Comments on: To Grad School or Not to Grad School? http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/ Talking about money, without being boring. Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:26:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Gary http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-52575 Gary Wed, 04 Jun 2008 10:39:27 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-52575 Good article - it is also worth keeping in mind that graduate or post-graduate degrees may be done part-time whilst working. I did my MBA part-time and really benefited from being able to apply what I learnt in the 'classroom' in'real' business challenges. Gary's last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gobluray/~3/304198279/">Bluray needs an MBA (or Why Bluray is Failing)</a> Good article - it is also worth keeping in mind that graduate or post-graduate degrees may be done part-time whilst working. I did my MBA part-time and really benefited from being able to apply what I learnt in the ‘classroom’ in’real’ business challenges.

Gary’s last blog post..Bluray needs an MBA (or Why Bluray is Failing)

]]> By: josie http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-47432 josie Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:22:47 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-47432 from my experience and location you need a grad level degree for just about anything ... everyone either has one, is getting one or has been working for 20+ years so they dont need one... from what ive seen as a younger professional in the nyc area its going to be a long shot make much over 50k with out one from my experience and location you need a grad level degree for just about anything … everyone either has one, is getting one or has been working for 20+ years so they dont need one… from what ive seen as a younger professional in the nyc area its going to be a long shot make much over 50k with out one

]]> By: Bethany http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-47330 Bethany Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:34:59 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-47330 You and many others have convinced me. Paris will have to wait. Sigh. You and many others have convinced me. Paris will have to wait. Sigh.

]]> By: Ginger @ Girls Just Wanna Have Funds http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-46986 Ginger @ Girls Just Wanna Have Funds Sun, 09 Mar 2008 15:09:47 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-46986 Im on my second Masters degree and I starting to have doubts about my commitment to the profession. So much that Im thinking about getting a third in order to start over. Why? Im not sure that I still have the same fervor and passion as I did once before mainly due to the lack of competitive salaries in my field. Its a long story but my advice is to thoroughly research the field and make sure that you don't get caught up in the "good" of what you will be doing because you still have bills to pay and then some when you graduate. Im on my second Masters degree and I starting to have doubts about my commitment to the profession. So much that Im thinking about getting a third in order to start over. Why? Im not sure that I still have the same fervor and passion as I did once before mainly due to the lack of competitive salaries in my field. Its a long story but my advice is to thoroughly research the field and make sure that you don’t get caught up in the “good” of what you will be doing because you still have bills to pay and then some when you graduate.

]]> By: kw http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-46772 kw Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:41:33 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-46772 Both my siblings went to grad school and now make less than I do. We all majored in the humanities but I only have a B.A. Many times a higher degree isn't worth it. You should probably research jobs you want and see the requirements. Also, think about how long you want to remain in the workforce. I know many women who are still paying off loans but decided to be a SAHM. If or when they return to work, they will probably get a job that doesn't require a degree anyway. Both my siblings went to grad school and now make less than I do. We all majored in the humanities but I only have a B.A. Many times a higher degree isn’t worth it. You should probably research jobs you want and see the requirements. Also, think about how long you want to remain in the workforce. I know many women who are still paying off loans but decided to be a SAHM. If or when they return to work, they will probably get a job that doesn’t require a degree anyway.

]]> By: Tom http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-46660 Tom Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:30:15 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-46660 That's a really hard decision and like you mentioned, you have to remember that you're not guaranteed a "job" You'll really have to scope out the market to see whats out there and who will hire you. You won't want to spend thousands and get no good job in return. I just look at so many successful people out there that don't have a lot of college education and are making it great in life. Education isn't the only key to making money. Good luck on your choices and keep up the great work! That’s a really hard decision and like you mentioned, you have to remember that you’re not guaranteed a “job” You’ll really have to scope out the market to see whats out there and who will hire you.

You won’t want to spend thousands and get no good job in return. I just look at so many successful people out there that don’t have a lot of college education and are making it great in life. Education isn’t the only key to making money. Good luck on your choices and keep up the great work!

]]> By: Brandon Barkley http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-46632 Brandon Barkley Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:26:19 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-46632 My suggestion would be to try to find a job that does some sort of Educational Reimbursement and then go to grad school. I wish I had done that... My suggestion would be to try to find a job that does some sort of Educational Reimbursement and then go to grad school. I wish I had done that…

]]> By: No Debt Plan http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-46565 No Debt Plan Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:38:05 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-46565 As someone who is in his first year of a two year MBA program, my advice is to wait. I worked for a year and a half before entering school. Work experience definitely gives you an edge -- I should have waited longer, actually. The people that are fresh from bachelor's degree into the MBA program are a step behind because they've never experienced the real world. In the end I decided to go to school now and not later because I know our life is going to very hectic in the future. As someone who is in his first year of a two year MBA program, my advice is to wait. I worked for a year and a half before entering school. Work experience definitely gives you an edge — I should have waited longer, actually. The people that are fresh from bachelor’s degree into the MBA program are a step behind because they’ve never experienced the real world.

In the end I decided to go to school now and not later because I know our life is going to very hectic in the future.

]]> By: plonkee http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-46540 plonkee Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:26:14 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-46540 Well, I integrated my masters degree with my bachelors degree and it wasn't very expensive. I made the right choice for me, but unless you really, really want to study a subject further, or you need the qualification it probably makes sense to work for at least a year before more education. If you want to work out what you want to do, either try out a bunch of jobs, or go travelling (preferably a working holiday). Cheaper and more fun. Well, I integrated my masters degree with my bachelors degree and it wasn’t very expensive. I made the right choice for me, but unless you really, really want to study a subject further, or you need the qualification it probably makes sense to work for at least a year before more education.

If you want to work out what you want to do, either try out a bunch of jobs, or go travelling (preferably a working holiday). Cheaper and more fun.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-46505 Elizabeth Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:54:46 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/03/05/to-grad-school-or-not-to-grad-school/#comment-46505 I think it *really* depends on what kind of grad degree you're thinking about. Are you still thinking primarily about an MBA? Based on what I know of the work world and the experiences of people I know, I'm suspicious of reports that claim that graduate degrees lead to higher salaries. I suspect that this is mostly true in a narrow range of high-paying fields, like law and the sciences. In business, I think an MBA is much more likely to help you at 35 than at 25, and *could* put you in the awkward position of being "overqualified" for entry-level positions while not having enough experience for higher-level positions. I think the best course of action for most people considering graduate degrees is to go out and work for at least a year before getting the grad degree. Working in your chosen field (as an assistant, secretary, whatever) will teach you whether the grad degree will actually increase your earnings or give you more promotion potential or whether it's mostly just a nice extra. Just my 5 cents. I think it *really* depends on what kind of grad degree you’re thinking about. Are you still thinking primarily about an MBA?

Based on what I know of the work world and the experiences of people I know, I’m suspicious of reports that claim that graduate degrees lead to higher salaries. I suspect that this is mostly true in a narrow range of high-paying fields, like law and the sciences. In business, I think an MBA is much more likely to help you at 35 than at 25, and *could* put you in the awkward position of being “overqualified” for entry-level positions while not having enough experience for higher-level positions.

I think the best course of action for most people considering graduate degrees is to go out and work for at least a year before getting the grad degree. Working in your chosen field (as an assistant, secretary, whatever) will teach you whether the grad degree will actually increase your earnings or give you more promotion potential or whether it’s mostly just a nice extra.

Just my 5 cents.

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