Should I Go For My Masters?

[skankinbri]

Allright here's the deal. I graduated from UCLA in 2005 with a B.A in Information Technology and a minor in photography. I've got a great job that pays me $50K a year plus full benefits and all, but I was looking at the company manual the other night, and they said with a Masters degree I can go up to $60-65K a year. I know it's an extra $10-15K a year, but I'd have to go back to school for like 40 additional units which would take another 2 years or so. I don't want to burn myself out, and I'm able to live just fine on $50K, but I just wanted some opinions.

Thanks.

[PaulsRightNut]

I don't really see how a masters will hurt you. I would ask around your work to see if anyone ever went back to get one and what their advise was.

[wiReZ]

Dude, if you can keep the job and still go to school? why not? it would be so worth it for you! If there isnt anything else holding you back other than your job, then I'd say do it! You'll regret it later I'm sure...and the longer you're away from school the harder it is to come back.

DO IT. Get that Masters! Close the thread! :-D

[noodledancer]

if your only motivation is to earn more money, i would say no.

[kg00d]

I'm taking ITM as well. We've have a couple specialized MBA's for ITM grads here and I may take one as well. Anyways If I were you I'd do it and I'm sure that you'd be able to find a better job with better pay once you've obtained your masters.

[shane hennessey]

if your only motivation is to earn more money, i would say no.
why else would one get a college degree or masters?

im gonna get my MBA once i get out of college

[Rich Duncan]

Yeah if you can keep your current job while you go to get your master's I would say to definitely go back to get it

[skankinbri]

First off, thanks for the replies guys.

Money is not what I'm going for, infact, I'm basically managing making house payments, a loving girlfriend, helping my friends band succeed, and just doin a shit load of things, and adding the stress of school to work and personal life may not work out the best.

But I appreciate all the advice.

[Juliana101]

If you can get your company to financially help you, because MBA programs are mad expensive, then I would say go for it.

If you go get your MBA, you might get a better job offer somewhere else that has more money involved, or you might build some connections in school/with your professors that can help you get a job in the future.

My dad teaches an MBA class at Villanova, and he says the best part about education is the connections you make, because it's who you know, not what you know.

[melvicious]

If the company pays for it, do it.

[Jesse2]

Allright here's the deal. I graduated from UCLA in 2005 with a B.A in Information Technology and a minor in photography. I've got a great job that pays me $50K a year plus full benefits and all, but I was looking at the company manual the other night, and they said with a Masters degree I can go up to $60-65K a year. I know it's an extra $10-15K a year, but I'd have to go back to school for like 40 additional units which would take another 2 years or so. I don't want to burn myself out, and I'm able to live just fine on $50K, but I just wanted some opinions.

Thanks.

I just finished my Masters, so I'll give you my two cents...

After college I had a fun job that paid well, but I wasn't far from my salary ceiling. After a year i decided to go back to school.

It was hard as fuck. It took up all of my time for 2 years, and it cost a TON. those are the negatives.

That being said, I'm now in my dream job, and it's something I couldn't have done without going to grad school. So personally, I would say do it, but you have to be ready to go back to your college situation financially (which is harder than you might think).

[eversosweetTEN]

i think having your masters would definitely pay off in the long run but i would look into your options.

a lot of company's will reimburse your tuition if you choose to go back to school while working for them. a friend of mine works for an accounting firm that is paying for her entire masters degree and set her up with a special summer program so she has the summers off from work and just goes to school three days a week. i'm sure most bigger companies have programs like that for continuing education.

[skankinbri]

Well I decided to go for it, slowly but surley. I have a computer repair class on Tuesday/Thursday, and then a Speech class on Wednesday. Decided to go back to my Alma Matter, UCLA.