In today’s economy, students are more tempted to apply to graduate school, but are challenged by rising costs.
Christopher Chin/Staff Photographer
“With fewer jobs available, more students opt for graduate school in hard economic times,” said Lindsey Tremain, assistant dean of Binghamton University’s Graduate School. “It not only enhances their chance of employability, but delays the extremely competitive and overloaded job market.”
According to Tremain, the master’s degree is one way to obtain career success.
“Employers who can get people with expanded knowledge and background will generally take them over any bachelor’s student,” she said.
But John Roby, assistant to the president of the Graduate Student Organization, said he doesn’t see evidence of an influx of students applying to grad school because of the economy.
“In my department it seems as though classes are getting smaller than they were when I first came here,” he said.
Tremain said the main challenge is finding a way to finance graduate education.
“Nonetheless, it’s important not to focus on getting the cheapest program,” she said. “It’s important to focus on getting your money’s worth.”
However, getting that money is no longer a sure bet, according to Graduate Vice President for Multicultural Affairs Maresi Starzmann.
“This semester some graduate assistants and teaching assistants are not receiving tuition scholarships for the first time,” she said. “Some graduate students are teaching and ending up with no money because they have to pay tuition.”
Starzmann said it costs the University money to employ graduate students. But in the midst of an economic crisis, the state has had to cut down the money it gives to schools.
“Schools may raise other costs and, as a result, securing money to fund graduate school may be harder for students,” she said.
In a bad economy, Roby said, most students wouldn’t want to take on extra debt and work.
“People generally think about grad school when they are secure in their careers,” Roby said. “I know students who have dropped out because they couldn’t make ends meet.”
There are, however, still certain things students can do.
According to Starzmann, students have certain rights, even if University funding is tight.
“They should be able to be guaranteed certain living and employment rights,” Starzmann said.
Tremain suggested that students get to know their professors well. They could help students by vouching for their interpersonal, analytical, writing and leadership skills, she said.
Students, Tremain said, should also have flexible goals.
“Along with a changing type of economy, there will be different types of jobs available,” she said. “Be open to new ideas that could be even more exciting than the job for which you were previously aiming.”
At minimum, Tremain said, students will need a GPA above 3.0, good letters of recommendation, strong writing skills and good GRE scores to apply for grad school in a competitive environment.