So you think you want to get a master’s degree. Perhaps you’ve heard that you can’t advance in any career without a graduate degree, or maybe you’re just interested in the subject and want to engage in further study to pique your intellectual thirst.
Before you sharpen your pencils and jump back into “school mode” once more, though, there are some things you should thoroughly consider. Opting to seek a graduate degree, a masters business degree, or and advanced education is a huge investment of time and money, and without a clear picture of what you hope to accomplish, you could end up wasting both – or at least not getting everything you can out of a program.
So before you sign on the dotted line and officially become a graduate student, consider these facts:
Sometimes a master’s degree is required – and sometimes it’s not. In some fields, a master’s degree is required for reaching the advanced levels; in others, even getting in at entry-level. For example, if you work in the human services realm, and you want to be a counselor or other provider of direct services to clients, you must have a masters in human services or higher. However, in other fields, a master’s degree is not a requirement. You can climb the ladder even if you only hold a bachelor’s degree. Before you enroll in a degree program, carefully consider your career goals, the requirements of your dream job and whether you need to gain additional education.
Sometimes grad school isn’t the answer. While it could be argued that more education is never a bad idea, if you go into a program for the wrong reasons, you might not get all that you could out of the experience. If you don’t know what you want to do with your life, if you are trying to avoid getting a job (or simply can’t find one) grad school probably isn’t the answer. Unless you are absolutely sure that you need or want a graduate degree, try getting a few years of experience under your belt to clarify your goals; as a bonus, after a few years of working you may be able to get tuition assistance from your employer.
Grad school is flexible. So you know that you need to get a master’s in public health and you’re sure you want to study this particular field. Great! One of the best parts of seeking a graduate degree these days is the flexibility it offers. More and more students are forgoing traditional educational environments and choosing to get their degrees online. Online study offers working professionals the opportunity to study anywhere on their own time. You aren’t limited to programs offered in your local area or taking classes at inconvenient times. For example, you could earn your Master’s in Public Health online e while you
However, that flexibility comes with requirements. Studying for a master’s degree requires commitment and the ability to budget your time and manage additional responsibilities that you may not have had while earning your undergraduate degree.
Graduate school is specialized. During your undergraduate education, you probably chose a subject – psychology, sociology, etc. – and took a broad array of courses in the subject to build a foundation of knowledge. Grad school builds on that foundation, but most programs are specialized in a particular area. When you seek a Master’s in Human Services for example, you might focus on counseling, administration or leadership. Before choosing a program, make sure that the course track matches your career goals.
Grad school is expensive. Depending on the school and program, earning a master’s degree can cost up to $50,000. Before you make the investment, consider your career goals, whether you can expect to earn that money back in a new position and how much you can reasonably afford. Financial aid is available to graduate students and you can earn scholarships and grants as well as get assistance from employers, but you truly need to consider the expense before making a decision. When evaluating programs, consider the total cost before enrolling.
Deciding to go back to school and graduate degree is a major decision and not one to be made on a whim. If you ask yourself the tough questions ahead of time, though, and make an informed decision, you’ll never regret making the choice to go ahead and get that degree.
This guest post article was written and provided by Adrienne Barfield. Adrienne finished her Bachelor’s degree online this last fall. She is continuing her education by also pursuing her Master’s degree online.
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