Should You Attend?
Going to graduate school is about much more than simply applying and gaining admission. First come the standardized tests, writing personal statements, finding letters of recommendation, ordering transcripts and possibly even an interview. This whole process is exhausting, with each school requiring a different format of application. Even after admissions declarations have arrived you may be left with the choice of two schools or between going to a back-up school and waiting a year to apply again. None of these decisions are easy and mosty based on individual needs and goals. That said, the perspectives in these guides will help diversify the criteria prospective graduate students use to evaluate schools and hone their choice. The admissions system is complicated and prospective students would do well to educate themselves on its intricacies to maximize their chance of acceptance.
Things to Consider
Students wishing to pursue an MBA have a lot to consider. Are your goals in line with working for improved certification? Do you really need an Ivy League credential when a less acclaimed school offers the same program for a fraction of the cost? How will you pay for graduate school, through scholarship or personal loans?
Is it Worth it?The Daily Orange, Brian Jones, 2010
Professors chime in on the graduate school debate, giving students sound advice on its benefits. Masters degree do not always reward tangible benefits to their holders. While it may be a requirement for mid-level positions, masters degrees do not help to land you that entry level job. Finally, some industries, such as journalism, do not place much emphasis on a masters degree, whereas in engineering it is almost a necessity.
Is it better to get your feet wet in business after college or go straight back to school for a graduate degree? You may or may not need that advanced degree you're dreaming of in your professional life. True passion is a requirement of grad school and work is a way of honing your interests. That said, a degree is not a prerequisite for good ideas and plenty of intrepid entrepreneurs have set the example of success sans schooling.
Many graduate degrees are closely related and it is difficult to choose the right one. Should you get a generic MBA or is something more specialized, like project management, the ticket to your future? Its best to write things down, really analyze your situation and evaluate whether continued education is for you. Sometimes on the job experience will allow for more growth than an MBA.
Everyone has a different take on how to approach graduate school; these students provide their perspectives on the why, when and how of a masters program. Each individual brings different ideas and experiences with them and must consider these against their goals in going to school. Family responsibilities, readiness to commit and financial struggles all factor in to the decision. Learn how these students struck a balance between their personal lives and their passion for academia.
There are some situations where returning to school requires little thought. Scholarships and career paths requiring higher education are obvious reasons for graduate studies. For most of us, the choice is not that simple. Costs, occupational choices and passion for the subject all need to be pondered before making the final decision.
The option of working after college is tempting to many for immediate return, but would a graduate degree provide more benefit in the long run? First of all, starting out on a career path does not preempt a return to school and can actually make the process easier. In undergraduate programs you are surrounded by advisers and professors who probably have asked themselves the same questions. Use their experience to determine the best path for you.
While graduate degrees definitely provide financial gain to their recipients, their value varies by profession. With rising tuition and a poor job market it is important to weigh expected profits with the costs. Student debt and the lack of income both increases long term responsibilities and diminishes students' ability to save for their future. These considerations help you decide if the ride is worth the ticket.
Hard economic times are a popular excuse for students to return to school. If you can't find a job, graduate school can be a good way to stay productive, but may have negative repercussions. Not all graduate degrees lead directly to a specific position and you may be stuck with the same financial turmoil when you return to the job search. Even worse, some employers perceive a bust-times return to education as an upturned nose at lower wages; you need to demonstrate your passion for the subject rather than your dismay at unemployment.
A masters degree in library and information science is not one of the most sought credentials in academia and finding a university department is often difficult. In cases like this distance education may be an appropriate option if relocation is problematic. Even so, students must ensure that they are committed to the discipline, balance their rigorous studies with a social life and maintain their health to prevent failure. There are sacrifices to make but as long as you have a passion for your studies you will succeed.
If you proceed straightaway to graduate studies from college you are missing out on the important experience of a first job. Employers may believe your commitment to school is really an unwillingness to gain experience in the menial tedium that makes up most entry level positions. While you may be accused of elitism, for some careers a high level degree makes sense. Sometimes you will be doing work unrelated to your degree and you have to make it very clear that you are willing to learn for the company as well as your passion.
The Cost
Career Services at Virginia Tech offers students many options when it comes to calculating salaries and wages. Tools for interns, new graduates and nationwide medians are available. Also included are the more comprehensive sites including Bureau of Labor and CNNMoney statistics. Some tools allow you to find median earnings for specific levels of certification or disciplines.
