Applications to national graduate schools increased 9 percent from 2009-10, according to a recent spot survey by the Council of Graduate Schools. At the same time, the report shows that offers of admission to U.S. students by the same schools fell by 1 percent.

Council of Graduate Schools spokesman Stuart Heiser said the trend is one the council has seen for the past few years.

Applications increased 8.3 percent from 2008-09 and increased 4.8 from 2007-08.

“Historically it’s true that during a recession or tight job market more people do go back to graduate school,” Heiser said. “But there are an increasing number of graduate programs that require work experience before enrolling and that’s especially true with master’s degrees in the professional fields.”

A big part of the decision of when or if to apply to graduate school depends on the academic and career goals of the student, said Phil Gardner, director of MSU’s Collegiate Employment Research Institute.

“A number of programs require a master’s degree to be professionally certifiable, but in this environment competition goes up because everyone is applying to graduate schools because they think they can wait out this economy,” Gardner said.

Gardner said although students might be tempted to think they’ll make more money with a graduate degree, they should be cautious about diving in after finishing their undergraduate degree.

International relations and comparative cultures and politics senior Zuleikha Zadran plans to attend law school immediately after graduation.
She said she thinks jumping in headfirst is better to keep
study habits and knowledge fresh in mind.

“In today’s economy, I think going to school is the best choice and you can get a job anytime after you get out of school,” Zadran said.

Jensen said he opted to gain technical experience first via workplace exposure.

“You have to have a plan,” he said. “Know what you want to do.”