Navigating Career Choices: Should You Inform Your Manager About Deferring Grad School?

As my internship draws to a close, I find myself at a crucial crossroads in my career path, and I could use some guidance from fellow professionals.

Earlier this year, I graduated with plans to ascend to graduate school this fall. I was fortunate enough to be accepted into my desired university, registered for classes, and I am now facing the daunting reality of a significant tuition bill. However, life’s unpredictability has led me to re-evaluate my immediate future.

During the spring, I secured an internship that I believed would complement my academic journey. The standard expectation was to maintain student status, which I was committed to until recently. With the current fluctuations in the job market, I’ve made the decision to defer my admission for at least a year, as I have a job offer in hand that begins this September. The thought of declining this opportunity and finding myself without a job is a looming concern.

Despite my career pivot, I have maintained the narrative that I will be starting my master’s program this fall, and I must admit—keeping this up has been a challenging endeavor. The truth is, the only scenario in which I would consider attending graduate school this year is if I receive a return offer from my current internship with a team I am interested in. However, this seems unlikely, as I’ve learned that this specific team has not hired anyone in two years, making the prospects rather slim.

Now, I grapple with whether I should have an open conversation with my manager about my plans to defer my studies. Would it be prudent to discuss potential opportunities that may lead to a return offer on the other team? Transparency could foster goodwill and open doors, but there is also the possibility of complicating my current position.

As I evaluate my options, I’m left wondering about the best approach to communicate my intentions without jeopardizing my current role. Have any of you faced similar dilemmas? How did you navigate discussions about career shifts during your internship? Your insights would be immensely valuable as I navigate this pivotal moment in my career.