An MBA is less appealing if you run the numbers behind it. This writer estimated the cost of going to graduate school at $250,000 if you include missed opportunities and interest paid on loans. MBAs are not a guarantee of performance or even employment either and should not be taken as seriously as they are. When cost is factored in graduate school seems a far less attractive pursuit.
Different disciplines incur different amounts of debt. Those in the humanities typically have the highest burden while those in science have the least. The key to handling student debt is to not bite off more than you can chew. Make sure to carefully evaluate what you take on so you can plan for the future.
Even those from low income families with numerous financial obligations can find ways to support graduate school. Using only his wife's military salary and infrequent credit borrowing this dedicated person acquired a masters in Family Financial Planning. While this distance education program is substantially cheaper than traditional universities, this man's story proves something. No matter what you can find a graduate program that works for your financial situation.
In many ways graduate school costs much more than its benefits. Even many law students will never reach a comfortable level where they can easily pay off their debts. For humanities the case is similar with very few opportunities outside of academia and those few and far between. Despite what you may believe a graduate degree and the debt acquired actually hurt your financial outlook.
Students are taking on more debt than ever for graduate school. Professional schools are even more expensive than more general programs, many topping $100K when all is said and done. This article explains how the debt burden sometimes outweighs the gain. Outlooks specific for law, medical and business students are also provided.
The cost of education is rising and the outlook of higher education uncertain. How do you know if your masters degree will provide tangible benefits? Can you quantify your degree from the perspective of credits and debits? These questions factor into many students' assessments of whether graduate school is for them.
A graduate student in business administration must take on immense debt with little opportunity for outside employment. Gauging the economic benefits of an MBA in the short term, then, will almost always result in a negative number. Other methods to think about the value of graduate school are the five year period following completion, the point where losses are recouped or average salaries for graduates in the program. Each of these inform monetary considerations of the graduate program and lead to wildly divergent conclusions.
While advanced degrees undeniably bless their holder with more potential for wealth, the exact gain varies greatly over time and between programs. With the continuing recession in the United States many graduates tell all-too-familiar horror stories of unemployment and jobs outside their desired area. Many are forced to sideline their dreams just to bring in a little income. Even so, that slip of paper still puts you ahead of those with none at all.
Changing times come with changing priorities. The education sector, even from its ivory tower, reflects the employment needs of society at large. Forbes gives the scoop on the degrees with the best financial outlook and the worst. Even so, there are more reasons to attend graduate school than money alone and the network of peers and professors may help you land an otherwise inaccessible gig.
Most graduate students must beg and borrow the funds needed for school. This situation is only exacerbated in private institutions with increased tuition. It is important for these debtors to understand the exact figures of their financial commitment. Even with the generous monthly payments and and conservative rates presented in this article, education expenses add up quickly.
Books, tuition, lodging, food and other costs are real setbacks to many students. The opportunities missed by those who opt for graduate school, either through employment or professional development, are collateral "losses" of attending. And while you are at school the once promising opportunities of your chosen path may become stagnant. For these reasons it is important to have a plan B in case your scholarly passion does not pan out.
When it Makes Sense to Attend
Entering Graduate SchoolUniversity of Chicago Press, John A. Goldsmith et al., 2001
These graduate students are ecstatic about higher education and think you should be too, albeit with some caveats. Make sure you really know your interests before making a career out of them. Do not focus solely on financial gain, personal satisfaction is more important in the long run. Finally, pick a school that matches your talents and interests, otherwise you will likely end up alienated from peers and faculty.
Many of these reflections on graduate school reveal its frustrations and challenges. Still all these individuals came away with new skills and knowledge useful for their entire lives. The common theme between these perspectives is to choose your own path. Graduate school is about carving your own niche and developing your skills, not regurgitating information.
Want to earn more money and not get fired? Go to grad school. Employers depend on qualifications to inform them about the experience and commitment levels of prospective employees. Beyond business, studying your true passion can lead to opportunities that would not be available from work experience.
There are many excellent reasons to pursue education after undergrad. Doctors, lawyers and teachers all need further certification for their jobs. Even in less formalized hierarchies more school may mean the difference between a promotion and being passed over. While they may be an investment, graduate studies can only help your professional progression.
A masters in fine arts is not a guarantee by any means. Still, the experience and skills gained there can translate into better writing and may introduce connections to agents and other writers not available through solitary study. Other humanities degrees are similarly uncertain in terms of long term outlook. To know if an MFA is for you take a look at some of the perspectives offered in this article.
