Is paying for grad school a "bad thing?"

I've heard so many people talk about fellowships, and how if you're really worth your salt, your department will try hard to get you a fellowship. Is this true? I can't imagine that all the people in grad school right now are going tuition free...is there really that much money floating around academia that most grad students are on scholarship?

Are grad students who pay tuition looked down upon?

 

[Landroval]

If you can't get a fellowship or other department award you can often get a tuition waiver from financial aid if you have good grades (as I assume you do when applying to grad schools). I often got both, so had to decline the financial aid one. If you don't get either, no one is going to care, so do it if you think the degree is a good investment.

 

Originally posted by: Landroval
If you can't get a fellowship or other department award you can often get a tuition waiver from financial aid if you have good grades (as I assume you do when applying to grad schools). I often got both, so had to decline the financial aid one. If you don't get either, no one is going to care, so do it if you think the degree is a good investment.

I definitely think of grad school as an investment (especially the schools I'm looking at). But my family doesn't have financial need (according to FAFSA rules). Do they really give out tuition waivers for good grades in grad schools?

 

[Landroval]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Landroval
If you can't get a fellowship or other department award you can often get a tuition waiver from financial aid if you have good grades (as I assume you do when applying to grad schools). I often got both, so had to decline the financial aid one. If you don't get either, no one is going to care, so do it if you think the degree is a good investment.

I definitely think of grad school as an investment (especially the schools I'm looking at). But my family doesn't have financial need (according to FAFSA rules). Do they really give out tuition waivers for good grades in grad schools?

Yes, I am married was working, and both our incomes were calculated, putting us way, way, way above the level. I was still offered "merit" financial aid in the form of tuition waivers in both of my graduate degrees.

 

Originally posted by: Landroval

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Landroval
If you can't get a fellowship or other department award you can often get a tuition waiver from financial aid if you have good grades (as I assume you do when applying to grad schools). I often got both, so had to decline the financial aid one. If you don't get either, no one is going to care, so do it if you think the degree is a good investment.

I definitely think of grad school as an investment (especially the schools I'm looking at). But my family doesn't have financial need (according to FAFSA rules). Do they really give out tuition waivers for good grades in grad schools?

Yes, I am married was working, and both our incomes were calculated, putting us way, way, way above the level. I was still offered "merit" financial aid in the form of tuition waivers in both of my graduate degrees.

Nice. I'll make sure to ask an admissions counselor about that type of aid during the application process.

 

[Landroval]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Landroval

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Landroval
If you can't get a fellowship or other department award you can often get a tuition waiver from financial aid if you have good grades (as I assume you do when applying to grad schools). I often got both, so had to decline the financial aid one. If you don't get either, no one is going to care, so do it if you think the degree is a good investment.

I definitely think of grad school as an investment (especially the schools I'm looking at). But my family doesn't have financial need (according to FAFSA rules). Do they really give out tuition waivers for good grades in grad schools?

Yes, I am married was working, and both our incomes were calculated, putting us way, way, way above the level. I was still offered "merit" financial aid in the form of tuition waivers in both of my graduate degrees.

Nice. I'll make sure to ask an admissions counselor about that type of aid during the application process.

Good luck

 

[SocrPlyr]

business you pay for your degree.
engineering and the sciences you shouldn't have to.

If you have to you didn't try hard enough or are going to the wrong school.
There is one way that you would have to and that is if you are trying to get your grad degree while working, but then many employers help you out at least some.

Josh

 

Originally posted by: SocrPlyr
business you pay for your degree.
engineering and the sciences you shouldn't have to.

If you have to you didn't try hard enough or are going to the wrong school.
There is one way that you would have to and that is if you are trying to get your grad degree while working, but then many employers help you out at least some.

Josh

Yeah, I'm hoping I can go that route (employer pays for school).

 

[miniMUNCH]

So what are you going to study?

Also, getting paid or not depends upon your ultimate goal in terms of a degree (MS or PhD, etc.).

