Going to Grad School: A Dream Decision (Part One)

Deep into the summer of 2016, my wife and I were sitting on the back porch, enjoying the view, talking about life, and sipping our respective beverage of choice. I had been struggling for years with the decision about whether or not to go to Graduate School and earn a higher degree or be satisfied with being unsatisfied with my job. Really, many things were on the table and she finally just said:

"If you are going to do it, now would be the best time. Figure out what to do and do it."

At some point, I think I had just hoped that someone else would make the choice for me and the clouds would open up with the booming voice that said, "You are going to do THIS." That moment never happened, but I did start to move forward with some planning. 

Many years ago, I made the decision to pursue industry certifications instead of advanced degrees mostly because I felt they were more useful to my job. In hindsight, and if you work in a University setting, go with the advanced degree. Your life will be a qualified "easier" when climbing ladders.

The literature and sites describing how to go back to school in your (*cough) 40s were intimidating to say the least, but I was able to wade through and find some useful information. I had to come up with a course of action. What degree did I want to pursue? I have an Associate's of Science and Engineering in Geological Engineering and a Bachelor's of Science in Mathematics. I had, at that point, been working as a software engineer/computer scientist for twenty-two years and was certified in a couple Microsoft technologies. What to do?

In the end, I was able to narrow down my choice to a few online degree options (Data Science, Computer Science, Business) or one of the options at the University at which I work. Eventually, I chose the local option so I could attend classes in-person and stay connected to my regular day job on-campus. On paper, the cost of Graduate School was just shy of $20K per year, so I was making a huge investment and sacrificing home life.

I made a choice, a plan, and contacted the school...

I needed to take the Graduate Record Examination or GRE. Ugh! A standardized test. I had not taken a standardized test since the ACT in high school. On top of not being in school for twenty-one years, I felt extremely insecure about this step. But, I had a plan. I had made a choice. I was going to do this.

Up next... what an adventure that was...