What is the best way to plan for life after graduate school?

Hi Nevate,

Depending on your circumstances, there are a few things you can do to prepare for life after graduate school. I would say that the first step is to ensure that you are setting yourself up to obtain the career that you want to pursue after obtaining your grad degree while you are still in school. Being on a campus offers a lot of networking opportunities that are not as readily available once you're out of college. Attending networking events, connecting with professionals, and figuring out where you would like to live are all good things to do to get ready for life after grad school.

If you already have a career lined up, I would say the best way to 'get ready' is to set up all the basics: where you're going to live, how you'll get to work everyday, etc.

Once you have all of your logistics figured out, spend time doing things that you love. Once you start working full time, life will get really busy. Spend your transition time between grad school and 'real life' with family, friends, and going on adventures you might not have as much time to do once you're working.

I know this is a vague answer but I hope you find it helpful.

Best of luck,

Sydnie

After graduate school, you'll have several choices. One is to simply keep preparing to get a job. This is assuming you plan on having a career in the particular area you've chosen to study. Some folks may actually have a degree that they plan to use as part of their lives, but not necessarily to support them or start a career specifically in that area.

In the case where you really intend to be employed in that particular area, keep active. Study the sorts of activities employers would see as indicative of desirable employees. In the case where you have gained skills that can be in areas of generally helping others, you may be able to apply them in a very wide range of opportunities. In that case, stay informed about those sorts of organizations, activities and individuals. Make connections. Do volunteer work. Read.

If you've studied an area that is geared toward -- or intended to be geared toward -- your own activities, such as entrepreneurship to start your own business, dig in. Get informed about the opportunities. And risks. And challenges.

If you have your Master's Degree, you may want to look into getting your Doctorate. There are many careers where a PhD is more valuable than in others. Or even expected. In that case, you'll want to stay current with your studies and to look into opportunities.

The bottom line is that what you do after graduate school should not be just to "relax". You want to get into using what you've invested so much effort in obtaining, right?

Hi Nevate,

As you didn't provide much context regarding your graduate studies or skills, it's difficult to give you a practical answer. That said, I can give you a vague and existential answer.

Travel the world:

If you have the resources to do so, I suggest you take some time to travel the world. Get a glimpse of how people in other parts of the world live, broaden your cultural horizons, experience untouched natural wonders, and see some historical sites before they become ruins.

Get a job:

Although the spectrum of opportunities will be impacted by your field of study, I would encourage you to find a job that is challenging and allows you to have a healthy work-life balance. I would also encourage you to be aware of the organization's culture when interviewing. You'll spend a pretty significant portion of your life after grad school at work, so it's important to find enjoyment in the work you do.

Take it one day at a time:

Planning is great, but I would caution you on becoming too beholden to your plan. Things change, and you may realized that what you originally planned may not reflect your current wants/needs. I would encourage you to embrace change and be open to new experiences. Sometimes unexpected experiences can be the most rewarding.

This probably wasn't the answer you were looking for, but I hope it helps.

Mike