To clarify for engineering and sciences...most all schools will pick up your tuition plus give you a stipend for a PhD because you'll be doing research on a grant of money that it intended to fund a graduate student (my present situation). Most schools will not pay squat for an MS..although there are exceptions at many public and some wealthy private universities...those circumstances have already been described in this thread.

For the humanities/arts...some schools do actually pay their grad students! For instance, univ. of Pittsburgh, thanks to the Heinz, Mellon, Carnegie, et al families, has sh1t loads of money for the arts and, thus, many/most grads in arts get free tuition and like $800-1500 per month stipend.

One other thing to consider...if your going for a engineering/sci graduate degree I strongly recommend you do the PhD...MS's are worth less and less these days and, in many positions, you may find yourself with a glass ceiling because you don't have a PhD.

 

[miniMUNCH]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: SocrPlyr
business you pay for your degree.
engineering and the sciences you shouldn't have to.

If you have to you didn't try hard enough or are going to the wrong school.
There is one way that you would have to and that is if you are trying to get your grad degree while working, but then many employers help you out at least some.

Josh

Yeah, I'm hoping I can go that route (employer pays for school).

Who do you work for?

 

[CycloWizard]

I would say it really depends on your area of study. For example, those in the social work school here never get financial aid for grad school, while for engineering they guarantee it for all their students. So, as with any good question, the answer is 'it depends.' I wouldn't think that anyone looks down on you for paying your own way, but you need to decide if it's a good investment. Whether or not it's a good investment probably again depends on what field you're in.

 

[RagingBITCH]

I had the same questions myself......interesting to see what everyone has to say.

 

Originally posted by: miniMUNCH

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: SocrPlyr
business you pay for your degree.
engineering and the sciences you shouldn't have to.

If you have to you didn't try hard enough or are going to the wrong school.
There is one way that you would have to and that is if you are trying to get your grad degree while working, but then many employers help you out at least some.

Josh

Yeah, I'm hoping I can go that route (employer pays for school).

Who do you work for?

No one (yet...still in undergrad). I'm hoping to go to grad school in political science (locally) or to Georgetown's School of Foreign Service Security Studies program.

I recently had a set of interviews and exams (got a COE ) with a federal agency and their tuition reimbursement benefit is awesome (100%). So they'd definitely pay for that schooling, as it's mission-related to my job.

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: miniMUNCH
One other thing to consider...if your going for a engineering/sci graduate degree I strongly recommend you do the PhD...MS's are worth less and less these days and, in many positions, you may find yourself with a glass ceiling because you don't have a PhD.

Or even worse, considered over-qualified for many positions, then under-qualified for the rest.

Another thing I've found out is that if you have a MS and decide later on to go back for a PhD, you will be ineligible for some grants and fellowships.

Choose carefully.

 

[shopbruin]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Landroval
If you can't get a fellowship or other department award you can often get a tuition waiver from financial aid if you have good grades (as I assume you do when applying to grad schools). I often got both, so had to decline the financial aid one. If you don't get either, no one is going to care, so do it if you think the degree is a good investment.

I definitely think of grad school as an investment (especially the schools I'm looking at). But my family doesn't have financial need (according to FAFSA rules). Do they really give out tuition waivers for good grades in grad schools?

your family's income no longer is a factor for graduate degrees. they look solely on your own income. (or if you're married, both of your incomes.)

 

Originally posted by: freesia39

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Landroval
If you can't get a fellowship or other department award you can often get a tuition waiver from financial aid if you have good grades (as I assume you do when applying to grad schools). I often got both, so had to decline the financial aid one. If you don't get either, no one is going to care, so do it if you think the degree is a good investment.

I definitely think of grad school as an investment (especially the schools I'm looking at). But my family doesn't have financial need (according to FAFSA rules). Do they really give out tuition waivers for good grades in grad schools?

your family's income no longer is a factor for graduate degrees. they look solely on your own income. (or if you're married, both of your incomes.)

Ah, that's a good thing!

 

[Tiamat]

If you are engineering, you shouldnt be paying for grad school. The department should be paying you to do research for them.

 

[Hyudra]

I wanna get into a top 20 B-school, but how hard is it to get into a good grad school?

