University of Mississippi graduate Leah Cayson initially had plans to explore the work world immediately after earning her bachelor’s degree in journalism, but things changed when she was diagnosed with epilepsy in May 2012.

“It was easier to stay closer to home and figure out my health problems instead of jumping into the work world,” Cayson said.

In April 2012, Cayson started searching graduate programs and signed up for the General Record Examination, which is a standardized test often required for entrance into graduate programs. She applied and was admitted for The University of Alabama’s one-year master’s program in community journalism.

Cayson’s enrollment contributes to the increasing number of people joining post-baccalaureate programs. Post-baccalaureate enrollment has increased every year since 1983, reaching 2.9 million students in 2010, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Blake Bedsole, the director of graduate recruitment at the University, suggested students interested in graduate school should prepare early, maybe their junior or senior year.

Nichole Christian, a junior majoring in psychology, has already decided to apply for a graduate program at Argosy University, where she plans to earn her doctorate in psychology.

“I made my decision based on which University offers the PsyD in clinical psychology, but also on the cost of living in the area,” Christian said. “I have already been looking at apartments in areas just outside of Atlanta, so I can get a basic idea of what the cost of living would be. I graduate in December 2013, so that gives me at least seven months to work full time as well and put away money toward paying bills and rent when I move to Atlanta. I have also been looking at job opportunities in the area so I can continue to support myself financially.”

Bedsole said universities usually offer various forms of financial support for their programs. The University of Alabama offers scholarships, assistantships and fellowships as their three main sources for aid. In addition, Bedsole said students should prepare for the significant change in work load from undergraduate to graduate degree programs.

“The average time spent per week studying for a graduate course may be much more intense and longer than whatever a student would have done for an undergraduate,” Bedsole said. “As a graduate student, you are not just reading and regurgitating facts. You are expected to synthesize a lot of information and contribute to that research base. It’s a lot more reading a lot more writing that students need to prepare for, especially during the first semester.”

Cayson echoed this sentiment, saying graduate students must stay more organized and on top of their coursework.

“You can’t wait until last minute,” said Cayson, who writes down every assignment she will have on her calendar at the beginning of the semester. “You have to be able to discuss. You have to be able to understand what you read, to process it and execute it in a way that they know that you understand it.”

Despite the challenges graduate students may face, Bedsole still encouraged students to pursue their desired levels of education.

“If you are interested, there is no harm in trying,” Bedsole said. “There is no harm in doing everything you can to apply.”