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Graduate and Professional School

Should You Go to Graduate or Professional School?


Whether or not you go to graduate school is a decision you should weigh very carefully. Many assume this is the next step after graduation, but this is not true for everyone. It depends on your professional needs and your motivation.

Before pursuing graduate or professional school, ask yourself a few questions:

  • Why do I want to go to graduate school?
  • Do I need a graduate degree to further my career?
  • Am I passionate enough about a subject to engage in intensive study?
  • What program will best fit my needs and interests?
  • Should I start a graduate program immediately, or work for a few years instead?
  • Should I build more hands-on experience in my field before attending graduate school?
  • Can I afford graduate school?

We encourage you to speak with an advisor in Career Services, an academic advisor, faculty members, or professionals in the field to help determine the right path for advanced studies. They can help you decide if graduate or professional school is the right choice, when to start, how to find the ideal programs for you, and how to prepare.

Researching Graduate and Professional Schools


The following links will guide you to resources that will be useful as you explore graduate studies and begin to make decision.

Graduate Schools

Graduate School Testing

Graduate School Testing Preparation


Pre-professional Advising Programs at UMass Amherst


Pre-Law Advising

Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Advising

Graduate and Professional School Information Day


Each year, Career Services hosts more than 150 graduate and professional schools from across the country and abroad at this informational fair. Contact Career Services or go to the Events Calendar for information on this year’s event.

Letters of Recommendation


Use our Credentials Service to build a portfolio of recommendations.