Having a bachelor’s degree is now the norm, so some students are understandably pursuing graduate degrees to stand out and land jobs. Crazy? No. Dangerous? Yes.
These days, not enough students take a careful look at the requirements for their future careers before jumping straight into two to four or more years worth of debt and school.
It’s an easy trap into which to fall. I myself have considered the option of continuing on to grad school right after I am done with my bachelor’s, which won’t be for another year. I’ve looked at the pros and cons for grad school, and really it all comes down to: Do I need it? Do I have the money for it? What will I get out of it?”
First, the question of necessity. As a journalism major hoping to go into communication, the career I am pursuing does not really require a master’s degree. Sure, it will look good on my resumé, but it won’t do much because for most jobs in the communication field, all they look for is previous relevant experience. In a sense, it would be pointless for me to get my master’s.
Of course, some careers, such as many in the medical field, absolutely require further schooling. In addition, holding a master’s or Ph.D. looks impressive and may help you land a higher salary in any job.
But the sheer cost of graduate school should be enough to persuade students to stay away if employers in their chosen field hire based on internships or related work experience. So essentially, it would be time wasted if the prospective employer does not care for your graduate degree; you may end up both unemployed and in massive debt.
So after analyzing the necessity of a graduate degree for your chosen career field and both the advantages (like reputation) and disadvantages (like debt), do you still need a graduate degree?
Some people feel more empowered holding a master’s degree and some simply want to learn and can afford to do so. If that’s something that is validating for you or enriches your path to a meaningful vocation, then take the leap. But please, weigh all aspects carefully before you spend the next few years in school with a huge expense added to your bank account.