 

Originally posted by: Tiamat
If you are engineering, you shouldnt be paying for grad school. The department should be paying you to do research for them.

I'm not engineering. I'm in social sciences.

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: kami333

Originally posted by: miniMUNCH
One other thing to consider...if your going for a engineering/sci graduate degree I strongly recommend you do the PhD...MS's are worth less and less these days and, in many positions, you may find yourself with a glass ceiling because you don't have a PhD.

Or even worse, considered over-qualified for many positions, then under-qualified for the rest.

Another thing I've found out is that if you have a MS and decide later on to go back for a PhD, you will be ineligible for some grants and fellowships.

Choose carefully.

Hmmm...One day I went to speak with my professor, but he was busy at the time. Another student had arrived and started to ask about what he should do: Grad School for a PhD or go straight for a job. So rather than leave, I found the question interesting so I sat and listened (btw, this guys grades were good...like IIRC his overall was a 3.9 with a 3.88 Eng GPA so possibilities were open for him).
And the professor, atlesat from what I understood (I did daze off and stare into the pictures on the wall for a while ) discouraged him from doing a PhD. He told us that a PhD over qualifies you for MANY jobs, and you become too "inflexible" for a company; so the company would rather have B.S. students.
Was my professor right, or full of hot air? (The guy was rather young...got his PhD at 28, and is an Assitant Professor right now at 31 I think)
AFter listening, I figured if I go to grad school (meaning I dont' get a job ), I'll get a M.S. and move on. Though he mentioned that the M.S. isn't worth it too much, because if yo udo it to increase your pay, a B.S. with just 2 more years of experience will probably net the same income. But I would do it more for personal enrichment and focus on a specific area (I'm a Biomedical Engineer here).

But now you guys make seem like an M.S. is a poor decision. Personally, I would go into Industry for two or three years, and then go back an get an M.S. (whether or not job will pay for it)

What do you guys with the degrees think?

 

[cchen]

I don't know where everyone got their information from, but if you're just going to get a MS or MA, at least from the top schools, you will barely get any money from the department. ALL funding goes to PhD students, with the leftover then going to the top MS or MA students.

 

[Reel]

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: kami333

Originally posted by: miniMUNCH
One other thing to consider...if your going for a engineering/sci graduate degree I strongly recommend you do the PhD...MS's are worth less and less these days and, in many positions, you may find yourself with a glass ceiling because you don't have a PhD.

Or even worse, considered over-qualified for many positions, then under-qualified for the rest.

Another thing I've found out is that if you have a MS and decide later on to go back for a PhD, you will be ineligible for some grants and fellowships.

Choose carefully.

Hmmm...One day I went to speak with my professor, but he was busy at the time. Another student had arrived and started to ask about what he should do: Grad School for a PhD or go straight for a job. So rather than leave, I found the question interesting so I sat and listened (btw, this guys grades were good...like IIRC his overall was a 3.9 with a 3.88 Eng GPA so possibilities were open for him).
And the professor, atlesat from what I understood (I did daze off and stare into the pictures on the wall for a while ) discouraged him from doing a PhD. He told us that a PhD over qualifies you for MANY jobs, and you become too "inflexible" for a company; so the company would rather have B.S. students.
Was my professor right, or full of hot air? (The guy was rather young...got his PhD at 28, and is an Assitant Professor right now at 31 I think)
AFter listening, I figured if I go to grad school (meaning I dont' get a job ), I'll get a M.S. and move on. Though he mentioned that the M.S. isn't worth it too much, because if yo udo it to increase your pay, a B.S. with just 2 more years of experience will probably net the same income. But I would do it more for personal enrichment and focus on a specific area (I'm a Biomedical Engineer here).

But now you guys make seem like an M.S. is a poor decision. Personally, I would go into Industry for two or three years, and then go back an get an M.S. (whether or not job will pay for it)

What do you guys with the degrees think?

I am in a PhD program and intend to stop at the masters for a few reasons. One of them is the one you listed above.

