You’ve decided to go the graduate route. Congrats! Now it’s time to decide which direction to take. Chances are you’ll end up deciding on a specialization, but that’s not what we’re focusing on today. We’re going to talk about the importance of graduate school in general, and which specific aspects to consider when choosing your own personal favorite program.
Why Should You Go To Grad School?
Let’s start at the beginning. Why should you go to graduate school at all? What will you get out of it? What are the specific benefits?
This is a good question because it can really help you decide if this is the right move for you. If you’re looking for a clear, concise answer to this question, then you need to look no further than the most famous person in your niche: Ernest Hemingway. In a 1940 letter to a friend, Hemingway famously wrote, “Graduate school is a good idea on which to spend four years if you want to become a writer. It’s the best of all possible worlds—you get paid to read and study, and you get to write everything down.”
Now, it’s not exactly the same as going to graduate school and getting a graduate degree in Creative Writing, but the principle remains the same. You’ll get paid to read and write, and you’ll get to explore a new city or country every other month. If this sounds good to you, then there’s no reason not to apply now!
Which City?
Of course, you’ll eventually end up deciding on the city you want to call home for the next four years. You might even decide on one specific city, but more often than not, your decision will be driven by what’s available. You’ll want to find a city that has a thriving writing community and plenty of opportunities for you to explore and grow as a writer. A good city to aim for is Saint Paul, Minnesota. With a population of around 700,000, the Twin Cities have a vibrant arts community and tons of courses for you to choose from. Plus, the weather is magnificent all year round, which makes it even more of a desired location.
Consider The Classes You’ll Take
Another important topic to consider when choosing your graduate program is the classes you’ll take. What exactly will you learn from each class? What skills and information will you gain? Hemingway went on to say, “You can’t learn how to be a good writer in any school—you either are or you aren’t. It takes years of experience to learn the tricks of the trade, which is what most schools offer these days. But if all you want is a job, then get an education that’ll land you a good job some day. That’s all anyone wants and that’s all any school can offer these days.”
To write good fiction, you’ll need to know something about linguistics, literature, and grammar. You might also learn how to design a business plan, write a research paper, or create a multimedia project. Each of these skills will help you become a better writer, and the list of classes you’ll need to take to learn them all is very long. It’s no wonder why so many students end up hating their degree. But you can still get a sense of what you’ll learn by checking out a few relevant syllabi (i.e. course descriptions).
The Final Decision
When you’ve decided that grad school is the right move for you, the next step is to apply. Don’t worry, the decision doesn’t have to be immediate. Take some time to think about which school you’ve decided to apply to, and then take a look at the rest of the list. Deciding which school to apply to is one of the most important decisions you’ll make, so take your time making it. When you apply, put in the effort to find out as much as possible about the school. Visit the websites, read the materials, and contact the admissions office for more information. As much as possible, you want to find out about the school before you apply, so when the decision comes down to choosing between two or more schools, you’ll have the most complete picture in mind.
Hopefully, this post gave you enough information to help you make the right decision. If you’ve decided that grad school is right for you, then go for it! Just remember to put in the work to learn the tips and tricks of the trade, and have fun along the way. Your first year of grad school will be unforgettable, and you’ll end up loving your degree and the knowledge and skills you’ll learn.