As educators we, for the most part, live by the phrase: “it’s never too late,” with our students. We are constantly encouraging them to push forward and to never give up. Along that same line, we should also live by what we preach. Grad school is a natural progression for many career educators. To use the phrase “it’s too late,” is to give up on ourselves, which most of us would never allow for our students.
When Do Most Educators Pursue Grad School?
According to various research done by multiple graduate schools and the Council of Graduate Schools, the average age of students in graduate school is between 30 and 35. That said, then most educators returning to the classroom have around 12 to 15 years’ experience. These are educators that have been in the trenches long enough to have made the commitment to education for a lifetime.
Of course, there are students that come out of college, gain the minimum required years of experience, and go right back into the post-secondary classroom. I personally was a teacher and a coach for 22 years before I decided to go back to school.
The benefit of my experiences in the classroom and coaching gave many practical “been there done that” perspectives during my master’s degree program. Additionally, I was much more of a mature, motivated student at that age than I was right out of college. My master’s cohort was comprised of 20 students ranging in age from early 30s to mid-50s. My cohort was right in with the averages.
Overall, I believe most educators decide to pursue a graduate degree when they realize that a higher degree for them will parlay into better educational opportunities for their students. For many years, I was able to reach the students that I taught in the classroom and the ones I coached in athletics. The moment I decided to return to school was when I realized that as an administrator I would have more opportunities to touch more student lives in a positive way. Once I realized that my calling was to go into administration, I literally applied for graduate school that very day. But I must admit being in my forties and going back to school did seem a bit odd.
Is There Such a Thing as “Too Late” for Grad School?
As I mentioned above, I was feeling a bit odd going back to school after such a long break. But from the first day of classes, I knew that the calling came from God above to pursue this degree was the right direction. As one class led to another and another project deadline came and went, the excitement of what the future holds was quickly becoming reality. During my last semester, I found myself almost giddy about graduating and finally going into administration.
Now, people in their 40s probably shouldn’t be so giddy about things, but this guy was giddy and proud of it. So, to answer the question, “Is there such a thing as “too late” for grad school?” The answer is emphatically: it is never, never, never too late! If you are considering it, just weigh your options and your career goals. Don’t let age be a part of your decision.
Why Do Most Educators Pursue Grad School?
Raises
There are a myriad of reasons for one to pursue a graduate degree. Of course, the most obvious one is that with a graduate degree applied to the certification, usually brings about an immediate increase in pay. Increased pay and better career opportunities are automatic motivations for most to pursue that degree.
Better Serve Students
Post-secondary degrees also bring opportunity to better serve our students which for most career educators is the reason we chose education as a career in the first place. In fact, there are some who take graduate courses not just for the degree, but to gain meaningful knowledge to enhance their own teaching skills.
Career Advancement
As mentioned above the opportunity to move up in the educational field is also a major motivation for some. As we gain experience in the classroom and “learn the ropes,” we often look at those above us and see ourselves in those positions. A graduate degree in the proper educational field can and usually does open the doors for advancement.
Better Retirement
As we progress in our educational journey, the thought of retirement should be a motivation to pursue greater educational opportunities for which we are qualified. As pay increases, so does our retirement account. While the earlier a person begins to climb the career ladder, the earlier the retirement account begins to see significant increases as well.
Additional Benefits of Graduate School
Most of the benefits of educational graduate school have been mentioned previously in this article. But I want to conclude with one benefit that I believe is just as important as all the others. That benefit is the feeling of accomplishment one gets from starting and completing a graduate program. I was one of those who did not walk for my undergraduate program. But I proudly went through graduation for my master’s degree with my wife watching.
Ultimately, the greatest benefit for completing graduate school for educators is what our future students gain from our efforts. So, be true to yourself and to those entrusted to you in your schools. If you feel the call to go back to school, hitch up your backpack, sharpen your pencils and go for it. You owe it to yourself and your future students.
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