undergrad loans, you are going to rack up some more debt. Kiplinger.com also reports some good news in the manner: 4 out of 5 full time graduate students earn financial aid.

With all the pros in mind, you should also consider the application process. Besides the $90 application fee, most grad schools require the GRE. Although you may have received a great education from a top-notch school

So you Wanna Go to Grad School?

Unlike undergrad studies, getting into a graduate school may prove more complicated. Before you jump into the application process, there are some things you should know. Make sure you are financially, mentally and academically prepared.

Many post-grads enter the real world and realize it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Considering the less than desirable pay for many entry level jobs and the menial tasks, many hopeful grads choose to go back to school. It isn’t as easy as it sounds, many grad schools require GRE’s (Graduate Record Examination), which equates to the college version of the SAT’s. So, before jumping on the grad school band wagon, make sure you know what you are getting yourself in to.

First you need to evaluate your current situation. Although you may not be happy with your current job there is always the option of shopping around. But, if you realize the career field you’re in isn’t right for you, maybe it’s time to go back to school. According to “Do master’s degrees really pay off?” an article on Colleges.com, the U.S. Census Bureau shows that master’s degrees recipients between ages 25 and 64 earn about $240,000 more than someone with a bachelor’s degree. So, yes, the pay increase is significant and may be worth it.

Keep in mind that, like your bachelor’s, your master’s is going to cost you a pretty penny. According to Kiplinger.com’s article “Free Money for Grad School,” the average cost of grad school can range from $17,000 a year to $56,000 a year. So, if you already owe money for your undergrad loans, you are going to rack up some more debt. Kiplinger.com also reports some good news in the manner: 4 out of 5 full time graduate students earn financial aid.

With all the pros in mind, you should also consider the application process. Besides the $90 application fee, most grad schools require the GRE. Although you may have received a great education from a top-notch school,

desirable pay for many entry level jobs and the menial tasks, many hopeful grads choose to go back to school. It isn’t as easy as it sounds, many grad schools require GRE’s (Graduate Record Examination), which equates to the college version of the SAT’s. So, before jumping on the grad school band wagon, make sure you know what you are getting yourself in to.

First you need to evaluate your current situation. Although you may not be happy with your current job there is always the option of shopping around. But, if you realize the career field you’re in isn’t right for you, maybe it’s time to go back to school. According to “Do master’s degrees really pay off?” an article on Colleges.com, the U.S. Census Bureau shows that master’s degrees recipients between ages 25 and 64 earn about $240,000 more than someone with a bachelor’s degree. So, yes, the pay increase is significant and may be worth it.

Keep in mind that, like your bachelor’s, your master’s is going to cost you a pretty penny. According to Kiplinger.com’s article “Free Money for Grad School,” the average cost of grad school can range from $17,000 a year to $56,000 a year. So, if you already owe money for your undergrad loans, you are going to rack up some more debt. Kiplinger.com also reports some good news in the manner: 4 out of 5 full time graduate students earn financial aid.

With all the pros in mind, you should also consider the application process. Besides the $90 application fee, most grad schools require the GRE. Although you may have received a great education from a top-notch school

current situation. Although you may not be happy with your current job there is always the option of shopping around. But, if you realize the career field you’re in isn’t right for you, maybe it’s time to go back to school. According to “Do master’s degrees really pay off?” an article on Colleges.com, the U.S. Census Bureau shows that master’s degrees recipients between ages 25 and 64 earn about $240,000 more than someone with a bachelor’s degree. So, yes, the pay increase is significant and may be worth it.

Keep in mind that, like your bachelor’s, your master’s is going to cost you a pretty penny. According to Kiplinger.com’s article “Free Money for Grad School,” the average cost of grad school can range from $17,000 a year to $56,000 a year. So, if you already owe money for your undergrad loans, you are going to rack up some more debt. Kiplinger.com also reports some good news in the manner: 4 out of 5 full time graduate students earn financial aid.

With all the pros in mind, you should also consider the application process. Besides the $90 application fee, most grad schools require the GRE. Although you may have received a great education from a top-notch school

$240,000 more than someone with a bachelor’s degree. So, yes, the pay increase is significant and may be worth it.

Keep in mind that, like your bachelor’s, your master’s is going to cost you a pretty penny. According to Kiplinger.com’s article “Free Money for Grad School,” the average cost of grad school can range from $17,000 a year to $56,000 a year. So, if you already owe money for your undergrad loans, you are going to rack up some more debt. Kiplinger.com also reports some good news in the manner: 4 out of 5 full time graduate students earn financial aid.

With all the pros in mind, you should also consider the application process. Besides the $90 application fee, most grad schools require the GRE. Although you may have received a great education from a top-notch school

undergrad loans, you are going to rack up some more debt. Kiplinger.com also reports some good news in the manner: 4 out of 5 full time graduate students earn financial aid.

With all the pros in mind, you should also consider the application process. Besides the $90 application fee, most grad schools require the GRE. Although you may have received a great education from a top-notch school, the GRE’s aren’t as easy as you think. The GRE general test is made up of three sections: Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical. And like the SAT’s, the Quantitative section is Math problems. Since many undergrad programs allow their students to swap college level math courses with Computer Science and such, this section may prove to be difficult for many students.

To shed some light on the what seems to be hush-hush process of taking the GRE’s, here are some statistics. According to www.fairtest.org, the average score in the verbal section of the GRE’s is 465, the average score for the quantitative section: 578 and the average score for the analytical: 562. Right now, these are just numbers so here’s a bit of perspective. To fall into the 96th-99th percentile, you must receive a 720, to fall into the 79-90th percentile: a 630, and to fall into the 61st-75th percentile: a 570 (www.800score.com). What does that say for average test-takers? Well most of us may very well place in the 70th percentile, and for most graduate schools that isn’t very promising. Many graduate schools expect GRE scores in the 80th to 90th percentile.

What to do? If you want to go to grad school and have to take the GRE’s, buy some books and take some practice tests. For an extensive review and reader friendly tips try The GRE for Dummies by Suzee Vlk or Word Smart for the GRE by Anne Curtis. But seriously, don’t take the test blindly, because no matter how many times you take it you can’t erase your initial scores.

In review, unhappy post-grads may see promise in