Is graduate school the best way to avoid the recession?

By Lila Brown, Examiner.com

Fall means back-to-school time, but for the recent college graduate, the fall after graduation is a sigh of relief- no more classes. By this time, young professionals would have already adjusted to a new work environment; however, in this current job market, you’ll be lucky to get an interview. Although the economy is slowly recovering, former students who have never considered continuing their education are now giving graduate school a second thought. Many realize a better tomorrow means obtaining an even higher education today.

During a recession, graduate programs see an overwhelming response of applications because people are not finding work or have settled for a gig to make ends meet. According to a 2008 survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council, 77 percent of full-time MBA programs reported that they received more applications than the previous year. Application and enrollment rates are expected to increase again this year. With the unemployment rate at 9.4 percent, are students doing the right thing by attending graduate school to avoid the job market or are they delaying an opportunity to get relevant work experience which may matter most to future employers?

Read more from Lila Brown on whether graduate school is the best way to avoid the recession.