Officials discuss benefits of higher education

Once students receive their undergraduate degrees, the next step for some is to enter the workforce.

However, many students pursue further education even though they may not fully understand the benefits or logistics behind graduate school.

James McCormick said he received his Bachelor’s degree in political science while also being enlisted in the Navy reserve. He wants to pursue strategic studies in antiterrorism but is still in the process of applying to graduate school.

“A majority of my undergrad advanced courses were in military history, military structures, acquisition process and counter terrorism,” he said. “So, a graduate certificate just builds upon what I want to concentrate on.”

McCormick said one of the stipulations for him to apply to grad school and receive his GI bill is to have a document stating to the Navy that he is enrolled in a graduate program at Tech.

He is aiming to start the graduate program in spring 2018. While McCormick’s application process seems complicated, he said applying to graduate school varies on the student and program they are trying to get into.

Tech offers 60 doctoral degrees, 100 master’s degrees and more than 60 graduate certificate programs, according to the Texas Tech Graduate School website.

Mark Sheridan, the dean of the Graduate School, said a study by the Pathways Project showed that the demand of graduate education is increasing as the workforce demand increases.

“The backbone of the American economy relies upon graduate education,” he said. “Graduate education is essential because it is the fuel of innovation at research universities like Texas Tech.”

He said when the economy is good, students tend to not go to graduate school because they can get jobs, but when the economy is bad then students seek to go back to school and get additional training.

The big issue students have when pursuing higher education is the likelihood of being accepted into their preferred program.

Kim Cappillino, senior director of the Graduate School, said Tech is required to review student records in their entirety when looking at applications.

“The thing to remember — and this goes for graduate applications as a whole — is that they’re reviewed on a holistic basis,” she said. “A student can’t be admitted or denied based on one criteria.”

There is a combination of factors that determine a student’s admission, but ultimately the Graduate School is committed to student’s success and preparing them for the workforce, Sheridan said.

Expanding career options is extremely important and Sheridan said a high percentage of Tech alumni has been satisfied with their experience in Tech’s graduate programs.

Cappillino said graduate enrollment numbers increase each year at Tech.

“We’ve been on a steady increase in our numbers, for graduate enrollment, which is something that we’re obviously striving for,” she said.

While more students pursue higher education, Sheridan said there is a link between the economy and graduate programs.

“It doesn’t matter what the economy is doing,” he said. “To position yourself to be in the competitive workforce, a graduate degree is really going to help you.”

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