So I wanted find out how many people would say that a Masters is worth the time and effort. Not just for personal knowledge but financially/employment wise. I have met alot of people who dont have a masters and making decent $$$. I have also met some who make $$$$$ but it is not overwhelming but I must note that certain fields this is a must but in others it seems to come down to just networking. What are your personal observations?
Sasha96
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Re: Honest Opinion. Masters Overated?
Like you said, I think it depends on the field. Overall, I think it is fantastic for personal growth and well worth the time and effort, though expensive!
hbradio
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Re: Honest Opinion. Masters Overated?
It depends on the field for sure. I know people that have a masters that make less than me. There are people that have a masters and have NO job.
september2004
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Re: Honest Opinion. Masters Overated?
depends on your age, industry, and industry experience.
in technology one can get pretty far on experience alone, i believe people in education and psychology generally go all the way as in their fields a masters is 'an equivalent' to a bachelors in other fields - one needs the masters to make the jump in salary and rank.
long term a masters is key, short term one will be making only slightly more than one without the degree. that is why age becomes a factor.
i will not get a masters out of my own pocket. i can't see justifying the expense only to at some point potentially work at home and/or raise children. if the company wants to chip in, i will get an MBA. i have spent most of my career in financial services technology and will be 31 this year.
i may change my mind, but FH has an MBA and good career prospects so the two of us will make ends meet one way or another...
i say all these things to generalize, of course there are exceptions to every rule
myasmom
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Re: Honest Opinion. Masters Overated?
For me I have my GI bill, I used it to get my first B.S and I sill have a year of entitlements left for schooling so the expense will be minimal. So in that sense I am lucky about not having to have a company finance it or out of pocket 100%.
I would be looking at either the healthcare industry or human resources. For me I just want to use this $$$ to help me get ahead.
Wintersbride
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Re: Honest Opinion. Masters Overated?
Depends on the field. One can not get their foot in the door w/ out a masters in my field (Speech Pathology...MA or MS required), but I know people who have them in in other fields and it did not make a difference. Some people just want to have that under their belt.
DjPiLL
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Re: Honest Opinion. Masters Overated?
I think a masters is overated in a LOT of fields. It is usefull in a few though (like teaching).
But IMO... you should try to look for a job before you go for the masters and see if you can avoid paying the big buks by finding a job you like without it.
LadyPrincess
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Re: Honest Opinion. Masters Overated?
Yes - it is worth it.
Baring market conditions - is also shows dedication to your field
myasmom
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Re: Honest Opinion. Masters Overated?
The $$$ isnt the motivator. I would only have to pay for half a year which isnt too bad. I just dont want to kick myself by going for a M.A when I could do a second B.S in a different field.
september2004
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Re: Honest Opinion. Masters Overated?
Posted by myasmom
The $$$ isnt the motivator. I would only have to pay for half a year which isnt too bad. I just dont want to kick myself by going for a M.A when I could do a second B.S in a different field.
what is your current BS?
what are you contemplating?
what is your ideal job?
where would you apply? FH was really upset with St. Johns' job placement program post MBA. He would have been better off going to a different school as at the time he was not well networked...
Wintersbride
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Re: Honest Opinion. Masters Overated?
Posted by myasmom
The $$$ isnt the motivator. I would only have to pay for half a year which isnt too bad. I just dont want to kick myself by going for a M.A when I could do a second B.S in a different field.
If you are looking into a BS in a different field, then I am guessing you are not happy in the field that you are in or not working in the field you got the orig bachelor degree?
A second Bachelors is a waste of time. You can get a masters in anything you want despite what your origional degree was in (you may have to take a few pre-requisites in some fields though). Let's say your BA/BS is in Sociology, but you are thinking about becomming a teacher, just get your masters in teaching. I'm telling you, another Bachelors is a waste of time and money.
Wintersbride
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Re: Honest Opinion. Masters Overated?
By the way my sister has worked in College Career counseling and would probably say the same thing...
myasmom
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My current B.S in Heath & human services administration. I am contemplating doing the M.A in Labor & business Policy with a concentration in Human resouce management/ health managemnt.
