1. Create Account
  2. Login
StudyUSA
Match Me
  • Create Account
  • Login
  • School Search
  • Resources
    • All Resources
    • Articles
    • Student Voices
    • Videos
    • Magazines
    • Podcasts
  • Services
    • All Services
    • Accommodation
    • Support
    • Career
    • Financial
    • Testing
    • Other
  • Apply
  • Chat

From Student Blogger Indira: Post-Graduation Options

From Student Blogger Indira: Post-Graduation Options

Aug 27, 2015

by Indira Pranabudi

Like everything else, college has its time and place. The majority of students in U.S. institutions earn Bachelors degrees in four years, and after those four years are over, the one question that lingers on the mind of soon-to-be-college-graduates is, what next? The two main choices are graduate school and work. Of course, there is also the other option: neither!

Work

The reason most people go to school at all is to get a good job, and thus, the number one thing people do after college is…get a job. Working, however, is very different from school. Furthermore, the prospect of entering real life (i.e. having an ‘actual’ job, paying taxes and rent!) may seem unsettling. It is, however, how life works, and however long you chose to postpone ‘real life’, you will eventually have to start making money for a living.

If you do intend to work straight after graduation, start looking for work early. There’s no better feeling than knowing you already have a job offer waiting for you after you graduate. If you’ve interned during previous summers and enjoyed your internships, perhaps a good way to go is to ask your previous employer for potential full-time offers. Otherwise, your university’s career fair is a good place to start. Of course, different industries start hiring university graduates at different times of the year, so it is a good idea to check with alums in your concentration who graduated before you.

Graduate School

More years of university schooling? For some people, the reason might be: no way! However, graduate school might be a prerequisite for certain professions. Examples of this category are law and medical schools (for lawyers and doctors respectively). Aside from the above reason, people yearning for a life in academia should also pursue graduate degrees in the field they wish to work in. In addition to the above reasons, pursuing graduate school also makes sense if you intend to switch fields (from your undergraduate studies), if you are in pursuit of better job prospects, or simply if you’d like to be an expert in the field.

Although graduate school sounds promising, it is not for everyone. A PhD degree, for example, entails another grueling five years in an academic environment, working on research papers day and night. If you intend to attend graduate school, make sure you really want to do it. Moreover, there is also the downside of sitting in classrooms while working friends are earning money for a living, something which might make life seem slow. Last but not least, it is definitely not a good idea to go to graduate school, simply because ‘entering real life’ seems daunting!

Other Options

Of course, there is also the other option: take some time off before either work or graduate school to clear your head a bit. Everyone knows that school is tiring; countless hours of sitting in the library and working on assignments. Work is also time consuming, with a 9-5 schedule for most people. As a solution, many people turn to traveling: a way to explore and learn about the world, while at the same time, really digest what you’ve gone through in college. For me personally, traveling is always a pleasure. Think about it this way: even if you’ve had a bad experience traveling somewhere, at least you’ll have stories to tell, right?

So there are the top three options after undergraduate studies. What will you pick?

 photo credit: Zack V. Apiratitham

Indira Pranabudi  is an international student alumna of Green River College and a recent graduate of Brown University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Computer Science. Indira is also a Student Contributor to U.S. News & World Report.

Follow us:
Written by

StudyUSA Blog

Get matched to the best program for you

Let us know what you're looking for so we can find the best school for you.

Get matched
Call to action background image. Decorative.

Useful Articles

Main image for the blog post titled New Year, New Me…not!
New Year, New Me…not!
Main image for the blog post titled An Open Letter to Lycoming College
An Open Letter to Lycoming College
Main image for the blog post titled Learn to Protect Our Environment for a Living
Learn to Protect Our Environment for a Living
Main image for the blog post titled Learn English at Disney
Learn English at Disney
Read more

Check Out These Schools

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University

$5,000—$10,000 Semester

English Programs Certificate/Short Term Masters
Contact
University of Tampa

University of Tampa

$30,000—$35,000 Year

Bachelor Degree Masters
Contact
Suffolk County Community College

Suffolk County Community College

$10,000 — $15,000 Year

Certificate/Short Term Bachelor Degree 2yr/Community College - 2+2 Programs
Contact

Related Stories

RICE University ESL Students Annual Halloween Pizza Party & Costume Contest!

Main image for the article titled RICE University ESL Students Annual Halloween Pizza Party & Costume Contest!
From Student Blogger, Komz: What it’s like being an international student at the University of Redlands

Main image for the article titled From Student Blogger, Komz: What it’s like being an international student at the University of Redlands
Royal Roads University hosted its annual international showcase

Main image for the article titled Royal Roads University hosted its annual international showcase
FIU Business School Helps Brazilian Student Build His Future

Main image for the article titled FIU Business School Helps Brazilian Student Build His Future

Start your U.S. adventure with Study in the USA

What's your dream? We can guide, advise, and connect you with your perfect U.S. school. We can also help you with the application process.
More about us
Partner Services

Learn About U.S. education financing, housing, and more

Partner service logo for The Michigan English Test for Higher Education Admissions in the U.S.

The Michigan English Test for Higher Education Admissions in the U.S.

Prove your English and achieve your goals with the Michigan English Test – widely recognized and available on your own schedule at a test center or from home.

Read more
Partner service logo for Find the perfect student housing with Unilodgers

Find the perfect student housing with Unilodgers

Choose an entire apartment, a studio, a shared room, or a private room, with 24x7 assistance from Personal Student Advisors. Book Now!

Read more
Partner service logo for There’s a business school for everyone. Meet yours at a free upcoming event!

There’s a business school for everyone. Meet yours at a free upcoming...

Ready to make your MBA dreams a reality? Register now for a virtual or in-person event with The MBA Tour! Don’t miss your chance to speak directly with leading business schools, such as Harvard University, Boston University, Columbia University, UC...

Read more

Testimonials

Quotation mark.

It is sometimes really difficult to associate and understand the nuances of the America college system. StudyUSA makes it possible to easily navigate to schools with programs that suits my needs, programs that understand the international student requirements. I give it a 6/5

Danielle Blinn South Africa

I used Study in the USA to find school recommendations, read about international student visas, as well as find scholarships available to international students! I was able to find my current school, Santa Barbara City College...

Jinhee Hwang South Korea

StudyUSA.com has helped me on the process of searching for good and inexpensive colleges around the US.

Lua De Miranda Brazil

Resources

Learn about American culture and education direct from our experts at Study in the USA. Read more

Achieving Your Goal
Admissions and Placement Testing
Beyond the Basics
Education System in the USA
Financing Your U.S. Education
Frequently Asked Questions
Life in the USA
Resources
Student Experiences
For students age 10-18
Study in Canada
Podcasts
Magazines
Videos
Student Voices
Ask StudyUSA.com

Subscribe to get the latest from Study in the USA

You can unsubscribe at any time.


StudyUSA
Explore

  • School Search
  • Resources
  •   Articles
  •   Student Voices
  •   Videos
  •   Magazines
  • Partner Services
  •   Accommodation
  •   Career
  •   Financial
  •   Other
  •   Support
  •   Testing
  • Apply
  • Chat
Information

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Course Index
  • Article Index
  • Create account
  • Sign in
  • For Educators & Institutions
Match Me
  • English
    English

  • Privacy & Policy
  • /
  • Terms

Study in the USA logo

© 2023 Study in the USA. All Rights Reserved.

Global Study logo
A member of the Global Study network

When you visit or interact with our sites, services or tools, we or our authorised service providers may use cookies for storing information to help provide you with a better, faster and safer experience and for marketing purposes.