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DECEMBER 2025

Is Grad School Right for You?

Whether you’re preparing for the final semester of college or you graduated years ago, the overwhelming question of whether to attend graduate school may occupy your mind. There’s no easy answer. You’ll need to spend some time considering your career goals and determining if an advanced degree could help you attain them. Here are some things to keep in mind as you decide if grad school is for you.

 

Identify Your Goals

The first step is to figure out your long-term goals, both professionally and personally. If you’re looking to become a doctor, lawyer, or professor, you’ll absolutely need to go to graduate school. If this is the case, start researching programs and schools that interest you, and think about how graduate school will affect your personal life. It’s important to recognize that some aspects of your life may have to be put on hold or adjusted while you’re in school.

 

If your goal is to work in an industry like nonprofit or pharma, you may not need an advanced degree. Take time to explore various fields and career paths. Once you’ve identified what most interests you, find specific companies where you would like to work and keep an eye on their job postings. Understand the requirements of various positions and compare them to your own experiences and skills. If they mesh, great. If not, you may need to consider an advanced degree or focus on gaining more experience in the workforce.

 

Not sure what you want to do? Then it’s definitely not time to go to graduate school. Instead, focus on learning more about yourself. Graduate school will always be there if you decide to go.

 

 

 

 

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ON TOPIC

Everyone’s educational path is personal and unique. Don’t get bogged down in what your classmates are doing, but rather focus on what makes sense for you, your career aspirations, and your wallet. We asked some college counselors for their advice when it comes to choosing grad school or work experience.  

 

What factors should students consider when weighing post-graduation options? 

It’s most important to know your goals and understand what you want from an advanced degree and why. Do you need this degree for the field you’re in? Will this degree make a difference in salary potential or job security?

 

You have to consider the time and effort it takes to complete a graduate program — it will be challenging, and your life may be more complex than when you were an undergraduate student. Children, a home mortgage, a partner, and a full-time job can add stress and obstacles to obtaining your degree. Consider all aspects of your situation when deciding to pursue an advanced degree.  

 

You may need to consider relocating for your graduate program and perhaps leaving a full-time job and a steady income. You may be able to secure a research assistantship or teaching assistant position, but the pay will likely be limited. Keep this in mind if you have any financial obligations.  

 

 

 

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ONLINE RESOURCES

STUDENT RESOURCES

ONLINE RESOURCES

 

 

 

 

PK–12 STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

Northwest Native American Center of Excellence – Portland, Ore.Tribal Health Scholars is a paid externship program that supports and inspires AIAN high school students to envision themselves as healthcare professionals. Scholars from our partner communities, as well as from any Tribes in the Pacific Northwest, are encouraged to apply.

  

Northwest Native American Center of Excellence – Portland, Ore.

The Tilikum Summer Health Experience is a free five-week hybrid summer enrichment program specifically designed for American Indian/Alaska Native undergraduate college students (primarily high school freshmen and sophomores). Through a combination of virtual learning and in-person experiences, students will receive academic training, mentorship, and hands-on exposure to the health professions, all while staying connected to their cultural identity. 

  

Data Science Institute – Chicago, Ill.

Applications for the 2026 University of Chicago Data Science Institute Summer Lab are now open. In this paid summer research program, high school and undergraduate students are paired with faculty mentors to conduct research in basic and applied data science. Through this pairing, students engage with and hone their skills in research methodologies, practices, and teamwork. We encourage participation from a broad range of students, and require no prior research experience to apply by Jan. 12.

 

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

The Nature Conservancy – Monticello, Utah

The Nature Conservancy will be hosting an eight-week paid undergraduate program in natural resource management for students. The Native American Tribes Undertaking Restoration and Education (NATURE) program seeks to bridge the gap between traditional ecological knowledge and western science by mentoring and training a small cadre of undergraduates from federally enrolled tribes to work at the interface of scientific research, public lands management, and Indigenous Science. Students will receive training in essential skills including GIS, remote sensing, rangeland assessments, ecological restoration, and inventory and monitoring methods from leading experts in the field.

  

Indigenous Journalists Association – Oklahoma City, Okla.

The Indigenous Journalists Association, in partnership with Investigative Reporters and Editors and the Oklahoma Media Center, is extending the Indigenous Student Investigative Journalism Workshop application deadline to Jan. 30. The workshop is a new training opportunity for Indigenous students interested in strengthening their investigative and data journalism skills. The day-and-a-half workshop will take place Feb. 12–13 in Oklahoma City. Participants will gain hands-on experience in investigative techniques, data analysis and storytelling, while connecting with working journalists and mentors in the field.

  

Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science (PIPES) – Hilo, Hawaii

PIPES provides paid summer internships for undergraduate students across multiple fields of study. The 10-week program runs from May 25–July 31, and is hosted on Hawaii Island. It combines mentored learning, cohort activities, and community engagement. Throughout the summer, interns also build lasting connections across Hawaii, the Pacific, and beyond. At its core, PIPES strives to grow and invest in the next generation of aloha ina leaders through transformative, place-based learning, mentorship, and community partnerships. Apply by Jan. 16.

  

Northwest Native American Center of Excellence – Portland, Ore.

The Wy'east Nursing Pathway is a three-month preparatory pathway for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) committed to a nursing career. The Pathway provides a holistic, culturally-aligned framework to prepare scholars to excel as nursing students and throughout their careers. Through a partnership between the OHSU School of Nursing and the Northwest Native American Center of Excellence (NNACOE), the Pathway recruits, educates, and retains AI/ANs into Accelerated Bachelor’s of Nursing (ABS) and three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs to address critical workforce needs. Apply by Jan. 15.

 

GRADUATE/POSTDOCTORAL OPPORTUNITIES

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine – Multiple Locations

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine maintain a database of nearly 300 active research opportunities and administer postdoctoral and senior fellowship awards at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Space Force under the Air Force Science & Technology Fellowship Program (AF STFP). We are seeking highly qualified candidates who are U.S. citizens and hold, or anticipate earning, a Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., or D.V.M. in a variety of fields of science or engineering. Senior research awards are designated for those with more than five years since earning their degree. 

  

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine – Multiple Locations

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine maintain a database of more than a thousand active research opportunities and administer postdoctoral and senior research awards at participating federal laboratories and affiliated institutions at locations throughout the U.S. and abroad. We are seeking highly qualified candidates who hold, or anticipate earning a Ph.D., Sc.D., M.D., or D.V.M. in a variety of fields of science or engineering. Senior research awards are designated for those with >5 years since earning their degree.

  

National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine – Washington, D.C.

The Gulf Research Program's Science Policy Fellowship program helps scientists hone their skills by putting them to practice for the benefit of Gulf Coast communities and ecosystems. Fellows gain first-hand experience as they spend one year on the staff of federal, state, local, or non-governmental agencies in the Gulf region. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a doctoral program or hold an eligible degree. Applicants currently enrolled in a doctoral program must take a leave of absence for the duration of the fellowship. Apply by Feb. 26.

 

 

 

 

 
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Paths to Opportunities and Winds of Change are published exclusively by AISES.

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