What is the ideal answer to give in an interview as why I dropped out of graduate school.?

Honestly is the best policy, even if you have to embellish a bit, but there usually IS a good reason to stop after getting that far. I had to stop because a year after my Mom passed, Dad got cancer and I was his only kin. I do not and never will regret leaving school to be with Dad for his last year, and being that he was never a real father to me, my heart knew what I had to do. Many said I was crazy to leave my studies, but each has their reasons and I am sure yours were important to you also, just learn how to tell your story so it has meaning, and even getting Collage Burnout can be softened into other words by using your very well educated mind without pure lying. Graduate school is hard and stressful, thought you did not give your reason, maybe visit your your old school guidance councilor to help put this into well spoken words. But mainly have faith in yourself during the interview, THE Interview is all important, never let'em see you sweat my friend! Sit up straight when having to answer the reason you left, no dropping of the shoulders, look the person in the eyes at all times so it shows it does not effect the way you would do your job! And remember, Firm Handshake!

Go get'em

Emily

You could use the one I used...I got pregnant.

No, that won't work for you? OK, how about the truth - you needed to go to work because you couldn't afford the tuition, you moved out of state, you were working 90 hours a week and falling asleep in your lunch, whatever. It's not creative writing class - it's your life.

The truth. Any attempt to tell a different story will be insinsere and they will see through you. I do a LOT of interviews, and I'd rather have an applicant just tell me the truth.

Say you didn't see yourself heading towards your career objectives in Grad school, then start talking about your career objectives. Take the question and manipulate it to talk about your goals.

Had to go home to take care of my sick and dying mother. She had cancer, and I did'nt want to miss the last moments of her life ;)