This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Gahnique Bell. Find her on Instagram at @s14rbur81_g4l4xy. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
“So, you plan on getting your master’s degree?”
I often get this question asked—mainly from family—and every time, I don’t have an exact answer. While I am nearly at the finish line of completing my bachelor’s degree, the thought of going back to school to get a master’s degree has crossed my mind. I feel like it’s been weighing on my mind lately, and the closer I get to graduation, but I’m not even sure I want to go back. Should I jump straight into my master’s, or do I take a gap year? How much will it cost? Is a master’s worth it?
Getting a master’s degree is a big deal and can be a huge accomplishment alongside earning a bachelor’s degree. It could be a difficult decision for some people because it means giving 2-3 more years of your life to school but also furthering your education even more. Not to mention, the job market is calling for jobs to have master’s degrees. It all just depends on what career you want to pursue. What always helps me is writing down the pros and cons of major decisions like this, and it might help you, too. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the pros and cons of getting a master’s degree!
Pros
1. Boot Your Career
The first thing someone might think about when they’re considering a master’s degree, or perhaps they’re already in one, is how it can open up more opportunities for you. A master’s degree is designed to go deeper into a subject and help you build specialized skills that give you an upper hand over your peers. With more skills and qualifications, a master’s degree can also boost your credibility, making you more attractive to potential employers and potentially leading to higher-paying positions. And today, one of the best parts is that you can pursue many master’s programs online, while still having the option of traditional, in-person study.
2. Increase Networking
Now for the most important aspect of earning any job in any career: networking! You hear it all the time from professors, peers, and even employers. Making connections with people is key when you’re trying to achieve your dream career. It can be daunting and scary, especially for those who are shy and introverted, but it’s how we navigate the job market. Some must do it more than others, but we all have to network at some point in our careers. That’s where the master’s degree comes in. You might not have had the chance to network while getting your bachelor’s degree,but going back for your master’s gives you another shot at it. The classes you will take are more than likely people who in the industry you want to be in. The peers that you will meet in your class are an opportunity to collaborate and create professional relationships with each other. There could also be exclusive job opportunities for graduate students to help them earn a job.
3. Earn A Higher pay
A master’s degree will indeed earn you more money than a bachelor’s degree, but it doesn’t apply to all jobs. Most creative careers like writing and filmmaking won’t exactly get paid higher if someone has a master’s degree. For those types of careers, skill level means more than your college education. Doctors, lawyers, and engineers are examples of careers where a master’s degree will come in handy financially.
Cons
1. Its Hella Expensive
Let’s be real. College is fucking expensive. Most of us who went to college are in serious debt right now. It’s sadly the reality of pursuing a higher education. It’s harder when you realize that after you graduate from college with a sweet looking bachelor’s degree, almost all of the financial aid from the government like hope, pell grant, zill miller grants is not available. One of the only ways to afford college at this point is to take out loans, earn scholarships, get teaching/research assistantships, and receive other aid. This means that it is a lot harder for many people to go back to college just for this sole point even if they wanted to go back to college. However, it’s not impossible, but this does need to be taken into consideration when you’re thinking about getting your master’s.
2. Its Time Consuming
College takes up a lot of your time. You have to turn in assignments and complete projects, work, go to club meetings, and maybe even invest in internships. The bottom line is that college is a lot. It can be stressful and challenging at times when you’re trying to balance you academic life with everything else. With a master’s degree, there will be more of a workload, which could bring about more stress and ultimately lead to burnout. This could be extremely challenging for those who have families and jobs. In this case, it’s important to have a support system to back you up when things get rough.
3. There’s No guarantee For Succes
One thing people don’t take into consideration when they get a master’s degree is that it doesn’t guarantee you success. I think that’s one of the hardest pills to swallow when thinking about a big life decision. You could put all this work into a degree only to not find it taking you anywhere. It can be really soul-crushing and heartbreaking. Remember to have realistic expectations and to expect the unexpected.
Last Thoughts
Think carefully about grad school. Write it out for yourself if you can. That’s what I did I drew out a mood board of my pros and cons and even my why for both sides and how each outcome would benefit me. Maybe there’s something specific you need to learn for your dream job. Maybe everything that you ned is right here on the internet. At this point, people learn everything just from watching YouTube. But if there’s a specific subject that you feel is neccasry for your career than by all measn go for it. It all comes to down to what career you want to pursue in life.
Are you thinking about going back for your master’s degree? Do you think a master’s is worth it? Let us know in the comments!
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