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[scholardude]

I am a senior undergraduate majoring in a humanities field, and I have been planning to go to grad school for some time now.  I've sent in all my applications, and right now I'm waiting to hear back from schools.  But now I'm beginning to wonder if I should instead take some time off and work for a while, perhaps not to return.  Any advice on how to decide whether to go to grad school - if I get in - or enter another job market for the present at least?  Thanks in advance

[hollow_man]

I've never heard anyone say there were sorry they worked for a year or two before going to grad school. Ever.

Humanities grad school is like entering a monastic order -- if there's anything else you think you could do with your life, you should do that instead.

[seed_stitch]

I went straight into a Master's program in a social science field out of my undergrad. While I learned a lot, did well, and enjoyed myself, I also burnt out by the end, and couldn't conceive of getting my PhD right away. I finished my Master's, worked a couple different moderately professional and sometimes interesting jobs for a few years...and now I'm applying for PhD programs. Got two acceptances thus far, waiting on two more, and I'm surprised to find I'm glad I took a few years off in any case. I thought I'd be kicking myself for "not doing this earlier" but it doesn't seem to be the case. I'm actually more certain of my path now, having done the other thing and found it not to my tastes, though not all bad.

[ufo_tofu]

I'm with the others.  While the jobs I had between undergrad and grad school weren't the most fun, I don't regret taking some time off to make sure that I really did want to go to grad school.  I was making pretty good money (I'm still not making as much as an assistant prof!) but I now know that this is what I want to do.  Grad school and the job market are tough - make sure before you go.  And, hey, some time to save up money before going to the monastery isn't a bad thing!  My car was newish and totally paid for when I went to grad school, which helped!

[oedipusrex]

I concur with the others. I am an international student, so I had to finish a Master's in my country before coming to the United States for a second MA, both in English. I wish I had taken some time off between my two MA's to read and think more about what I wanted to do. Grad school in the United States proved to be a totally different kettle of fish and I felt like a fish out of water on several occasions. I have applied to a PhD program after a 2-year break, and, despite the initial hiccups, I am now convinced that it is THE only thing I want to do. As others have suggested, enter a PhD program in the humanities with your eyes wide open and only if you are absolutely sure that you won't be happy elsewhere.  Good luck!

[patsy_klein]

I would wait.

Personally, I had no plans to go to graduate school upon completion of my BA, and didn't end up going to get my Master's till I was 30. I'm now in a humanities PhD program in a midwest college town after spending most of my life in urban coastal areas. There's no way I could have spent my life like this in my early-mid twenties. I don't have weekends any more, I wake up early on Saturday and Sunday and read all day. When it gets me down, I remember all the years I had hanging out with my friends, working nine to five jobs, and going out at night. At least I had that in my past. If you start a PhD program now, academia will be the rest of your life. There will always be work to do, always a deadline looming over your head. You're young, you have plenty of time, go have some youthful adventures.

And fyi, my program looks down on taking folks right of undergrad.

[sugaree]

I actually took a semester off during my undergraduate years to work and found out I HATED being outside an academic environment and I knew then grad school was inevitable. I went straight on to a Master's program and straight into a PhD, and never looked back. That said, moments of grad school were indeed miserable and the only thing that got me through was an absolute certainty that this was what I wanted to do (and in an AHA field, that certainty is vital, as job prospects at the end are uncertain, to say the least).

If you are having any doubts, I would suggest you wait a year or two. You have your whole life to devote to whatever career(s) or jobs you pursue. Maybe you'll take a job outside of academia and find that you love doing whatever it is you're doing? Or, maybe you'll find out that grad school would be a preferable option for you? This is the trick of life, really - being satisfied with your choices (and if that satisfaction can come only by exploring a multitude of options, then so be it). There is nothing wrong with waiting to start a grad program until you're 24 instead of at age 22 (ages may not reflect OP's reality, just that 22 is the age undergrads are "supposed" to be finished with a Bachelor's), or even longer.

[kissa_mau]

I took a year off after my master's. I liked my job, I made a whack of cash, lived in a very lovely area of the country, and I was able to make some of my living conditions during my doctoral program more comfortable. I have decent furniture, for instance, and coming home is nice.

My husband did the same thing and realized he'd rather work his 40 hours, take the pay check, and have lots of hobbies. He's happy, I'm happy, and working for a little while turned out to be a good choice for both of us.

[hmaria1609]

What's compelled you to go to grad school? Only you can answer that.

I went to library school out of undergrad. Since you need a MLS for a professional entry-level library position, I had to go. (I really wanted to be a librarian!)  I was in for an academic year and half and was thrilled to be done.

[gaeta]

I also waited before going to grad school. I decided to teach for a few years before taking the plunge and realized two important things: 1) I loved teaching, and 2) I was bored teaching at the level I was teaching at. I knew I had to advance my own education in order not to become stagnant and a PhD program offered the perfect solution. Many friends who did not take time off have become quite burnt out.

[bemused_befuddled]

1. Take a break before you go.  2. Decide to go to grad school if you love your subject. Nothing else will get you through the process if you don't absolutely love what you are studying. I have spent my entire life in school--literally.  I didn't intend to do this and if I could do things over again, I would have taken a break between undergrad and graduate school. You make think graduate school will 'only' be 5 years (or whatever is the 'norm' in your discipline) but it really is going to be much longer (try something closer to 8 or 10).  Graduate school is a horrible place. You can make it better for yourself somewhat or you can live in misery but it doesn't change the fact it is truly a horrible way to live your life. It may be worth it in the end  (which I believe it is) but there is nothing fun about it.  Enjoy a normal life for a few years. 

[carebearstare]

Take a break, make a bit of money, enjoy your early 20s for a year or two. Then go back to school if it calls. School will always be there, but the particular brand of post-collegiate mischief that you sally through in your early 20s will not be. Trust me--it's a lot more fun if you don't have to worry about homework.

[dr_prephd]

Seems most posters would advise waiting. I concur.

I always knew that I would get my PhD, but I waited 2 years between finishing undergrad. and beginning my master's degree, and two years between finishing my master's degree and entering the doctoral program. Each time I was able to gain valuable experience and live what some might call a "normal" life. So, I'm a little bit older than I would be than if I had gone straight through, but I actually view that as a positive.

[rysal]

I am in total agreement with what others have said here.  I felt like I was living in a bubble while going through college, and while I initially felt a bit lost diving out into the "real world" instead of into professional and graduate schools like many of my peers chose to do, I don't regret having taken a look around.  Now that I have padded my savings by working several years, I feel prepared for financial blood loss. 

[red_queen]

Since you've already sent out applications I wonder if, should you receive acceptances, the programs would allow you do defer your admission for a year? Some schools offer this option, which would allow you the time off and the chance to figure out if you want to go the grad school route. It's at least another possibility to consider. If you do plan to go this route, make sure funding can be deferred (i.e. you won't lose it) as well -- it's a terrible idea to fund your own way through grad school.

But as others have said, only pursue the PhD if you have a passion for the work and are willing to make the necessary sacrifices (and there are so, so many) to do it. If it's an oversupplied field (as most humanities fields are) this means accepting that there may be no academic job at the end of the line.

Taking time off is one way to figure out if grad school is really the direction for you. Good luck.