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Should i do a masters degree?

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  • April 24, 2017 at 1:00 pm #146533
    pete96
    Participant

    Hi there,

    I have been wracking my brain on if I just do my masters degree or not.

    I am 24 and currently work in retail. I finished university at 21 and have spent 3 years not knowing what I want to do or how to get out of the dead-end job cycle. Around Christmas 2017, with seemingly nothing on the horizon career wise, I applied for a masters degree at a top UK university and got accepted, I was very happy. The course will mean I will be moving to a new city and have to build a new life.

    Since getting accepted I have now found really great work experience (which is leading to a career) with a really great charity. the work i am doing for the chairty is what i would like to do as a starting point for my career. I finally feel like I have my step on that first rung of the ladder.

    My dilemma is this. Do I decline my offer from the university and stick with the possible job or do I continue to go ahead and start my masters in Septemeber. The masters will be part time so I am hoping to find third sector work while I study but it could also mean possibly another 2 years in retail/minimum wage if I cannot find a suitable opportunity.

    My biggest concern is, am I giving up a good thing for the unknown…

    Thank you for your kind replies

    April 24, 2017 at 7:49 pm #146601
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear pete96:

    I vote for the job and not the Masters. Better a desired career-in-the-making than a degree, a diploma, and the “now what?” that follows it.

    anita

    April 27, 2017 at 12:57 pm #147021
    Kevin Mahoney
    Participant

    Pete96,

    My advice goes in a different direction from Anita’s.  I am 43 and finished a Masters this year.  Here is my take on things given my own personal experience: Go for your Masters.

    My reasons:

    24 is still very young.  I consider a person’s 20s their adult-youth stage of life. I did not feel that way when I was in my 20s. I felt like I was getting old.   It is a great time to knock out advanced degrees.  You likely will not regret doing so in the future and the logistics get more complicated if you have a career and family down the road and then decide to pursue more schooling.

    I assume that a Masters from a top school will open more doors if you decide to make non profit work your career.  You can stay engaged over the next couple of years by volunteering for your current organization.

    Good Luck!

     

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