You did it. You’ve graduated. Congratulations! A college degree is a huge achievement. Your Bachelors degree is still steaming from coming hot off of the presses. So what’s next for you? Was your dream job waiting for you as soon as you stepped off the stage? Are you considering going to graduate school? If you are considering grad school as your next step here are three reasons to NOT go to graduate school.

Reason #1: Ducking & Dodging Sallie Mae

Sallie Mae for a lack of better words is the bane of most college graduates existence. Let’s say that you don’t have any job prospects lined up and you’re nearing that 6 month grace period post graduation to begin paying back your loans, what options do you have? Most people, all be it being horrible advice to give to a desperate recent grad, will suggest enrolling in a Master’s program. The reason being that as long as you are in school the debt you already owe will be kept at bay. This is terrible advice because unless you have a scholarship or some coincidental inheritance, you will just be creating more loans to pay back at a later date. Proceed with caution and lots of it.

Reason #2: You’re A Career Student

Maybe it took you a little longer to finish undergrad and the thought of the next step, real life, scares the bejesus out of you. We all know someone who is our own personal Lynn from “Girlfriends”, right? Getting degree after degree after degree. Hiding in a grad program wont help you transition into that soon to follow phase of adulthood. It’s time to just get on with it and accept that you have to grow up. Yes, it’s scary but this milestone has its own rewards. It’s time to put those degrees to good use.

Reason #3: Do It For The Fam

Mama had the bullhorn at the graduation yelling your name. You heard echoes of your Granny hollering, “Thats my baby!” They have been bragging on you to the women’s group down at church. Cleared space on the mantel at home to display your bachelors degree. They are your biggest fans and wear the pride of your educational accomplishments on their sleeves for the world to see. You sit down to dig into your celebratory graduation day meal surrounded by friends, family, and the next thing you know you are chocking on your mom declaring that the next stop will be her baby getting his/her’s master’s degree. Wait? What? So often family pushes us to obtain degrees and to pursue careers that weren’t on our radars. As appreciated as your families support is don’t allow it to pressure you into another degree or at least so soon.

Grad school can be a great thing but you have to go into it with a plan. Anything less than that can just push back the beginning of you building your work experience and increasing your student loan debt.

Did you enter into grad school under one of these reasons or do you know someone who did? Comment below and tell me about it.

-MonaLita💋

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