With costs of education rising it is necessary to have an idea of what benefits this investment can bring. Better comprehension of the field opens doors for employment and higher pay. Doing something you love is a benefit in itself. Yes, graduate school has its own set of challenges but in many cases the results are worth it.
graduate degrees for EMSEMS World, Raphael M. Barishansky and Skip Kirkwood, 2011
The emergency medical system has highly codified regulations for promotion and advancement. In this type of field graduate school provides tangible benefits in terms of qualifications and salary. Workers should research the opportunities available to them through further learning to understand their options. For ambitious specialists, more school is sometimes the only path available.
Graduate school is undeniably expensive and the question on most prospective students' minds is will it pay off? In some industries a masters degree is a requirement for entry or promotion, essentially mandating continued study. For others the choice isn't as easy, forcing students to weigh the payoffs with the time commitment and financial costs of their education. While there are great reasons to achieve a masters degree, there are similar reasons to forgo education and just get to work.
There are many pressures to go to graduate school, from the suggestions of professors to a lack of jobs. Most of these are terrible reasons to continue your education and will only waste your valuable time and money. Many students feel that if they do not proceed directly to more school that they can never go back, which is not only false but can lead to people following paths they do not really enjoy. Avoid the stereotypical reasons to get a masters degree and make sure your rationale holds water.
When to Not Attend
For every rationale to go to graduate school there are innumerable unsound reasons. Missed employment opportunities, uncertainty about the future and the excitement of acceptance letters are common justifications for further studies. The problem is students who go only for these reasons lack a central purpose keeping them there, often leading to dropout. Make sure you are not misleading yourself by evaluating your goals with the misplaced defenses in this article.
Sure, graduate school offers experience, connections and a chance to achieve personal goals, but so does the real world. Much of life beyond the fold of academia depends on building relationships and proving your worth to those around you. Plus when you do work in the real world it is customary to expect some recompense in addition to personal satisfaction. Work, in many cases, is a viable and preferable alternative to the pursuit of advanced degrees.
It is easy to think of graduate school as an intellectual paradise free from the apathy and petty squabbles of mere mortals. This blog blows that conception out of the water through its examinations of the nitty-gritty of academia. Aspiring scholars are pressed for time, money and intellectual toil, leaving them with little personal space. Either take the good with the bad to see if continuing school is right for you or avoid it altogether.
If you are considering an advanced degree to earn more think again. Although those with a masters or doctorate traditionally earn more, the investment in education makes the increase almost negligible. Masters degrees may be worth it in business, medicine and science but makes little financial sense elsewhere. Even so, the university system churns out more each year, expanding the gap between the need for professors and the highly educated unemployed.
Aside from being expensive, time consuming and difficult graduate school is based on an antiquated model of society. Businessmen no longer need an MBA for their careers and many have made hefty sums without one. The pursuit of graduate degrees is not only unnecessary, it prevents recent graduates from discovering their interests through experience and incubates them in the familiar world of schooling. Time wasted grasping for a masters is better spent honing your talents and learning to employ them to your advantage.
Unlike professorships, there is no shortage of reasons not to go to graduate school. Dissertations, thesis credits and fear of rejection are valid complaints of many involved in graduate programs around the world. These are just the tip of the iceberg for graduate students, the more personal and disturbing wrongs are gleaned from direct experience. Explore the daily injustices railed at masters candidates through these regularly updated reasons to not attend.
Graduate school is often lampooned as an escape from adult life. Rather than accept that real life has its challenges, students insulate themselves in the shrouds of academia they have learned to live with for much of their lives. It does not imply greater skill or better chances of succeeding in the workforce, just fear of the challenges of work and a shirking of responsibility. If you want a graduate degree simply for improved employment opportunities you may simply be postponing the inevitable struggles of your career.
MFA FAQsAlexander Chee, 2008
What good is a master of fine arts anyway? Writers can publish without a degree and share their work with as many as possible. The only true purpose of an MFA is to improve your teaching credentials or land a job as a professor. Everything else promised by graduate schools can be attained through dedicated work and independent study.
Professorships and research positions are great opportunities, if you can land one. The truth is these sectors are shrinking while the pool of graduate students and prospective Ph.D.s continues to grow. Even if you decide to jump ship midway through your program you will be competing at the same level as undergraduates with little experience to speak of. For studies in the humanities, a graduate degree is not worth the cost.
