Should I go back to school?
The short answer
Go back only if the degree is a required credential for a specific role you've already talked to people in. Skip it for signaling, prestige, or 'to figure things out'.
Signals to weigh
- 01The target role legally or structurally requires the credential (law, medicine, licensed therapy).
- 02You've talked to 5+ people doing the role and they all took this path.
- 03You've calculated 10-year net-of-opportunity-cost — most people haven't.
- 04You have a specific school and program in mind, not a vague 'grad school'.
How to decide
- Step 1Write the exact role and salary you're targeting after graduation.
- Step 2Model total cost: tuition + lost income + interest, minus realistic post-degree earning delta.
- Step 3Talk to 3 recent graduates and 3 who considered it and didn't go.
- Step 4Try a low-cost proxy first — a certificate, a bootcamp, or a part-time cohort.
Framework used
Cost-Benefit Analysis →Full walkthrough of the framework, with examples and pitfalls.
Consider these alternatives
- ·Employer-sponsored programs — the same degree, at a fraction of the cost.
- ·Self-directed learning with a portfolio if the field values evidence over credentials.
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