Do you want/need to get your masters?

[ziggystardust]

For my field, I don't. But I think want to get one. I don't know what I would get it in, or what I would do with it (teach?) but its been eating at me for a little bit now.

But should I go into $50,000 in debt for something I'm not sure of?

What about you?

 

[chrissyk]

This is a really tough question, because it depends SO much on your field. For my field, I didn't need a masters. However, my former employer had a very generous tuition policy where they paid 100% up-front for anything job-related. I did get my masters through this program. I only paid for books. Would the masters have been worth the 50K in tuition out of my pocket? NO!! Am I glad that I got it for free? YES.

I left my former career to become a teacher. Teachers here make more with a masters...ANY masters. Hence, in the long run, it wasn't a waste of time. However, if I had stayed in the same field, I don't think that it would have paid off as well. My masters is an MBA, and I'm sorry to say it but that degree is a dime a dozen. The "education" was all fluff...I felt like the school just liked to keep that corporate tuition $$ rolling in, so they kept minting basically worthless masters degrees. I felt bad for the students who were actually paying for the degree themselves. Sorry to be so long, but that was my experience anyways.

 

[vettechick99]

Well as I've mentioned in a few posts, I'm trying to get back into what I was degreed in, Psychology. Unfortunately, and I knew this all along, you can't do much without a Masters. I'm just not in a place right now to get one (physcially mostly since the nearest school is 90 minutes away).

I think it would be worth the cost in some cases such as an automatic salary increase or the degree is required for a particular job.

Why exactly do you feel like you need one?

 

[snoopy]

Didn't need one but got one anyway.

 

[Lisa F]

I just got my M.Arch degree and yes, I'm glad I got it. It didnt cost me $50k, I worked my way through grad school (I had an assistantship that came with a partial tuition remission and enough of I stipend to pay the rest). You CAN become a licensed architect with a B. Arch degree (5 year first professional degree) but I have found that many more jobs that require an architecture/design/preservation background but are not an actual architect require a Master's degree in architecture and related fields. I'm glad I got the M.Arch because it seems to open up way more doors.

 

[WDWAurora]

I'm also in psychology, and I knew going into it that I had to come out with AT LEAST a MA. I'll have an EdS when I finally get out, which is a step above an MA and below a PhD. I'm not going into debt for it though. Most full-time master's programs have assistantships, etc. that will pay for the majority of your schooling. Mine would probably pay tuition, books, room & board if I lived on campus. It's paid monthly though, so I have to save the money and pay it at the beginning of each semester.

The only way I can see it costing 50K is maybe through a private school, or something that would be out of state. If I would go that far in debt I wouldn't do it. I will be thrilled when I get out though, because all this training has me itching to work (I know that will change!).

 

[Minnie824]

For my field, my company would pay 100% for me to go get my masters. 1st year with the job I took 1 class. After that...no desire to go thru school again. Even moreso now that I have kids...I would much rather spend time with them then on studying and classes. DH got his masters...before we were married though, when he had some more free time.

 

[Jack Splat]

I already have a law degree, as well as a BA obviously, and I was thinking of getting an MBA about 2-3 years ago, but then for the same reason as you, I got to thinking, "Do I really want to go in debt just for an MBA?" Besides, it really wouldn't help me much anyway I don't think.

 

[ziggystardust]

Why exactly do you feel like you need one?

I don't know and thats the problem!

I am a graphic designer and honestly there are many people in this field that don't even have a B.S/B.A. so I wouldn't need one unless I decided to teach. If I got one in my field, it would be more for me than anything. My sister got one in Design and was considered over qualified by many.

I guess I'm just up in the air about what I want to be doing for the next 25 years of my life. I also feel that it would be easier to do school now while I'm young. Oh woe is me

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

I had to get one because I want to be a principal. But, I took six years to do it so I wouldn't go into debt. (Six was the max they would allow before they started expiring your old classes...)
I just like having it, too. I felt like I learned more about school districts and how they are structured and everything involved in running one than I ever did with my bachelor's degree in education! And even if I never moved up, I feel like that totally helps me with what I do now.

 

[vettechick99]

Ziggy, are you going through the Quarter-Life Crisis ?

I think in your situation unless you want to teach, you might be overqualified with a masters and that could possibly hurt you. Doesn't mean that you can't keep up with your education and continue to take classes. The thing about GD/art is that it's inate...you either have the talent naturally (which you do apparently) or you don't. So getting more education doesn't really put you ahead of other people. Like you said, so many people in the field are natually good without formal education. Lucky fools.

 

[Goofyzgurl]

I already spent almost that much getting my bs (went to a private school) and I didn't want to go into debt any futher to get my masters. It's nice to have and I've been wanting to get it, but I wasn't going to pay more for it. I couldn't justify that much more of an expense for dh and me to pay when dd (12) will be going to college soon. I am going back this spring because I just started a new job that will pay for it. I'm so happy about that because I have been wanting to get my masters.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Have one An MBA Thankfully, it was at least partially paid for by my company at the time, but yes, it's useful.

 

[caitycaity]

i need one (actually i need a ph.d eventually, but for right now i am getting a ma) and i am going to graduate with one in may!

fortunately for me, my employer is allowing me to work a flexible schedule so that i can take my classes and still work full-time. also, i haven't had to pay a dime to get my degree, though if i don't get funding at the ph.d. level, i will have to take out loans for that.

i won't lie to you though, working and getting your degree at the same time is hard work. especially at my school when ft is 3 classes and pt is 2. 2 classes plus a 40+ hours work week is almost driving me crazy.

 

[snoopy]

I don't know and thats the problem!

I am a graphic designer and honestly there are many people in this field that don't even have a B.S/B.A. so I wouldn't need one unless I decided to teach. If I got one in my field, it would be more for me than anything. My sister got one in Design and was considered over qualified by many.

I guess I'm just up in the air about what I want to be doing for the next 25 years of my life. I also feel that it would be easier to do school now while I'm young. Oh woe is me

My bachelor and masters are in fine arts. Not many artists I know have a BFA, let alone an MFA, but like you, I decided to go for it while I was young. I have no regrets.

 

[swilphil]

I'm working on my second masters degree, but I love going to school. That's one of the reasons I became a teacher. When I finish my masters, I'll be at masters plus 60 hours on the salary scale.

Are you looking at getting an MFA? I know those can be more hours. My masters was considerably less than $50,000, and it's a 42 hour program. Look around. There are many programs that are geared to those who are working and with lots of classes on line.

 

[m&m's mom]

If you think you can do it, I would.
I quit Masters program just shy of graduation because I realized I did not want to go into counseling and I had no desire to work in a field that would use a Masters in Marriage and Family therapy.
There would be no advantage to me to complete in that program and in the field (computer mainframe programming and support) I am in now it would not help me.
So even though I could complete for free through tuition reimbursement, I am not.

 

[ziggystardust]

OT

m&m's mom thats a great pic of your puppy. I have a choc. lab too! aw:

 

[vettechick99]

OT

m&m's mom thats a great pic of your puppy.

really! Labs really make the cutest puppies.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I will have mine in 3 months time! It was needed for the type of work I wanted to be in. I could have probably gotten a position without it but it wouldn't have been the place that I wanted to have worked in.

My masters is 95 freakin' hours. It's practically another bachelors, but it's been great and I am SO GLAD that I chose to do this before working FT.

And it paid off! I got a position at a place that I never in my dreams though I would - and only because I had this particular master's degree.

Good luck in your decision! I know it's hard!