August 2011 - Parks & Recreation - 45

FUTURE L E AD ERS

By Michael J . Bradley

Q&A with a Graduate
Considerations Before Going to Graduate school

eCently, several students asked
Me aBout graduate sChool, want-

shutterstoCk

ing to know what to expect and what
challenges they might encounter along the
way to better and brighter futures. I am honest with them, but I always offer to connect
each student with either someone in graduate
school or a recent graduate to help. For this
article, I chose someone who would provide
candid answers and relate well to most people considering graduate school. Matthew
D. Barber is a 2007 Master of Science graduate from the Recreation, Park, and Tourism
Administration program at Western Illinois University with an emphasis in therapeutic recreation. He is currently the human resource manager at West Suburban Special
Recreation Association in Franklin Park, Illinois. He remains active at various levels in
professional associations and societies.

Think back to when you began thinking about
applying to graduate schools. What were some of
the main hurdles you encountered? How did you
overcome those hurdles?
Even though I was frustrated with my job, I loved
my social life. I wasn't making great money, but it
was enough to enjoy myself. My then-girlfriend (now
wife) and I scrounged enough for dinners at nice restaurants. I bought a new car. My friends and I had fun.
We traveled. I was starting to enjoy everything Chicago had to offer. I was living a great life. Leaving
my friends and the city was easily the hardest thing.
However, I also realized this was a tremendous opportunity for career advancement. I knew it was a
temporary change that would have a good pay off.
I was surprised that at 26 I was homesick. But I
jumped feet-fi rst into every opportunity that came
my way. An opportunity to speak up in class? Clubs?
Fairs? Meetings? Drinks? I was there. There was not
an opportunity that I turned down. A few weeks into

my first semester I couldn't have been happier. I had
new friends, a new social life, and I felt myself moving on professionally.
What advice do you have for someone selecting a
school to apply to?
I don't see a benefit to a master's degree if you're
coming straight from being an undergraduate. The
first question to ask yourself is " Why are you going
to graduate school? " If your answer is " I don't know
what else to do, " then I recommend entertaining other possibilities. It's not difficult to float through a master's program. A question to ask yourself is this: Why
invest all those resources in something you're not
100 percent into? Besides, professors and classmates
will figure you out in a second. Don't be that person.
Be aware of the sacrifices. I left behind an active
social life. A girlfriend. Friends. Income. Even if your
program offers you a full assistantship, there's a good
chance you're going need to take out loans. I strongly

www.NRPA .ORG

AUGUST 2011

It took awhile
before it
ﬁnally sunk in
that one of
the greatest
sacriﬁces to
graduate
school is that
you're not
working full
time.

Parks & Recreation

August 2011 - Parks & Recreation

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