Should I go to graduate school?
- Thread starter fyleow
- Start date
I have a BS in Business Admin and option in CIS (computer info systems) which is about equivelent to your MIS degree.
My first job was a call center tech support job started 2 months after I finished my last quarter. I wish I took a longer break. Money was decent but after 13 months on contract and no promise of conversion, there wasn't much promise in site. Every day I dreaded heading to work so I quit one day spontaneously. Never take a call center job, worse thing is the world.
So after 6 months of voluntary unemployment I scored a second job doing helpdesk/jr sys admin. The money isn't great (went in cheap for the experience) but I am proving myself to be a viable player in the organization. The experience is great and is something you don't get from going to school. Now that I have major roles and responsibilites, I can leverage that to see if I can make a decent living. My current goal is to move up latterally within the organization and the experience will help pad my CV/Resume.
I don't miss school at all but that may change in the future. Then maybe consider chasing my MBA. Nevertheless do what you want and not what some tells you. Remember to enjoy what you do, put the money factor second.
My first job was a call center tech support job started 2 months after I finished my last quarter. I wish I took a longer break. Money was decent but after 13 months on contract and no promise of conversion, there wasn't much promise in site. Every day I dreaded heading to work so I quit one day spontaneously. Never take a call center job, worse thing is the world.
So after 6 months of voluntary unemployment I scored a second job doing helpdesk/jr sys admin. The money isn't great (went in cheap for the experience) but I am proving myself to be a viable player in the organization. The experience is great and is something you don't get from going to school. Now that I have major roles and responsibilites, I can leverage that to see if I can make a decent living. My current goal is to move up latterally within the organization and the experience will help pad my CV/Resume.
I don't miss school at all but that may change in the future. Then maybe consider chasing my MBA. Nevertheless do what you want and not what some tells you. Remember to enjoy what you do, put the money factor second.
Babbles
Diamond Member
- Jan 4, 2001
- 8,253
- 14
- 81
Student loans can be filed under the "good debt" one should incur. Furthermore, depending on the field many schools will pay for graduate school and/or provide assistantships of sorts.
Business people may get shafted, but I know in regards to myself looking at science graduate programs all of them have the tuition paid for and provide anywhere from $15k - $20k stipend per year.
<----- IT Auditor for a Fortune 500 company.
I just graduated with an IS equivalent degree and accepted a really good offer with a reputable company. Any entry level position with a reputable company is a good thing. Once you get in, I'm sure you'll have priority over others in getting other favorable jobs within the company. This sure beats the 1-2yr call center tech support route that I almost went for.
I just graduated with an IS equivalent degree and accepted a really good offer with a reputable company. Any entry level position with a reputable company is a good thing. Once you get in, I'm sure you'll have priority over others in getting other favorable jobs within the company. This sure beats the 1-2yr call center tech support route that I almost went for.
You need to analyze it from a cost-benefit perspective. For instance, incurring 150k in law school debt may not be such a wise choice if you attend a lower tier school and only graduate in the middle of your class.
I am getting an MIS degree too and will get my masters. I started talking to people that are in businesses though and they said that you need at least 3 years experience before getting a masters for it to matter much...
I'd recommend working for a year or two then start working on a masters part time.
I'd recommend working for a year or two then start working on a masters part time.
IAteYourMother
Lifer
- Nov 3, 2004
- 10,491
- 22
- 81
Definitely go -- the more you can differentiate youself from your "competition" in the workplace the better it will be. Better jobs, faster getting a job, and potentially more pay.
Good luck!
Good luck!
My first day of work is actually tomorrow so I'm still not sure how it'll be like on a day to day basis. Basically we verify and test processes/procedures for the accounting and financial reporting in the company to make sure everything is in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The recommended qualifications for an IT Auditor is a CS/IS degree with strong background in Accounting.
It might be ideal if you could land a job at a company with tuition reimbursement, which is not uncommon at most larger employers.
Rumpltzer
Diamond Member
- Jun 7, 2003
- 4,815
- 33
- 91
How do you hav a 3.9GPA if you're weak in math, science, and engineering??
If you do plan to go to an engineering grad school, stop worrying about the tuition. I don't know anyone who paif for a grad degree in engineering. As someone else said, it's covered and you get a 15-20K stipend on top of that as you do a teaching or research assistantship.
After an EE undergrad, I was sure I wanted to stay in for grad school because I worked internships after my freshman, sophomore and junior years. I saw what engineering was like, and I wanted to have a little more clout in choosing what I want to do with my life.
