewer networking opportunities compared to big-name international programs. Ask yourself: are you after the academic rigor, the global networking, or simply the experience of living somewhere new? Each path has trade-offs.

3. How recently did you graduate?

There's an undeniable advantage to going straight from undergrad to grad school: you're still in "student mode," your energy is high, and you can knock out demanding degrees like medicine, law, or business before major adult responsibilities pile up.

But sometimes, going directly into another program is less about readiness and more about fear. Specifically, fear of leaving the academic bubble, of entering the messy, unstructured real world, and all the adult responsibilities and unknowns that come with it. If this resonates, pause and consider giving yourself a year or two in the workforce, or at least with yourself outside of school. See what you actually enjoy doing, what skills you need to sharpen, and whether grad school is truly necessary to you at this juncture of your life.

If funding isn't an issue and you're eager to be back in the classroom, by all means, go ahead. But if your family will be stretched thin or you're unsure of your long-term goals, a little real-world seasoning could give you clarity and possibly prevent regret.

4. The big one: Can you afford it?

Let's be real: Grad school is expensive. Some programs promise quick returns, especially in high-demand fields like engineering or computer science. But for many others, including noble pursuits like teaching and journalism, you may be operating at a loss. Meaning: you could potentially spend more on your degree than you'll earn in the years following your graduation.

Again, if you have the means, great. If not, consider alternatives:

Public universities. They're often more affordable, though bureaucracy can slow your progress. You might be waiting semesters for a required class to open, or stuck in administrative limbo.

University employment. Many schools fund graduate studies for their faculty or staff, often with strings attached. Typically, for every year of funded study, you owe two years of service. This is perfect if you see yourself staying in academia and in the particular institution that funds your studies.

Scholarships. These can be lifesavers, but they require meticulous preparation: tests, documentation, essays, and more. And these requirements come with their own hefty price tags at times. They also have their own strings. Scholarships like Fulbright or Erasmus cover essentials but come with conditions: You'll need to return home afterward, and you'll be living on a tight budget. The "starving grad student" trope exists for a reason.

5. What do you want to get out of it?

Learning for learning's sake is an admirable pursuit, and if it's an easy decision for you to just go for it, then please do. But most people want grad school to be a stepping stone toward something—career advancement, higher income, prestige, migration, or entry into academia.

But here's the reality check again: Not all degrees have equal returns. The arts, communications, and humanities programs rarely pay off as quickly or as handsomely as STEM. Let the record state that this is a flaw in our society, not in the subjects themselves.

Academia, meanwhile, is notoriously competitive. Sometimes it's described as toxic. Even with a PhD, you'll need a steady stream of publications and research projects to carve out a long-term career. And that's if you survive the burnout that comes with being a tenured professor's teaching or research assistant.

So ask yourself: Is this degree truly the bridge to your goals, or is it just a socially acceptable detour while you figure things out?

Final Thoughts

In the Philippines, education has long been seen as the ticket to social, economic, and international mobility. And in many cases, it is. If grad school feels like the right path for you, do it! But go with your eyes wide open.

Know that grad school doesn't guarantee success, stability, or even clarity. It's not the only way to change careers, broaden your horizons, deepen your knowledge, or earn the salary you want. It's one path among others.

So fill out those enrollment forms. But before you sign a loan or any other commitment, ask yourself: Am I choosing this out of fear, pressure, or avoidance? Or is this a deliberate, strategic step toward the life I want? Grad school can be an incredible journey—if it's one you're ready for.

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Pauline Lacanilao Arnould is a contributing writer with over 100 bylines across the Philippines’ top print and digital publications. Her work spans culture, travel, relationships, fashion, art, books, and more. A former writing and literature professor at Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines, she blends academic curiosity with accessible storytelling—striving for nuance, depth, and cultural sensitivity in every piece. Beyond articles, she publishes poetry, creative nonfiction, zines, and handcrafted children's books. You can follow her on Instagram @pauline_arnould.