No, not me, you. This article has three questions you should ask yourself before you start. Also, Is one of you stealing our conversations and turning them into lite internet articles? Should I Go to Grad School? 3 Questions to Ask Before You Enroll
I went to grad school is for curiosity and interest in advancing further in the field after working. In the end, I find myself enjoying grad courses as it always has more papers and case studies, giving a better insight on how it can be applied in real world challenges.
Would I go to grad school? -YES 1. Why do I want to go back to school? - Learning new knowledge and skills in area of my professional specialty at Master level, but not a Ph.D unless entering academia world. - Choosing quality school 2. Can I gain the same skills in another way? - Yes, but a Master degree would easy proof that I have knowledge and skills 3. How am I going to pay for it? - Working full-time and pay for it plus employer tuition assistance, no student loan
Generally speaking, degrees of any level are a pretty terrible way of proving that you have skills. College coursework assesses knowledge, not skill. You can earn a B.S. in Finance and be absolutely terrible at investing in the stock market. And I have encountered many people with bachelors, and even masters and doctorates, in engineering who simply cannot work as engineers in a corporate setting (some of them lack the ability to work in teams, some lack self-motivation to work etc). A PMP is going to be significantly more valuable in the marketplace than an M.S.M. in Project Management. The former is often included as a requirement or preference in job postings. I've not ever seen the latter. That isn't to say that Masters degrees are "bad." But they are a piece of the puzzle, not the entire picture. And they were never intended to be indicators that a person has a particular "skill."
I chose to apply for an MSCS because I want to shift to working on computer vision and robotics. I have the computer engineering skills, and the work experience to prove that. I need the actual knowledge, and to convince people that I both understand this rather complex field,and am up to date.
Would I go to grad school? Yes, I'm currently a grad student. 1. Why do I want to go back to school? Love of learning and to become a subject matter expert for future entrepreneurial and possibly teaching endeavors. 2. Can I gain the same skills in another way? Yes, but a master degree (at minimum) will provide the "credential proof" needed to not have my status as a subject matter expert called into question. 3. How am I going to pay for it? Currently I'm using federal financial aid for my primary program. However, the primary field I'm pursuing (Cybersecurity) is one that has a high demand for employees due to a critical nationwide shortage and salaries are very high, even at entry-level. I don't anticipate having trouble repaying student loans.
Skills is a good question, but an incomplete one. A person goes to a university not just to gain skills, but also to obtain a degree. The degree then acts as a proxy, making a statement about its holder on its own, without the holder being present. In some cases, the lack of a degree (at whatever relevant level) also makes a statement, and not a good one. A degree can open doors, but it can also prevent them from being closed. This is, in my opinion, much more true as one's career progresses. This forum has been rife with such examples...people returning to get degrees that they feel they "lack." For some, it's about changing one's career arc. But for many others, it's about filling a perceived gap in one's portfolio. (Then there are some who go off and get a degree for no apparent reason at all!)
Hi, U21Global and IGNOU collaborated to offer the executive MBA in it management. The final degree is from IGNOU, n the executive cert is from U21Global, n I managed to build my India network with brics trend. Yes, IGNOU is not inside U21Global, but U21Global is qualified enough to partner with IGNOU, a mega university that accredits dl university in India. U21Global has now moved to Malaysia n formed globalnxt uni with Malaysia govt accreditation.
But it helps to show the world that you are educated when it comes to Census report/interview. What is your highest educational level? Some School, High School, Some College, Associates, Bachelor, Master, Doctorate. And etc...
If you know what you want to learn and grad school has some courses / degrees on it, I say DO IT! If you folks are forcing you into it than it's a horrible idea.
I didn't need it, but I felt incomplete without that master's degree. So, my reason: because I wanted it.