I stayed in for a PhD. It doesn't take a decade or anything like that. I've seen guys haul ass and do it in three and a half years! Most of the guys I know do it in five. If you're looking for the money, you should become a doctor or a lawyer. But if you want to be an engineer, consider that my first offer out of school was $93K. I began working in April of 2004, and I reported over six figures for 2005.
The reason I did it was so I could be in a more researchy-development area doing what interests me. It's worked out well in that respect... however, I do know people who went into grad school not knowing what they want. They end up with a degree in something they don't care about... and it sucks for them.
BTW, my company offers to pay for an MS while you work. My perspective is that it misses the point completely. You miss out on the grad school experience, you're trying to work and do school at the same time, and you get only the pay raise benefit along with a paper degree. I'm not sure you get much knowledge out of it.
My final words on this subject have already been reflected in this thread; work sucks, stay in school as long as you can.
If you do plan to go to an engineering grad school, stop worrying about the tuition. I don't know anyone who paif for a grad degree in engineering. As someone else said, it's covered and you get a 15-20K stipend on top of that as you do a teaching or research assistantship.
After an EE undergrad, I was sure I wanted to stay in for grad school because I worked internships after my freshman, sophomore and junior years. I saw what engineering was like, and I wanted to have a little more clout in choosing what I want to do with my life.
I stayed in for a PhD. It doesn't take a decade or anything like that. I've seen guys haul ass and do it in three and a half years! Most of the guys I know do it in five. If you're looking for the money, you should become a doctor or a lawyer. But if you want to be an engineer, consider that my first offer out of school was $93K. I began working in April of 2004, and I reported over six figures for 2005.
The reason I did it was so I could be in a more researchy-development area doing what interests me. It's worked out well in that respect... however, I do know people who went into grad school not knowing what they want. They end up with a degree in something they don't care about... and it sucks for them.
BTW, my company offers to pay for an MS while you work. My perspective is that it misses the point completely. You miss out on the grad school experience, you're trying to work and do school at the same time, and you get only the pay raise benefit along with a paper degree. I'm not sure you get much knowledge out of it.
My final words on this subject have already been reflected in this thread; work sucks, stay in school as long as you can.
Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
How do you hav a 3.9GPA if you're weak in math, science, and engineering??
If you do plan to go to an engineering grad school, stop worrying about the tuition. I don't know anyone who paif for a grad degree in engineering. As someone else said, it's covered and you get a 15-20K stipend on top of that as you do a teaching or research assistantship.
After an EE undergrad, I was sure I wanted to stay in for grad school because I worked internships after my freshman, sophomore and junior years. I saw what engineering was like, and I wanted to have a little more clout in choosing what I want to do with my life.
I stayed in for a PhD. It doesn't take a decade or anything like that. I've seen guys haul ass and do it in three and a half years! Most of the guys I know do it in five. If you're looking for the money, you should become a doctor or a lawyer. But if you want to be an engineer, consider that my first offer out of school was $93K. I began working in April of 2004, and I reported over six figures for 2005.
The reason I did it was so I could be in a more researchy-development area doing what interests me. It's worked out well in that respect... however, I do know people who went into grad school not knowing what they want. They end up with a degree in something they don't care about... and it sucks for them.
BTW, my company offers to pay for an MS while you work. My perspective is that it misses the point completely. You miss out on the grad school experience, you're trying to work and do school at the same time, and you get only the pay raise benefit along with a paper degree. I'm not sure you get much knowledge out of it.
My final words on this subject have already been reflected in this thread; work sucks, stay in school as long as you can.
I don't mean to hijack the thread, but what type of engineering are you in? Even though you starting salary was higher than someone starting with a BS or MS, do you think you will still come out ahead in terms of money considering those who started working with a BS have ~5 years of experience already and those with a MS have ~3?
I'm starting my second year as a grad student in EE and am wondering if the PhD will pay off or not.
I'm starting up this Fall and can't wait to begin. I'm confident it will be a great decision for my future. Many people I've talked to said they enjoyed grad school a lot more because it was focused on specifically what they were interested in. In other words, you don't have to take all the extra crap GE classes like you do in undergrad studies.
Sounds like you're off to a good start though. Good luck.
Sounds like you're off to a good start though. Good luck.
Totally recommend a Master's program, the only regret I have is not filling out an application for a Fulbright and jumping into work after an extended vacation after graduation.
if not atleast get certified in Oracle.
if not atleast get certified in Oracle.
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