There are several reasons why you might be considering enrolling in graduate school. Maybe you need a graduate degree to chase the career you want. Maybe you have been out of undergraduate school for a while and you’re discovering that it’s harder to get a job than you thought it would be. Or maybe you just aren’t ready to start paying off your student loans just yet. Whatever your situation, there are things you need to consider before jumping into graduate education. Consider this advice from Peterson’s:

First and foremost, grad school isn’t a cakewalk. Even if you were cream of the crop as an undergrad, this is a whole other ball game. Students entering grad school should be serious about their studies, so maturity and dedication are necessary. Your decision to attend should be made with a goal in mind — entering a certain profession or enhancing your career, for example. Don’t go after an advanced degree if it’s just a way to kill time or stave off a midlife crisis. If that’s what you’re looking for, take up golf!

If you have the right intentions for going to grad school, it can be a very valuable experience. However, before you give up on submitting resumes because it takes up too much time, consider how much more time grad school will take.