4 answers
Abigail
Student
Plain City, Ohio
1
Question
Asked
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What should I do for graduate school ?
Would it be beneficial for me to work for 1-3 years as a clinical data analyst with a bachelor's degree then attend graduate school to earn my masters, or should I attend graduate school directly after college? I am currently majoring in statistics for my undergraduate degree, and will eventually earn my master's in biostatistics to then become a biostatistician.
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4 answers
Loryn Studer
Doctor of Physical Therapy
6
Answers
Bend, Oregon
Updated
Loryn’s Answer
I would say work first. Get some experience working in the field and see if your professional growth is truly limited by the lack of a master degree. It can be hard getting a job after graduate school so having experience working in the field to some degree can be really helpful with differentiating yourself. It also allows you the opportunity to establish yourself as a professional so you can make the most of networking opportunities in graduate school. There’s no wrong answer though. If financially you can go straight into graduate school and that feels more natural for you and your professional development, you can absolutely do that. Hope that helps!
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1085
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Abigail,
Both paths have their advantages and disadvantages (of course they do).
If you find a job and start working, you'll gain valuable work experience and learn the ins and outs of the profession. You'll find out which parts of the job you enjoy and what you are missing. You'll be able to pick exactly the graduate program you want. If you get very lucky with your job though, you might end up in a job that pays for your further education.
The difficult part will be to go back to school and into "student mode" when you have been earning money for a few years. Life moves on. You'd have to invest extra energy to get back up to speed.
If you go to graduate school right after undergrad, you still have the mindset for studying. All the things you learned in undergrad are fresh on your mind. If you attend grad school at the same university where you did your undergrad (not necessarily recommended), everything will be familiar and easy.
The decision depends somewhat on your mindset and your goals. Are you eager to use your skills in the workplace? Are you a bit tired of school? Then, maybe getting a job is a good option. But if you know where you want to go, which graduate program you want to attend and are still "in the flow", go for the graduate program right after undergrad.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Both paths have their advantages and disadvantages (of course they do).
If you find a job and start working, you'll gain valuable work experience and learn the ins and outs of the profession. You'll find out which parts of the job you enjoy and what you are missing. You'll be able to pick exactly the graduate program you want. If you get very lucky with your job though, you might end up in a job that pays for your further education.
The difficult part will be to go back to school and into "student mode" when you have been earning money for a few years. Life moves on. You'd have to invest extra energy to get back up to speed.
If you go to graduate school right after undergrad, you still have the mindset for studying. All the things you learned in undergrad are fresh on your mind. If you attend grad school at the same university where you did your undergrad (not necessarily recommended), everything will be familiar and easy.
The decision depends somewhat on your mindset and your goals. Are you eager to use your skills in the workplace? Are you a bit tired of school? Then, maybe getting a job is a good option. But if you know where you want to go, which graduate program you want to attend and are still "in the flow", go for the graduate program right after undergrad.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Wong Loke Yuen
Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
645
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Abigail. This depends on your career goals, personal readiness, and the experience you want to gain.
Working as a clinical data analyst for 1-3 years after your bachelor's degree can be very helpful. You would get real-world experience working with clinical or healthcare data. This can help you learn how to use statistical programs, manage data, and analyze results. Working first also helps you understand what the job is really like and can show you which areas of biostatistics you enjoy the most. In addition, having work experience can make you a stronger candidate for graduate programs.
Going straight to graduate school after college also has benefits. You stay in "student mode," which makes it easier to focus on learning and completing your master's without taking a break. If you feel confident in your math, going directly to graduate school could help you finish your education faster and start your career as a biostatistician sooner.
The choice really depends on what you want. If you want hands-on experience, working first is a good option. If you want to finish school quickly and dive into advanced study while your academic skills are fresh, going straight to graduate school might be better. Hope this helps. Good luck.
Working as a clinical data analyst for 1-3 years after your bachelor's degree can be very helpful. You would get real-world experience working with clinical or healthcare data. This can help you learn how to use statistical programs, manage data, and analyze results. Working first also helps you understand what the job is really like and can show you which areas of biostatistics you enjoy the most. In addition, having work experience can make you a stronger candidate for graduate programs.
Going straight to graduate school after college also has benefits. You stay in "student mode," which makes it easier to focus on learning and completing your master's without taking a break. If you feel confident in your math, going directly to graduate school could help you finish your education faster and start your career as a biostatistician sooner.
The choice really depends on what you want. If you want hands-on experience, working first is a good option. If you want to finish school quickly and dive into advanced study while your academic skills are fresh, going straight to graduate school might be better. Hope this helps. Good luck.
Andrew Au
Professor of Mathematics & Statistics, Retired
224
Answers
Updated
Andrew’s Answer
It is easy to lose momentum because life happens all the time. The “break” can last for a long period of time beyond a three-year hiatus due to all kinds of unforeseeable circumstances. Hence, I would strongly recommend going straight to graduate school right after the undergraduate degree.