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Last night I thought some more about Grad School, while my original long term plan was to get myself into grad school this fall- I’m not so sure.
Maybe it’s idea of taking on debt during a recession doesn’t seem right. Maybe it’s because Penelope Trunk is so against the idea of Grad School.
You can read her articles to hear all the reasons I shouldn’t be going to Grad School (well at least not now), here is my reasoning why I’d like to:
So what should I do? Try and get in this fall? Maybe wait it out a year or two til the economic climate gets better?
I'm having this same debate (on that note thanks for knocking MFA!) at the moment I'm leaning towards yes going ahead and starting in the fall. I'll be 4 years out of my Bachelors by then and I feel like I'll have my degree finished by the time the economy comes back up so I'll have more opportunities in the next few years and certainly when I finish.
I feel like right now it's all about differentiating yourself. And to me even the fact that I can tell a prospective employee that I'm in the process of my masters shows that I'm dedicated.
Once you are working full time its going to be a real struggle to leave work and go back to college. I personally look back and believe that I should have taken the opportunity to spend more time in education while I was young, with bills and morgages its not possible for me to leave work
I am graduating fom law school in a few days. Here is my advice:
1. Not all schools are created equal. getting into a really top notch school can make a huge difference in your job prospects (especially in law and mba programs). Hiding out for 2 years at UDC would probably hurt more than it would help.
2. Not all grad degrees are created equal. You mention this in your article. Be fully aware of the pro/cons of the job prospects of your specific degree.
3. Cost matters. I have friends who paid for 3 years of grad school at 50k a year and are now in EXTREME debt because of it. Buf if your folks are footing the bill or if you can get scholarships or work as you go, it helps.
4. If you choose to do it, rock it. Get top grades. Get involved in extra curricular stuff, etc.
Elyssa,
I think everyone is having the same debate, especially fans of Penelope and Brazen Careerist. I totally agree that even though a masters may not be necessary to advance in your career sometimes, that it is that one extra qualification that you can use to your advantage- there's no knocking that. And the earlier you get it, the more useful it is.
By the way I'm not knocking MFAs as much as I was referring to Penelope's stance on MFA's in the posts I linked to. I studied film in college and I thought about an MFA myself for the longest time.
Thanks for reading and I hope you become that Internet Celebrity someday- maybe that should be my new career track!
-Patrick
The situation you described is where grad school can make a positive impact. For someone fresh from undergrad, adding on the post-grad degree (and the debt) doesn't do much for most fields, because they still haven't acquired the experience in the field. In your situation, you already have some experience, decided this is the career path to stay on, and want to get ahead. A professional degree seems like a good choice.
Do it!! It's something I've been thinking about tremendously over the past few months. After graduating and being in the "real world" for two years now, every day the idea sounds more appealing. Not that I don't enjoy and value my professional track at the time, but I think that we are in the minority of people who thoroughly love to learn. Therefore, why not continue our education and absorb as much as we can? Sure, we don't need a graduate degree for that, but if it's something you dream of doing then nothing should hold you back.
Plus, if you do find it's not the best time for you to go back right now, keep in mind that it will most likely only get harder as you get older and become more advanced in your career or throw a marriage and children on top of all of your responsibilities. So go for it! And enjoy every second of it!
Interesting blog post...
Here are a couple of thoughts:
1. Just because Penelope is negative on the whole Grad Studies thing doesn't mean you have to. Penelope is one person, with one opinion. No one should pidgeonhole themselves on that. Sure read what she has to say, take it in, and make an informed decision - just don't cite her as the reason you're thinking twice about it.
2. Professional degrees are good, however the degrees that you are not knocking (i.e. MFA, MA in History, etc) also do have value. What I find with people young and old is that they have cause-effect relation between their education and their profession. If I get X then I become Y. In reality If you get X degree you can become Y, but you can also become A, B, C, D, E (etc). Connections between fields aren't always visible, especially to us millenials that have been told an nauseum that if we go to college we will get a good job based on what we study. Think outside the box.
