Might some employers view going to graduate school as a way of “hiding out” during the recession?
A. During periods of recession there is a common acceptance among employers that people are having a tough time finding jobs, especially in finance, and graduate school most likely won’t be seen as an escape hatch. Still, the decision has to make sense for your larger career goals. The burden is going to be on you to prove to potential employers you didn’t just do this because you lost your job. Either a degree makes sense for you or it doesn’t. The only thing a layoff affects is your timing. Q. Will you face stiff competition for admission because others who are unemployed are also heading back to school? A. Yes, because people often choose to ride out a recession in graduate school. All previous United States recessions declared since 1980 have corresponded with an upswing in the number of Graduate Management Admissions Tests that are taken. The test is used to gain admission to M.B.A. programs. That’s something applicants have going against them — sheer volume — which makes it much
