These are all the emotions commonly felt when reaching back into that small corner of your mind reserved for graduate school. Most people have a hard time deciding what to do with themselves for their undergraduate degree, let alone their graduate degree. All the sudden you hit junior year and then everyone is all, "So where are you doing your masters?" and "Have you taken the GRE yet? I got my scores back last week!" I mean, that's great for them but I am just happy that I made it through finals week without overdosing on caffeine and Vitamin C. Who says I even want to go to grad school? I have already been in school for 16 years, what makes you think I want to do another 3 years?
Unfortunately, we live in a world where the Bachelor's degree is the new GED. Having a Bachelor's no longer guarantees a job after graduation and more than a few college graduates are finding themselves without jobs. What is a young hopeful to do other than look into getting their graduate degree? I know that since my sophomore year that I've been having breakdowns at least twice a semester worrying about whether or not I'm on the right track, am I meeting the requirements, how many other people will I be competing with for a spot, and so on. Add that tension to the surprising number of schools that don't carry my desired program and you have a recipe for a well-paid therapist.
However, it was during one of these breakdown sessions that I was having in a meeting with my academic advisor when she brought something to my attention that might have saved my academic life: as an English major, I have the freedom to specialize in virtually anything I want in my masters. Say I go into Public Health for my masters; what good does this do me? Well, I already have a background in writing and analysis. With a masters in Public Health, I could write up health reports or write published articles for hospitals in order for them to keep their credibility. This scenario doesn't just work for English majors though; it can be applied to virtually any major. Say you earned an Engineering degree in your undergraduate; get your masters in writing and become a technical writer. Maybe you have a business degree and thought you would get a business masters; instead try getting your degree in design or health sciences and you could have the opportunity to run something that is more than just your field. By crossing your undergraduate and your masters, you open yourself up to a whole new world of possibilities. When you cross-specialize, you become infinitely more valuable in the workplace.
This sounds so simple that it seems unreal, but it never occurred to me before talking with my advisor. Her experienced perspective is what has guided me through my entire academic career and once again she has saved the day. So if you're like me and you don't quite know where you're going for grad school, I encourage you to consider your options. Just because you're and English major doesn't mean you have to get another Literature or Writing degree. Just because you're a Biology major doesn't mean you have to continue on into the science field. Consider your options, talk to your superiors, and just breathe.
We'll get through this together.
