For most of my undergraduate studies, I thought I would continue straight on to postgraduate. There were a few reasons for this: I didn’t know what else I wanted to do, I thought study momentum would mean I’d find it hard to return to study later, and my life situation at the time was fairly conducive to study.
But the closer I got to the end of undergrad, the more burnt out I started to feel. I thought I needed a break from study, and I’m really glad I listened to myself. Here are some benefits I found of working for a few years before returning to study.
NOTE: this is really just a personal reflection; it’s not advice that will be relevant to every reader!
Not studying gave me time to think about studying
In retrospect, I had no idea what I wanted to do after my undergraduate degree. My plan was to continue on to a PhD in a similar area, but this was really just because I’d eliminated a whole heap of other options.
Having time away from uni really gave me the space I needed to think about what I wanted to do. Did I want to commit x years to a degree? What would I do after? What other life factors needed to be considered?
In the end - and after several years of thinking about it - I looked into the PhD seriously, but didn’t pursue it. I ended up landing on another degree, and I’m really happy I took the time to make a measured decision, rather than just floating into the PhD because nothing else seemed that appealing at the time.
I could break the study grind
I mentioned earlier that I felt a bit burnt out, and that was definitely true. I needed some time away from assessments, exams, and grades - a bit of time to refresh.
Now that I’m back at uni, it feels new and exciting again. I’m enjoying going to classes and completing assignments way more than I was at the end of my undergraduate degree, and I can almost guarantee that it would feel like way more of a grind had I not taken some time off to work. It was a good long-term decision for me.
My horizons were broadened
After four years of uni, a lot of my experience was in the university/academia realm. Working full-time provided a lot of perspective, and opportunities to push myself in areas I didn’t think I would. I had the chance to improve myself, meet a lot of new people, and upskill in unfamiliar spaces, and I’m really grateful for each of those opportunities.
I think those opportunities, in fact, have made me a lot more rounded. I’m now back at uni more confident in myself and my experiences; I don’t feel like all I’ve experienced is the university bubble.
Money
Let’s be honest: studying can actually be pretty expensive. There are obviously things like tuition fees, books, and travel to contend with, but then there are also hidden costs, like the reduced earning potential from other work due to study commitments.
Transitioning from full-time study to full-time work was certainly a little nicer on the wallet, and made things like paying rent and travelling a lot easier. Even if you’re not working full-time, you’ll probably notice an uptick in finances if you start working more, and this can actually help put you in a position where you can comfortably pick up study again later in life.
There are lots of things to think about in terms of your study plans, and there are heaps of different courses/pathways available. Check out Course Search for just some of these!
