Many University of Memphis students are choosing to attend graduate school rather than enter the job market straight after graduation.
Robert Jones, an English technical writing major, will graduate in May and has decided to pursue his master’s degree in the fall because he wants to go straight back to school.
“I don’t think I can get a job with an English degree,” Jones said. “I don’t want to deal with that rat race stuff out there.”
Jones will be pursuing a master’s degree in arts and teaching.
“I want to teach kids, and have the weekends off,” Jones said.
Eve Farrell, an English literature major will also graduate in May and will go on to earn a master’s of education and a teacher’s license.
Farrell said she is doing this because “with an English degree, there are not many options.”
Farrell is a non-traditional student with two young children, and said entering the job market is not the best course for her right now.
She said that working on her master’s and teaching later would be a “good fit for my family and me.”
Keeisha Kenan is a graduate student at The U of M. Kenan’s bachelor’s degree is in English professional and technical writing, and she is pursuing a master’s in sports and leisure commerce.
“I felt like I would have a better opportunity if I had a master’s degree,” Keenan said.
Creston Lynch, a mass communication major, will graduate during the summer session and also plans to immediately enroll in graduate school.
“I’m ready to jump right back in,” he said. “If I get a break I won’t want to go back.”
Shatara Johnson, an English technical writing major, planned to go to graduate school, but has now changed her mind.
“I am going, but I’m not going in the fall because I need a break from school,” Johnson said. “It’s been a trying four years.”
Johnson said she is going to take a few semesters off to work and then start graduate school.
However, she said having a master’s is very important.
“Having a bachelor’s degree to me is just like having a high school degree in today’s world,” Johnson said. “Most places want you to have a master’s. A master’s is mandatory in the corporate world.”
Jones said he wants to pursue higher degrees because his present job is not fulfilling.
“I’m just paying bills and taxes,” Jones said. “I want to contribute something worthwhile to society.”
Keenan said graduate school has been rewarding to her.
“I find it more stimulating than undergraduate and it is not as easy as people think it is,” she said.
Keenan said graduate school also provides better learning opportunities and more individualized attention.
“It’s focused on what you want,” she said. “It’s centered toward your career goals so you don’t feel like you’re wasting time.”
