Career Development
Center
  Occidental College
 1600 Campus Road,
Coons 109
 Los Angeles, CA
 90041-3314

 Email: careers@oxy.edu
 Phone: 323.259.2623
 Fax: 323.341.4900

Graduate and Professional Education Information

Guide to Educational Decision-Making
Choosing a Graduate or Professional Program

There are several objectives to consider when trying to decide which graduate or professional program to enter. Generally, these objectives include Knowing About Yourself, Knowing About Your Options, Knowing How You Make Decisions, and Identifying/Addressing any barriers to your career decision-making. 

Once you realize the need to make a decision about your continued education, the next step is to clarify what you know about yourself and your options. In looking at your self-knowledge, it is important to consider your interests, values and skills. In terms of your educational journey, interests will tell you what direction to pursue; values tell you whether the journey is worth taking; and skills tell you how long it will take you to get there. Clarifying this self-knowledge will help you to find options that might be a good fit for you.

It is often difficult to decide whether or not to pursue a graduate education. There are many things to consider, and some students are not sure what questions to ask. It is a good idea to consult with your faculty advisor and a career counselor.