Why I Choose Not to Attend the Graduate School

    According to Taiwan Ministry of Education, the number of graduate school students in 2017 have dropped 9% compared with 2009. Although the degree of graduate schools can get people to have the higher salary. However, there are more and more people choose not to go the graduate school. Given several reasons, I choose to be employed after graduating from college instead of going to the graduate school.

    The first reason is that I haven’t found out which field I want to take the deeper research in. I have a lot of friends attending the graduate school just because their applications to the grad school were luckily approved. They don’t even know which subjects they are really passionate about. I worry that if I went to the graduate school at the present stage, I would waste 2 or more years on something having nothing to do with my future career. I want to figure out what I really have passion about and discover my lack of ability in the workplace, and then make up mind improving and learning it. That is the time I will decide to go to the graduate school. I want to accumulate the sufficient motivation before going into the graduate school. Therefore, I can make the most of my time in the grad school.

    The second reason is that I don’t want to be tied up to the grades anymore. I have spent last 6 years in the elementary school, 3 years in the junior school ,3 years in the senior high school and 4 years in the college. Students are taught to have the responsibility to get the good grades especially in Chinese society, and I am not the exception. I feel like that I have never done anything out of my real passion. I have pursued the grades for 16 years. I participated in the clubs and some activities in the college, and that was the first time I experienced how it feels to pursue the real goal other than the grades. I feel the strong sense of accomplishment during holding the events and striving for mutual goals. I cannot wait to leave the campus and enter the workforce. I want to strive for the real outcomes instead of the grades printed on the exam paper.

    The third reason is that I want to go to the graduate school aboard. My present career planning is to become Human Resources (HR). HR is not the popular subject in Taiwan now. The country I want to study aboard is the UK because there has been the long history in the field of HR, and they have a lot of outstanding professors studying in HR. They also provide plenty of subsidies towards foreign students and develop the sound system of studying in their country. Before that, I want to spend time accompanying my family after I spend 4 years studying the university far away from my hometown. I am tired of getting homesick every day. Besides, I have a little sister, who is just 4-year-old. I want to participate her growth process before she becomes the annoying rebellious teenage girl. Given my family situations, I do not think it is the right time to study aboard now.

Although there are plenty of benefits from attending the graduate school, I have made up my mind entering the workforce instead of going to the graduate school. Therefore, I can figure out which field I really have passion about. Second, I can escape from the life of pursuing the grades. Third, I can have more time to accompany my family. I am not sure whether this is the best choice for my career, but I will still be responsible for my decision.