By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer|
Tough choices have to be made after obtaining your college degree—a huge one in particular: choosing between attending graduate school or going straight into the workforce.
This is not always the easiest decision to make, as there are many factors to take into consideration.
Graduate school is not an extension of your college life—there are big differences.
“From studying to socializing, you’re entering a new world. But if you choose to go to grad school to study something you’re passionate about, you’ll likely find it much more rewarding than college,” stated Dr. Melissa Boone Brown of Columbia University.
Speaking to recent grad school graduates, I have found that they do not regret their decision of pursuing a higher degree.
It is something they actually encourage for students to do sooner than later.
On the contrary, many college graduates find it more beneficial to pursue their career as soon as they obtain their bachelor’s degree.
Most college grads do not want to miss out on opportunities if they hold off on searching too long.
This should not be an issue considering master’s programs in particular, are tailored to work around people with a full time work schedule, giving the choice of taking night and or online classes.
There are certain occupations that will not reward graduates for having a higher level degree.
Earnings will always vary by field of study, but there is no question that a master’s or doctorate’s degree will hold more value in the long term.
An analysis by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW Georgetown) found that on average people with more education make more than those with less, pretty self-explanatory.
The numbers are what make the difference.
According to CEW Georgetown’s report, the average bachelor’s degree holder earns about $2.3 million over a lifetime, a master’s degree holder typically earns about $2.7 million, and a professional degree earner typically takes home $3.6 million.
Regardless of what degree you choose to obtain, a master’s does not necessarily guarantee you a job, but it will definitely put you ahead of the competition.
Our campus has plenty of resources to help calm your fears about whether or not you should consider taking the chance and pursue a graduate degree.
The Office of Graduate Studies offers more than 40 different programs and concentrations and give you access to the different coordinators.
With their help, it will be much easier to get an idea of what the program offers and they will guide you into the right direction to pursue the degree.
One thing I would like to emphasize is to not allow money to solely dictate the decision of your pursuit in continuing higher education.
CSUSB offers many different resources to help you financially while you go through your graduate courses.
It is a huge decision to make.
Do you want to spend the extra number of years at school? Will this degree benefit you financially?
No matter the doubts you may hold, there are always alternatives.
It is the knowledge you would gain through these programs about your occupational aspirations and the opportunities that will open up that you should take into consideration.
Some say the pursuit of higher education is a waste of time because it does not guarantee you a job, but neither does a bachelor’s.
Keep in mind that no harm will ever come from choosing to further your education.
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