Masters and PhD Programs
Masters and PhD Programs : Making the Decision to Take Your Education Higher
For me, the question of whether or not I’d go for my Master’s, and once I’d gotten it, take on a PhD program, was never really a question. I’ve known the academic life was for me since I got my first sparkly star sticker on an assignment in kindergarten. Yeah, I’m a geek, I know!
And for me, because I knew I’d be pursuing my career–well, my whole life–in academia, there wasn’t really a question of whether or not it was impractical for me to go to graduate school. I mean, that’s what you do.
But as a lifelong student, I’ve obviously spent a lot of time around students, and I hear my own undergrads and my fellow graduate students debating masters and PhD programs all the time. Really, at least once a semester, I have a couple of undergrads come to me to ask whether they should, or need, to go for their masters, and of course, I hear the same from grad students trying to decide about PhDs.
Now, some of us know that masters and PhD programs are our path, and if you are so passionate about learning, teaching, and research, you don’t need me to tell you to go. But what if you’re not?
Masters and PhD programs require a huge investment in time, and sometimes in money. The personal investment you put into these programs can’t be calculated, either. The stress, the lack of social life–you get the idea.
Masters degrees are useful for some career fields outside of academia and research. But they’re seldom required. Take a look at the statistics in your field–who has the jobs? Who’s making the money?
PhDs on the other hand are not terribly useful if you don’t want a career in research or education. When you’re deciding on masters and PhD programs, think about your goals and what will help you get there.
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