By Ella Cobb

Grad school may not be for everyone. Sometimes when I am stressed, I wonder if it is for me. But I know at the end of the day, it’s worth it for me. 

Getting my MBA is one of the hardest things I have ever done and as I near the end, I am reflecting on why I chose this path. This is what led me to grad school, and I hope it helps you make your decision if you’re considering a master’s degree

When I started college, I knew I wanted to go to graduate school one day. But at that point, I wasn’t even sure what I wanted to study in college let alone graduate school. 

I did know that I had this feeling that I wanted to be a master in my field one day. 

As I worked on trying to decide what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, I kept grad school in the back of my mind. It was a distant plan but still there. 

I was even working on plans for how I would pay for it.

Once I decided to major in marketing, I remember looking at MTSU’s MBA program and thinking that I could maybe do that one day. 

Life and school got busy. My undergraduate program was my priority. 

At the beginning of the spring semester in 2024 (one semester before I expected to graduate), I started preparing myself for the next step. 

I worked on making myself look like an attractive candidate for both the program and for graduate assistantship positions. 

I got more involved in the campus community than I ever had before (ended up being life-changing but that is a story for another day). 

I worried and worried about my plans not working out and what that would mean for me. 

By the time the fall semester started, I knew grad school was definitely my Plan A. I didn’t look for a full-time job in my field, or even make a back-up plan. I was so deeply in love with the field of marketing that I knew I wanted to be a master in it. 

I applied to two programs and after a lot of thought and meeting multiple students in each program, I chose MTSU’s MBA in Strategic Marketing Analytics. 

I applied to every assistantship available and talked to every contact I could find. I ended up accepting a position in one of the academic departments in the Jones College of Business. 

Everything lined up perfectly for me to begin in January. I even got to use the rest of my Tennessee Hope Scholarship in graduate school ( did you know you can do that? Definitely ask MT One Stop about it). 

When I say grad school hasn’t been and isn’t glamorous, I’m not kidding. There have been a lot of sleepless nights, frustration, and some tears here and there. 

It was incredibly challenging, but so incredibly rewarding. During grad school, I experienced true academic burnout for the first time. But, it was worth it, and I also could feel myself getting smarter and stronger in so many ways. 

I don’t regret the time I spent in graduate school for one minute. I feel much more prepared for the next step in my career than I did a year and half ago when I graduated from undergrad. 

Whether you are thinking about grad school as an option directly after undergrad or years later, here are some things that may help you make your decision.

1. As cheesy as it sounds, what is your why? Your answer may affect whether or not this is the right choice for you. This decision needs to be for you and not anyone else. 
2. Will a masters in your field help you further your career? Or help you pivot into another? See all the graduate-level programs MTSU offers here.  
3. Do you know anyone who has done this program? If so, reach out. If not, reach out to the department and ask to talk to someone. 
4. How do you plan to fund your program? There are many different options.  
5.  Are you ready to start now or would time in your industry help? This answer will be different for everyone, but graduate school will still be there in two, three, or 10 years if you want it. 
6. What does the job market actually look like for people who finish this specific program? 
7. Are you going to work full-time or part-time while in grad school? What kind of time can you give to your program?

While graduate school isn’t necessarily glamorous at times, it can be one of the most truly rewarding and impactful decisions you can make. 

Higher education is extremely valuable, and no one can ever take your education from you. It’s something you worked hard for and should be very proud of. 

Graduate school is not a small decision. Think through your options, talk to peers, talk to faculty, ask your support system, and remember that the faculty and staff at MTSU are here to support you. 

If you’re unsure, get more information about the program and do what feels right for you.

For me, this was always about becoming a master in my field… and I will be in just over a week. 

Writer Ella Cobb is part of MTSU’s Student Voice team. She is completing her MBA in Strategic Marketing Analytics and earned her undergrad in Marketing at MTSU. She graduates in August.