Recent graduates often choose to return to school based on untenable assumptions. A graduate degree does not guarantee you a job or spontaneously reveal your true purpose. Many of the advantages students hope to get by returning to graduate school can be obtained through simple steps like taking classes or using modern technology to build rapport. Do not make the mistake of using any of these justifications as an excuse for continuing formal education.
Alternatives to Graduate School
While many consider jobs at coffeeshops, bookstores and other retail positions as dead end jobs in reality they are learning applicable skills. The fast-paced, high stress nature of these occupations actually prepares workers for management positions more efficiently than an MBA. Employees learn to deal with the challenges of day to day life while managing real responsibilities, proving their worth in the process. Before you rush off to graduate school to ditch the minimum wage lifestyle, take stock of the skills you have learned and their usefulness in the business world.
First jobs are rarely ideal. The key is to take the good with the bad and try to learn as much as possible from your experience there. Entry-level positions may lack prestige but they are an opportune place to learn about corporate culture, the way businesses work and develop strategies for success. Suffer the tedium and turn your work into marketable skills rather than escaping to grad school.
All employees need to learn new skills to boost their resume and their value to their employer. While continuing education teaches strategies that may or may not be applicable, your peers have skills they can share with you that are already of use in your company. While few will be willing to take time off of work to teach you directly, you can always volunteer for new projects and ask for tasks to develop your assets. If you put yourself out there and assert your willingness to learn you are bound to find someone who can help.
Many recent graduates see work and school as their only options to succeed in the world. While these are the most popular options, those freshly printed degrees are your ticket to see the world and try new things. Church organizations, student societies and activists groups all have options for the newly educated to explore the world and get an idea of what they want to do. Most of these are limited time positions and allow for real experience without being a long term commitment.
Parents and students often see graduate school as the only choice for less practical majors in the humanities. For young adults without a clear goal of what they will be doing for the rest of their lives this can prove disastrous. Working with the Peace Corps or another volunteer organization proves you can dedicate yourself to a goal, work under varied and often stressful conditions and most importantly will allow time to consider your future. Graduate school is for those who have a goal and need more education to get there, not for the worried unemployed who wish to stave off real world responsibility.
A corporate job may not be glamorous, but the grind of endless deadlines and coffee measured in quarts is an easy way to gain the skills necessary for success. Aside from the intangible benefits of dedication and contacts, first time employees gain skills with computers, team building and communicating with their coworkers. The choices made within your first job will carry on throughout your career and it is important to position yourself for where you want to go. Regardless of your current title, you can start building your resume and learning the skills necessary for your dream job.
Most people considering graduate school shoot for renowned schools that look good on a resume. While this strategy does have its advantages, some students are discovering the varied benefits of attending graduate school abroad. For those following a career in international business or relations, this is an obvious and even preferable choice than an Ivy League or institution with similar prestige. International schools are often cheaper than those in the United States so you can limit your expenses while developing cultural and linguistic skills.
The job market is stagnant and many former students cannot find jobs in their preferred industry. While settling for a lesser position is never optimal, it is better to turn the experience into an opportunity than a burden. Every job teaches skills that you can take with you to your next position, not to mention the intangible benefits like proven commitment and ability. Getting a job, any job, is the first step to proving your capabilities and eventually securing that dream job.
For how much is taught in school very little of it will see regular use in most positions. Skills like networking, acquiring information, time management, financial literacy and promotion are more valuable in business than any upper level course or abstract idea. The problem is none of these abilities are taught in school and the best way to build them is through experience. First jobs are the perfect place for just that.
Employment dissatisfaction and change of careers are frequently cited as reasons to return to graduate school. The problem is if you are dissatisfied with your first choice, how can you be sure this second choice will be your ticket to contentment? Graduate school is a huge responsibility and workers can gain insight through taking a class, volunteering or joining professional organizations. Before you lay your life on the line for another degree consider smaller steps to propel you to the career you want.
The modern world is full of alternatives to the simple work or school question. The internet makes it easier than ever to learn new and marketable skills for the workplace, start a blog to gain recognition or learn a new language. Beyond that you can travel around the world and immerse yourself in different languages and cultures. These ventures may not have the perceived value of a graduate degree, but you will still be bettering yourself and preparing for life beyond academia.
Prospective & Current Students
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