2 answers
2
Questions
Asked
726 views
Should I get my master's right away or wait to see if the company I work for can pay for it?
The reason I ask is because I've heard a few professors talk about how they landed jobs with companies willing to pay for their Master's degree.
#HelpAGuyOut #FreeDegree
Login to comment
2 answers
Updated
C’s Answer
Hi Leonilo,
Great question! This is something that many students think about as they are wrapping up their undergraduate degree.
While your ultimate decision will depend on your individual circumstances, here are the things to keep in mind:
1. The advantages of waiting to get your Mater's later are the following:
a) If you have college debt and other financial burden on you, it may be worth going to work now and come back for a Masters later. Gaining work experience may also indicate your interests in other areas & you may change your opinion on what subject your want your Master's degree in. For e.g. instead of a Masters in Engineering, you may choose to do an MBA.
b) If the company will pay for the Master's degree, that reduces the burden on you. Be sure to check whether they will pay for all of it or only a portion - you may still need to chip in for tuition. In addition, most companies require you to maintain a minimum GPA to continue receiving their funding. Plus they may require you to stay on with them for a period of time after you get your Masters. If you leave before that, you may have to refund the tuition they paid. So do your research ahead of time on the company's policy.
2. The advantage of doing your Master's right away are the following:
a) You are already in a learning/student mindset, so the transition to Master's is typically smoother.
b) If you apply for a Master's in teh same College/University as your undergraduate degree, there may be options to complete the Master's degree in a year Vs 2 years. This is a great saving in time & tuition.
c) You will start work off with an advanced degree and that can put you in a higher salary range.
d) Several individuals get busy at work and lose the motivation to come back to school and start coursework. So if getting the Masters is super important to you, keep this in mind and find ways to motivate yourself.
There is no right answer - you can be successful with or without a Master's degree if you work hard and learn on the job and commit to your career. Good luck!
Great question! This is something that many students think about as they are wrapping up their undergraduate degree.
While your ultimate decision will depend on your individual circumstances, here are the things to keep in mind:
1. The advantages of waiting to get your Mater's later are the following:
a) If you have college debt and other financial burden on you, it may be worth going to work now and come back for a Masters later. Gaining work experience may also indicate your interests in other areas & you may change your opinion on what subject your want your Master's degree in. For e.g. instead of a Masters in Engineering, you may choose to do an MBA.
b) If the company will pay for the Master's degree, that reduces the burden on you. Be sure to check whether they will pay for all of it or only a portion - you may still need to chip in for tuition. In addition, most companies require you to maintain a minimum GPA to continue receiving their funding. Plus they may require you to stay on with them for a period of time after you get your Masters. If you leave before that, you may have to refund the tuition they paid. So do your research ahead of time on the company's policy.
2. The advantage of doing your Master's right away are the following:
a) You are already in a learning/student mindset, so the transition to Master's is typically smoother.
b) If you apply for a Master's in teh same College/University as your undergraduate degree, there may be options to complete the Master's degree in a year Vs 2 years. This is a great saving in time & tuition.
c) You will start work off with an advanced degree and that can put you in a higher salary range.
d) Several individuals get busy at work and lose the motivation to come back to school and start coursework. So if getting the Masters is super important to you, keep this in mind and find ways to motivate yourself.
There is no right answer - you can be successful with or without a Master's degree if you work hard and learn on the job and commit to your career. Good luck!
Updated
Alex’s Answer
With the exception of obvious careers that require advanced degrees before you can work (doctors, lawyers), I think most people would benefit from a few years of work experience before entering any kind of master's program. For one, you'll be able to get admitted more easily if you have work experience. You may also discover that your career path doesn't necessarily require a master's degree (as a former newspaper editor, I can tell you I was always much more interested in candidates with work experience than master's degrees!). And yes, many companies will pay all or part of your advanced degree, so it's another reason to hold off.