The other option is B.S in Business Management & Economics with a focus on health managemnt.
This is my second career that I am looking into. The Military was my first.
Unlike so many people who have an ideal job, I have ideal jobs. I prefer a hospital/healthcare setting but human resources is also an interest.
Already accepted in a B.S program but they also have the B.S/MA pathway which my mentor and an overwhelming number of professors feel would be my best choice. Its alot to consider.
Wintersbride
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Re: Honest Opinion. Masters Overated?
Posted by myasmom
My current B.S in Heath & human services administration. I am contemplating doing the M.A in Labor & business Policy with a concentration in Human resouce management/ health managemnt.
The other option is B.S in Business Management & Economics with a focus on health managemnt.
This is my second career that I am looking into. The Military was my first.
Unlike so many people who have an ideal job, I have ideal jobs. I prefer a hospital/healthcare setting but human resources is also an interest.
Already accepted in a B.S program but they also have the B.S/MA pathway which my mentor and an overwhelming number of professors feel would be my best choice. Its alot to consider.
I agree w/ your mentor...but that is just me. I'm sorry I did misunderstand. Is it the BS/MA pathway a 5-yr program?
myasmom
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Re: Honest Opinion. Masters Overated?
In my case it wouldnt be since I designed my own degree. I took ALOT of higher level classes so I have transfer credit as opposed to someone who does not have a degree.
prncssrachel
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Re: Honest Opinion. Masters Overated?
It all depends on your field. A lot of fields REQUIRE a masters these days. Are there still fields that you can make good money in without a masters? Of course, but I see the trend, at least in NY, moving towards both a BA and an MA being a standard. When we were younger, you could still have a good career with zero college, now you really do need a degree for most careers, the next step, of course, will be everyone needing their masters. That's how I see it. As far as I'm concerned, there is no option other than continued schooling for myself. I want to be a professor someday, so I think it's only natural I have more schooling than my students
suven
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Re: Honest Opinion. Masters Overated?
Posted by myasmom
human resources is also an interest.
I have a Master's Degree in Human Resource Management. (I am also an SPHR)
Before going to grad school, I absolutely COULD NOT get a job in HR...
Not only did my MHRM get me into HR, it also got me a substantially higher salary than I had before. With the way I see businesses moving, it's going to get harder and harder to have a career in HR without the higher degrees AND certifications...
cluelessbride
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Re: Honest Opinion. Masters Overated?
Talk to people in the field you are interested in, and then aim for the best Masters program you can get into. Ask them about job placement for their grads - where did they work/what were their titles/what was the starting salary.
nov04LIbride
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Posted by suven
Posted by myasmom
human resources is also an interest.
I have a Master's Degree in Human Resource Management. (I am also an SPHR)
Before going to grad school, I absolutely COULD NOT get a job in HR...
Not only did my MHRM get me into HR, it also got me a substantially higher salary than I had before. With the way I see businesses moving, it's going to get harder and harder to have a career in HR without the higher degrees AND certifications...
I have a Master's in HR, and was not offered any jobs in the field making more than I am at my current job where I have been for three years. I have no HR experience, and all the high paying jobs that would be worth me changing fields required experience in HR plus the Master's. All I found were $30-35,000 entry level jobs--not worth me leaving what I am doing now. It is definitely not a guarantee of more $, but I needed a Master's to get into a doctoral program which I am starting next year. So, it did what I wanted it to do. That said, I think it also depends on the school and program. I have several friends who work at CA and did the Dowling MBA program. None of them were able to get higher paying jobs with the MBA. Friends of mine that did full time MBA programs at other schools were definitely given higher paying jobs. Some of my friends out of the Harvard or UPenn MBA programs are making well over $250,000 with no work experience. Would you get that out of less well-known or respected programs...probably not.
suven
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Re: Honest Opinion. Masters Overated?
Posted by nov04LIbride
I think it also depends on the school and program.
could be...I went to Rutgers, which has a very well known HR program...
