After four years of work towards earning a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, many students are eager to leave their studies behind and enter the work force. After all, there is a high demand for chemical engineers in industry, which presents graduates with the opportunity to begin an extraordinarily promising and satisfying career. However, these prospects often cause students to overlook the additional value that graduate school can provide. First and foremost, those with graduate degrees are often rewarded with a higher level of professional responsibility and compensation from employers. The extra level of expertise ascertained in graduate school elevates any student’s resume once they enter the workforce, which subsequently puts them in a better position to receive job offers from top employers and receive subsequent promotions.
Aside from the professional benefits of a graduate degree, students develop meaningful relationships through their research. Graduate students work closely with their supervisors and peers to put their academic skillset to use and accomplish meaningful work. Hence, it is no surprise that many graduate students emerge with not just an extra degree, but new lifelong friends. Furthermore, they develop important skills that better prepare them for the workforce, as graduate research puts an emphasis on executing long-term projects that encompass collaboration, problem solving, and extensive technical communications.