3. I know you enjoy your job, but chances are that you will be changing professions in your lifetime. If you employer is paying for the degree, then by all means do something that is related to your present career. If your employer is not paying - keep an eye toward the future as well as the present. Take stock of your life and interests and choose a degree that will satisfy YOUR personal curiosities, not just something that makes you a better candidate in your job.
4. Don't get in this fall. You STILL have things to think about (see points 1-3). Going in this fall means rushing yourself and not making an informed decision.
I have a masters in history and have never regretted it. It definitely helped me get my first job as well as subsequent jobs, and I won more on Jeopardy! than I spent getting the degree.
Here are the reasons I think it makes sense to go to grad school.
1) Getting such a degree quantifiably improves your employability and promotability.
2) That degree doesn't just improve your odds; it's required in your field.
3) You want to continue formal study in that subject, regardless of whether you can directly apply the content to your work.
Here are the reasons not to get an advanced degree:
1) You don't have the cash, your company doesn't pay for it, and your odds of earning enough to pay off debt are slim.
2) You want to impress someone who is not in a position to advance your career.
What Penelope Trunk thinks about it has no bearing on the decision.
Patrick-
Interesting post--and it looks like you are getting some good advice through the comments.
You wrote a bit about what degrees you are *not* going to get--which degree are you going to pursue? I think this is a huge variable to weigh when considering the questions others have put in front of you.
You mentioned doing the degree part-time, so as to keep your current job--which is obviously a big concern in today's economy. But also understand that there are major advantages to going full-time--including making solid connections with those individuals in your field (which I find is one of the most important aspects of a degree). Especially if you are interested in a "professional" masters program, I'm wondering if you would be better suited spending as much time as possible with the professionals who are leading the curriculum.
Also, my outlook on grad school has always been to get someone else to pay for it. There are so many fellowships, scholarships, and other sources of funding available for your degree. I'm getting my Ph.D. (in history!) right now and I've never paid a dime for the years of school I've spent post-college. In fact, I've saved money--and invested in a house I bought this past September.
Good luck with your decision-
Andrew
This comment may be superficial and unhelpful, but I'm going to say it anyway. You just wrote a post about too many people you know leaving DC to go to grad school and how you'd invested in the area and your job and planned to stay. Although you bring up some strong points in this post, I'd like to add one:
If you go you'd be a hypocrite.
Hello everyone!
I'm usually much better at responding to comments but it's been a manic Monday in the office!
I want to respond to several of you (in reverse order)
Lusty Reader brings up a good point, but I can reassure you that I am actually only considering going to Grad School in DC- which would cement my desire to stay. And I do- I live in the Washington DC area and I love it here!
Andrew, you bring up a point I've been thinking about- a lot of the arguements I read are towards other degrees- if I'm looking for a professional degree (I'll reveal it will probably be in PR/Communications) does any of what I read apply?
KateNonymous & Dr. Pepper are right- while there are I'm not letting Ms. Trunk dictate what I do, she did play a good Devil's Adovocate on my thinking- which is why I really thank all of you with your comments and contributions- I like to hear many points of view before I make my own decision.
Dani & Andrew both think I should get in- and I am happy to say that I have never thought of not going for it, I do know how slippery Grad School could turn into a "could be/never was" situation if I do decide to wait a year.
Thanks to everyone for reading- I'm really close to a decision and I hope you stay tuned for more!
I contemplate the same issue. I know a lot of people were encouraged from their company to get their MBA or Masters, so the company paid for their degree (no debt) and they were also able to work simultaneously. With that being said, it's a lot on your plate but I think you have the right mindset.
I think it's a combination of education versus experience. Both are relevant, but it really depends. I like where you're coming from and it really sounds like a passion you want to pursue (within reason) so I say, go for it.
Grace,
Thanks for your encouragement, I think company backing is also a big factor- something I do not have with where I work.
Thanks for reading!
-Patrick
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