The most common reasons people choose to attend graduate school are:

• Intellectual curiosity—they have a real interest in an academic area.
• Career entry or advancement—they either want to enter a field that requires an advanced degree or have determined that an advanced degree will enhance their career advancement or options.
• Postpone job hunting—some students continue their education simply because they are afraid of the alternatives.
• Satisfy others' expectations.

There are, of course, other reasons as well. Any or all of these may be factors in your decision to continue your education.

Knowing why you are considering going to graduate school is important both in making a decision about whether it is a good choice for you and in deciding which graduate program best meets your needs. For instance, a student with an interest in a particular area of molecular biophysics would want to select a program where research in that field is strong and ongoing. A person who needs a masters degree to meet a specific state's certification/licensing requirements might want to explore programs in that state that were designed to meet those requirements. The individual who needs/wants to continue working while pursuing an advanced degree may be limited to part-time programs in a specific geographic area.

Other factors that may enter into your decision include:

• Are you confident enough in your decision to make the necessary commitment in time, effort, and resources?
• Will this advanced degree lead you to where you want to be professionally or personally?
• How will attending graduate school affect your family or relationships?
• How will you finance it?
• Do the programs you are considering require or recommend related experience prior to entry?