Grad school offers new challenges

Published: Monday, June 15, 1998

Monday, June 15, 1998

FUTURE: Students face decision between work, continuing education to get higher-paying job

By Katie Sierra

Daily Bruin Contributor

As if graduating seniors don't have enough to worry about, the unsteady job market is forcing students to make difficult decisions. Should they enter graduate school in the hopes of gaining an edge on competition, or attempt to find a job in an increasingly competitive market?

As a result, many graduating students are unsure of where their career will take them.

Edward C. Anderson, a professor in the school of education, said graduate school can help a student to amass more information and gain skills necessary to their profession.

"Graduate school is just a continuation of the exploratory process," Anderson said.

"It allows students to make informed decisions and develop a high degree of self honesty," he continued.

However, Laila Lejnieks, who is receiving her degree in political science, disagrees.

She decided to take some time off from school to "find herself."

Lejnieks added that deciding whether or not to go to graduate school in the future will be tough.

"The prospect of another three to four years of school is a big commitment, and I'm just not ready for it right now," Lejnieks, said.

In the meantime, Lejnieks has decided to gain experience as a substitute teacher in the Los Angeles area.

Lejnieks intends to travel before she settles down into a permanent job or graduate school.

Matthew Biber, a graduating history student, has also decided to spend time substitute teaching before he makes a final career choice.

However, Biber is relatively sure he will not return to graduate school, at least not for a few years.

"I don't want to go back to school for quite a while," Biber said.

"I want to teach high school, and from talking to other teachers, I've learned that the job prospects are pretty good," he said.

While some students enter graduate school to gain an edge in the job market, others do so because they do not feel prepared for a career.

Teresa Chien, who will be receiving a degree in public policy, said her decision to go to graduate school immediately after she received her degree was an inevitable choice.

"It's a running tradition in my family to go directly into graduate school," Chien said.

"To be honest, I didn't feel prepared to go into the job market. I don't have any background or work experience," she said.

After earning her master's degree in public policy, Chien said she plans to go to work.

After a few years of working, she will then have to decide whether or not she return to school and try for a higher degree.

Chien said she was not sure of the state of the job market, but she knows that many of her friends have been offered work.

"My friends are really choosy. The problem is that they aren't happy with the jobs they've been offered," she said.

Biber agreed with Chien, adding that many of his friends aren't satisfied with recent job offers.

"Many of my friends are apprehensive about the job market. They're expecting to get high offers but the realities are $30,000 to $40,000 a year," Biber said.

He added that most of his friends seeking work were business students.

Biber knows that he will never earn as much as some of his friends who are attending graduate school. However, this doesn't really upset him.

"I love history," he said.

"I know there will be challenges, but if I can get paid for teaching something I love and also get summers off, well, that sounds great," Biber said.