Fearing Recession, Young People Are Heading to Grad School

It’s a classic recession move: When the job market looks bleak, head to grad school. That’s what happened after the global financial crisis, and early signs suggest it could be happening again.

Admissions consultants who guide students through applications, essays and test prep say interest is climbing fast. Official numbers won’t be in for months, but firms like Kaplan, Ivy Coach, IvyWise, Top Tier Admissions and Cambridge Coaching all expect a big year.

“The number one influencer of students thinking about grad school is either an economic downturn or economic uncertainty,” said Jayson Weingarten, senior admissions consultant at Ivy Coach. “Students ...