[EroguroNingyou]

So, I've graduated from college. I've been to Korea, I've been to Japan. I have an amazing boyfriend. I have an adorable rabbit. I feel like at 21, I've already reached all the goals that I wanted as a kid. I'm applying to Grad School because it seems like the next thing to do...but in the long run, do you guys think Graduate School really matters? Does it depend on the major (I'm International Relations)?

[NEW*AGE]

Well, personally it depends on the job.
I mean business wise since your doing international relations having a BA is enough and you can improve your resume by getting actual experience.
Most companies that I've met with have all stated that although education is important a masters and no experience is lesser than an BA with experience.
However, this is your own decision and your own life, and if you feel that you are willing to spend four more years to improve your craft then feel free to do so.

p.s. just wondering, where did you graduate from for international relations?

[hikki]

Graduate school doesn't matter unless it's a requirement for your job. I'm on the higher end of my career path, but if I want to go a step higher, I'll need my graduate degree and a few other specialty programs.

If it's not a requirement, then I don't see the point of it.

[NO-1]

I would say it's better to go back to grad school after you've been off from college. Going straight through gets very tiring, if you're not motivated (or don't really need the degree) it could be boring or make you burnt out or be a waste of time.
It does seem like the next step after all those things (have been there), but reconsider if it's really something you want to study. It's a lot of work and pretty intense (although that would depend more on the program I guess). I dropped out because I realized that doesn't always have to be done and I've found something else I'd rather do.

[kinetic]

Depends. If you get a useless graduate degree, no. Useless meaning you're out looking for a job in academia or you're in academia and literally begging money via grants.

If you go for something more profitable, then yes.

To respect useless grad degree recipients, I will not name them.
Instead, I will name some that you may consider to be worth it: Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Law (specialize in something), Podiatry, some sciences (something with application and not theoretical)

I'm not sure if you mean grad school or professional school, but most professional schools are useful.

[yabasta]

I'm doing postgrad courses because hell, I enjoy studying lol. In that sense it's worth it to me. I don't care about money. I enjoy learning and writing about my experiences. I'm more than happy to die a poor, highly educated man lol.

yabasta

[phoenix rise]

getting an advanced degree is an accomplishment in of itself

[nba3d]

Depends if there are jobs available that fits, if the employment / job market is bad, be best to go to Grad School and wait till things calm down.

[1336.5]

to be blunt....not worth it for your major. go out there and network

[ronmexico]

What would you do, get a masters? I'm not sure what that would do for you. Whether "grad school" matters really depends on what kind of program you're talking about.

[Hax]

If its required to advance in the career you wish to continue in, it is worth it.

If you want to change careers or you want it to open up your career choices you have to consider some things. First, in the time it takes you to get your masters, you would have probably been promoted. Second in that time you would have made money for all the years you were in school rather than working. Finally, in the end of it, you'll spend so much on grad school that it may not entirely be worth it to goto grad school.

I used to be so gungho about getting my masters. It was an asian thing that a B.A,B.S was not enough. I HAD to get my masters. But after researching my industry enough, I realized its probably not worth it.

[muta]

Get a job first then get your company to pay for your tuition.
That's what I did.

[Rockette]

In my case, as a Pharmacist with a bachelor's degree, despite my average at the board exam, my title per se is insufficient and faces prejudice amongst countries that only honor those who've graduated with an industrial pharmacy degree which has more units than the bachelor course.

I desperately need a masters and in amplification a Ph.D. in pharmacy. That's why I'm considering taking up Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in hopes this would boost my chances for qualifying in countries that honor those with a higher educational attainment. Of course it would be costly, that's why I'm currently working while waiting for the issuance of my license in order to achieve this. Damn tuition fees . Dessicating me of financial sources that are needed with other neccessities.

Grad school is only worth it depending on the type of job you're aiming for. If a job description says it's mandatory then tough luck, it'll be needed. It's hard competing against those who have masters and Ph.Ds despite one's obvious capability and diligence. It's prejudice and it's rampant.

Education sheesh.




-johdirockette

[love]

are you satisfied with your job?

personally i think grad school is worth it, especially since we're in a recession right now, it's better to be in school since it's harder to find jobs.

[Hax]

Get a job first then get your company to pay for your tuition.
That's what I did.

There's this too. But man, I would not want to do grad school and full time work. It's possible but I don't want to have to do it, haha. It's not quite an option in many companies though.

are you satisfied with your job?

personally i think grad school is worth it, especially since we're in a recession right now, it's better to be in school since it's harder to find jobs.

This kind of only hurts you in a recession, haha. So rather than save money or get any job, we should spend money on grad school! I do get what you mean though. There has been an increase in grad school applications to at least business schools. Business people have worked a couple years so they have money saved up to go to school in this downturn economy.

[zeram]

Grad school is a requirement for my field so I had to get it plus I have a pretty useless undergrad so I prolly would have wound up having to go back to school even I went in a different career direction.

Btw, New York Times had an article about a month ago where they actually broke down, by gender and by education who it was that was being affected by unemployment in the U.S. and unemployment went down as education went up so....

that being said I think there are certain fields you don't need it. I have a few family members who are engineers (2 electrical/1 civil) and none of them have grad degrees and are doing fine.

[Tamago86]

Many liberal arts majors at least in the humanities and social sciences need a master's for a decent paying job and a PhD if they want a well paying one like teaching at a university. Unfortunate fact of life...

[justforboa]

International Relations does need graduate degree for career advancement.

[PoppinBC]

Just to echo what many are already saying... It depends on your field.

For me, I'm getting my undergraduate degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering, with a minor in Design Studies. I'm planning on entering an Industrial Design Graduate School. Because of my long-term goal to start an eco-focused design firm, the education I've chosen should ideally help me with achieving those goals.

Think about what you want to do in the long term, see what kind of education can enhance your future, then decide from there =)

[i<3ramen]

like many others said it depends on your field. im a business major possibly taking on another option in marketing (my other is finance) from what ive heard from many others that for the business field its experience>degree. my plan for now after i graduate is to just work and build up a few years of experience then maybe ill go back and get my masters or something. but if it helps you advance in your career then go for it