Future Graduate Students

Higher earning potential

• Ph.D. Degree - $100,000 or more - approximately $3.7 million over their lifetime
• Master's Degree - $63,000 - approximately $3.2 million over their lifetime
• Bachelor's Degree - $55,700 - approximately $2.7 million over their lifetime

*The dollar amounts are approximations only. The information is gathered from BLS, USSS and Forbes.*

Greater job opportunities

• A greater ability to think analytically
• Discipline to complete task from beginning to end
• Equipped with professional career networks

Job satisfaction and job stability

• Working in fields of interest
• Increased ability for job advancement
• Job satisfaction that has led to overall satisfaction with life

Ability to communicate more effectively

• Positive impact on written and verbal communication skills
• Communicating clearly, concisely and persuasively will help with landing the perfect job as well as improve career advancement and influence interpersonal relationships

Greater benefit to your family

• Major impact on well-being of families, especially children
• Families are better off socially and economically
• Children are more likely to earn college degrees
• College degrees have a ripple effect to influence future well-being  

Revisit your career path and review our graduate programs that will help guide your goals and objectives. Seek out academic advisers, faculty, researchers or industry leaders to discuss career goals and options to help formulate an academic career plan including your marketability for employment upon graduation. 

Look for graduate programs that provide:

• Graduate degree closely linked with a chosen work-related field 
• An academic curriculum that offers the best possible opportunities that enable networking opportunities 
• Interaction with academic/industry leadership to acquire skills to enter a workplace as a professional 

1. Review application deadlines and requirements by visiting 400online.net/grad/programs 
2. Contact academic department or faculty advisor to explore program specifics and requirements 
3. Attend an event where you will have the opportunity to visit campus, meet with program representatives and discover all that OU has to offer 
4. Submit application and required materials by deadline dates

Common challenges

• Finding balance 
• Remaining confident 
• Perfectionism 

Key responsibilities

• Prepare for graduate student roles 
• Foster academic integrity & respect intellectual process 
• Keep academic communication channels open 
• Maintain accountability 

Graduate student time management

• Goal setting - specific & attainable 
• Set priorities & establish boundaries 
• Establish project plan allowing for flexibility 
• Stay alert to university & administrative deadlines 

Graduate level academics

• Read critically considering context & perspective 
• Use academic writing conventions for self-improvement 
• Graduate level assignments 
• Create & utilize student work/support networks 

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