Should You Go Straight to Graduate School After College?

Four UC Davis students explain why they chose a Master of Management before entering the workforce

Man sitting at an office desk, smiling and making peace signs with both hands. Multiple monitors, papers, and office supplies are visible around him.
After earning his Master of Management degree from the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, Michael Hui MM 25 joined the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) as a benefits specialist. Read his blog.

Graduation often brings a difficult decision: Begin a full-time career or continue your education.

There isn't one answer that fits every student. Some graduates are ready to enter the workforce immediately. Others decide they need additional business knowledge, leadership experience or career preparation before taking that next step.

Four students in the UC Davis Master of Management program made the decision to continue their education for different reasons. Their experiences illustrate how career goals, academic backgrounds and life circumstances can shape that choice.

Michael Hui MM 25: Weighing Two Opportunities

Michael Hui didn't expect to make his decision in 24 hours.

During finals week of his senior year at UC Davis, he received a job offer from a nonprofit organization in San Francisco. The day after graduation, he learned he had been accepted into the inaugural Master of Management cohort.

"With both options on the table, I faced a challenging dilemma."

Hui considered whether to begin working immediately or spend another year developing leadership and management skills. He ultimately chose graduate school because he believed it would strengthen his long-term career opportunities while allowing him to be part of the program's first graduating class.

A person in a suit wears a gold sash and holds an award plaque while standing outdoors with sunlight filtering through trees.
Emmanuel Durojaiye MM 26 received a GSM Alumni Association Student Fellowship Award while building on his engineering, creative and leadership experience through the UC Davis Master of Management program. Read his blog.

Emmanuel Durojaiye MM 26: Building on Existing Experience

Before graduating from Morgan State University with a degree in industrial systems engineering, Emmanuel Durojaiye completed internships, co-founded his university's digital media team and worked as a professional sports photographer.

Even with those experiences, he wanted a clearer direction for his career.

"What I did not have was clarity about how those pieces fit together long-term."

After participating in the University of California Summer Institute for Emerging Managers and Leaders (SIEML), Durojaiye concluded that business education would complement his engineering background and prepare him for project management.

He said courses in accounting, data analysis and organizational behavior helped connect technical knowledge with practical business skills.

A man in a dark suit and black turtleneck stands indoors in front of wooden panel doors, with his hands in his pockets, facing the camera.
Karim Katta MM 25 applies the leadership and cross-cultural perspective he developed in the UC Davis Master of Management program as a program officer and project manager at Avicenna-Studienwerk in Germany. Read his blog.

Karim Katta MM 25: Expanding An Engineering Background

Karim Katta earned an engineering degree in Germany before gaining experience in design and project management. Rather than changing careers, he wanted to broaden his understanding of business.

"I wanted to deepen my understanding of business analytics, leadership strategy and organizational decision-making."

As the only international student in his cohort, Katta contributed a European perspective during classroom discussions while learning from classmates with different experiences. He said the program strengthened his confidence leading across cultures.

Sierra Muns MM 26: Adapting To a New Plan

Sierra Muns MM 26 completed her final year of NCAA gymnastics eligibility while building the business skills she hopes to use to own and operate a gymnastics program. Watch her Student Spotlight to learn more about her journey as a student-athlete at UC Davis.

Graduate school wasn't Sierra Muns' original plan.

A season-ending gymnastics injury during her senior year at West Virginia University caused her to reconsider her next step after graduation.

She realized she wanted to eventually own and operate a gymnastics program and believed she needed business knowledge to achieve that goal.

"Learning business fundamentals could help me develop the skills needed to manage and grow that kind of organization."

The nine-month Master of Management program allowed Muns to complete her final year of NCAA eligibility while preparing for a career beyond athletics.

Choosing the right next step

Although their backgrounds differed, the four students shared one characteristic. Each identified a specific reason graduate school supported their long-term goals.

  • Hui wanted to strengthen his leadership skills before entering the workforce.
  • Durojaiye wanted to connect engineering, creativity and management.
  • Katta wanted to complement technical expertise with business strategy.
  • Muns wanted to prepare for a future career after an unexpected change in plans.

For students considering graduate school immediately after college, the decision often begins with understanding what they hope to gain from another degree.  

The right choice depends on individual goals, experience and the path each student wants to pursue.

Tags
Career / Success Story / Alumni

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