 

[RabidMongoose]

From what I've seen, many MS type engineering students don't get an assistantship at all - the PhD students mainly get these positions.

However, I do know of some schools that give assistantships to almost all of their students - both MS and PhD.

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: kami333

Originally posted by: miniMUNCH
One other thing to consider...if your going for a engineering/sci graduate degree I strongly recommend you do the PhD...MS's are worth less and less these days and, in many positions, you may find yourself with a glass ceiling because you don't have a PhD.

Or even worse, considered over-qualified for many positions, then under-qualified for the rest.

Another thing I've found out is that if you have a MS and decide later on to go back for a PhD, you will be ineligible for some grants and fellowships.

Choose carefully.

Hmmm...One day I went to speak with my professor, but he was busy at the time. Another student had arrived and started to ask about what he should do: Grad School for a PhD or go straight for a job. So rather than leave, I found the question interesting so I sat and listened (btw, this guys grades were good...like IIRC his overall was a 3.9 with a 3.88 Eng GPA so possibilities were open for him).
And the professor, atlesat from what I understood (I did daze off and stare into the pictures on the wall for a while ) discouraged him from doing a PhD. He told us that a PhD over qualifies you for MANY jobs, and you become too "inflexible" for a company; so the company would rather have B.S. students.
Was my professor right, or full of hot air? (The guy was rather young...got his PhD at 28, and is an Assitant Professor right now at 31 I think)
AFter listening, I figured if I go to grad school (meaning I dont' get a job ), I'll get a M.S. and move on. Though he mentioned that the M.S. isn't worth it too much, because if yo udo it to increase your pay, a B.S. with just 2 more years of experience will probably net the same income. But I would do it more for personal enrichment and focus on a specific area (I'm a Biomedical Engineer here).

But now you guys make seem like an M.S. is a poor decision. Personally, I would go into Industry for two or three years, and then go back an get an M.S. (whether or not job will pay for it)

What do you guys with the degrees think?

I've spent a lot of time discussing this with various professors and advisors, as well as people from work (I work for a study abroad program) and it depends greatly on what you study and what you want to do. If research is your thing, then definately PhD, but if you plan on working in a company or go for management type position it can depend, especially if you don't have the work experience to back up the degree.

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: Reel

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: kami333

Originally posted by: miniMUNCH
One other thing to consider...if your going for a engineering/sci graduate degree I strongly recommend you do the PhD...MS's are worth less and less these days and, in many positions, you may find yourself with a glass ceiling because you don't have a PhD.

Or even worse, considered over-qualified for many positions, then under-qualified for the rest.

Another thing I've found out is that if you have a MS and decide later on to go back for a PhD, you will be ineligible for some grants and fellowships.

Choose carefully.

Hmmm...One day I went to speak with my professor, but he was busy at the time. Another student had arrived and started to ask about what he should do: Grad School for a PhD or go straight for a job. So rather than leave, I found the question interesting so I sat and listened (btw, this guys grades were good...like IIRC his overall was a 3.9 with a 3.88 Eng GPA so possibilities were open for him).
And the professor, atlesat from what I understood (I did daze off and stare into the pictures on the wall for a while ) discouraged him from doing a PhD. He told us that a PhD over qualifies you for MANY jobs, and you become too "inflexible" for a company; so the company would rather have B.S. students.
Was my professor right, or full of hot air? (The guy was rather young...got his PhD at 28, and is an Assitant Professor right now at 31 I think)
AFter listening, I figured if I go to grad school (meaning I dont' get a job ), I'll get a M.S. and move on. Though he mentioned that the M.S. isn't worth it too much, because if yo udo it to increase your pay, a B.S. with just 2 more years of experience will probably net the same income. But I would do it more for personal enrichment and focus on a specific area (I'm a Biomedical Engineer here).

But now you guys make seem like an M.S. is a poor decision. Personally, I would go into Industry for two or three years, and then go back an get an M.S. (whether or not job will pay for it)

What do you guys with the degrees think?

I am in a PhD program and intend to stop at the masters for a few reasons. One of them is the one you listed above.

What are you studying?