Grad school - yes or no?

[sympholink]

Hey all,

I've applied to grad school and am waiting on word from them whether or not I've been accepted for the upcoming fall. I used to work at a crap-paying job with terrible hours in a field (TV news) where I found I didn't want to be. After being unemployed for so long, I fully realized education is always a benefit, and I need to know more. Finding a job in my college area (graphic design)was positively impossible, and not even blue collar related companies would hire me. How wrong is that?

Anyway, I looked into grad school at Arizona State and found a program that interested me (multimedia, a more encompassing level up from graphic design). However, even though I know a Masters will always look good on resumes and backgrounds, I still have that voice of doubt. Should I really persue this? Will it get me to a career where I'd actually be happy? This is a HUGE commitment to make. I've heard from others that grad school isn't always the best route to go, especially if one thinks they should go just because others do. I'm doing this because I feel it willl eventually open more doors in the future, but I'm not sure if they will be the right doors, ones that will lead to fulfillment.

I've always been into visual arts, so I decided I could find a career there (hence graphic design). Yet that's proved to be false, and I'm finding it's not as appealing as I first thought. I've been a musician and music lover, but didn't go that route, as there's no practical way to make a living except maybe teach. Point blank, I figured major in something else I was interested in and make time for my music passion somehow.

But I need any kind of advice right now. Should I take a step in the grad school direction, in light of the situation? I just want to make the best possible choice. I'm a perfectionist (for better or worse), but never foresaw being in this situation. Any thoughts?

By the way, I'm new here, and glad I found a place where I don't feel like I'm the only one facing the dreaded quarter life crisis. Peace

[lynseymay]

what do you want to do? Do you want to do graphic design as a career? If you are really passionate about it and see yourself happy in this career I say go for it. If you're not sure it's for you, then maybe try taking some classes first before jumping into grad school (I did this and was REALLY glad I did). Grad school is a huge undertaking both financially and emotionally.

[winneythepooh7]

If it is what you want to do, If it is what you need to do to advance in your field and If there are going to be more jobs available for you when you get your Master's, I say go for it. I got my Master's in Social Work last year and really don't see a huge difference in the job market now that I got my Master's. The market is still flooded for people working in human services in general and my salary is not too much more than what some people with just a BA or less would be making---especially in other fields. I also have learned that having a Master's today really means diddly squat. It's more about the years of actual experience you have had in your field. For example, my boss gets a ton of resumes for Social Workers with Master's degrees. A very small small percentage of them actually have the experience to qualify them for the position. And I also have learned that most employers do not count the internships completed in grad school as actual "working experience" for obvious reasons. I am trying to think of the exact word but as a student/intern you are not treated like an actual employee, but treated more as if this is your first exposure to the world of work and you are very green. I also think in general, the importance of a Master's degree varies upon what career someone is looking to get into.

[hopeless]

Going to grad school is a huge step. Obviously don't go only because it's a way to keep busy only to realize later you regret it. If you know the field you want to pursue I would get contacts of people to do informational interviews & hear their views if they went on to grad school or not, then decide if going to grad school is for you. In the end you don't want to waste your money for nothing.

[Everly]

Im in a similar situation as you except I have been accepted to a masters program and Im not sure if thats the field I want to go towards. I really dont know and dont have experience in the field to know if Id like it, so Im just going to see what the first semester is like and go from there. There is no way for me to know until I actually do it. I am a COMPLETE perfectionist and HATE not knowing what I want to do with my life. But thats life I guess! :frustrate
Maybe this is the same for you, you wont know until youre in it and see what its really about. But I definitely know that just because you have a masters on a resume, it doesnt mean youre going to get a job more easily, or at all!! The working world SUCKS and really doesnt give a shit what degree you have it seems.

[hopeless]

But I definitely know that just because you have a masters on a resume, it doesnt mean youre going to get a job more easily, or at all!! The working world SUCKS and really doesnt give a shit what degree you have it seems.

I definitely agree with you on that. My mom views getting a bachelor's degree is equivalent to a high school diploma while getting a master's or any grad degree is equivalent to a college degree. I've told this a couple of times to my friends & they agree as well. Even if you have a grad degree to put on a resume doesn't guarantee you'll be the top of human resources people, I swear HR people don't give even give a damn.

[Patchwork]

ASU is not a particularly good place. They seem to have some real problems with both student and faculty misconduct. Plagiarism and cheating are very, very commonplace there now (in the Internet age) under a "working" policy of "don't ask, don't tell."

Also, it's a place where graduate students are often considered a waste of time by research-oriented professors. Some of these professors have even been quoted saying this in so many words in publications.

Ultimately ASU doesn't know whether it wants to be a world colossus in distance education (current administration), a Research I institution, the nation's premier popular undergraduate destination, or an international graduate institution. It really wants all of the above. What is apparent is that it does not wish to be lumbered with the responsibilities of providing higher education services to the citizens of Arizona. Yet this is its primary mission and reason for existence. If it can't or won't fulfill its primary obligation, how good can it be at anything else?

[TheAnalyst]

I am graduate student. I love school, and despite times where I hate it (the love/hate relationship), I will never regret it.

I guess the question I pose is - what do you really want? Do you enjoy school? Are y ou willing to commit your time? And, can you see yourself working in this field (whatever you go to school for) and being happy?

[sympholink]

Hmm, this issue is commanding more attention from me now, as I found out yesterday I was accepted into their masters program. I'm happy, of course, but now I gotta deal with the heavy impact this will have.

I'm very interested in the field it will explore, but I also know that it's not exactly where my true passion is. The one thing that makes me feel alive, and what I know I'm good at, is music. But I choose not to go in that direction professionally because, come on, realistically, how can one make a practical living doing just that? Teaching is the only practical profession tied to it, but the education road is not where I want to go. Others might choose to do radio, live sound, or something, but I don't want that. The visual arts are my next favorite thing, so I'm choosing to follow that. There's more work choices, and it's constantly evolving. Going with my second interest, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Anyone agree or disagree?

Everly mentioned hating not knowing exactly what to do with life, and I completely feel the same way. But I also agree I won't know until I just go for it. It may lead to great opportunities, and compared to what I've been going through, it really sounds like a good risk to take. It's all about RISK - the only way anyone will eventually grow.

Thanks to everyone who responded. I really feel better just discussing these things.

[Everly]

Congrats on your acceptance!!
If youre willing to explore this area further and to spend some money on continuing school, then go for it! If you have a weird feeling about it or really dont think you would like that career route, then dont.
I agree on trying it out, you´ll never know until you do it!

[madlisa]

I agree with Everly. Grad school can be costly and takes a lot of time. It was one of the hardest things I ever did. I had to work while in school and it sucked so bad. I still can't believe I made it. It was definitely a lot more serious than college ever was. I am grateful for doing it except for the $75,000 I owe in student loans. I will be paying those bastards until I die man. So make sure it is something you really want to do.
lisa

[gfunkffa]

I'm a current graduate studen right now, and all i can say is that graduate school can be depending on your major one of the most lonely and frustrating expierence ever.

I'm not sure that the major that you want to go in as a graduate student requires a thesis. If it does, finding a thesis topic and working on a thesis is one of the hardest things you can do. It takes alot of self discipline. The hardest part about doing a thesis is getting a topic, i'm on my 5th thesis topic.

If you think that graduate school is what you need to advance in your career, go for it. Don't allow anyone stop you from achieving your dreams and goals. Believe in yourself

[sympholink]

I feel that, in the long run, more education and the relationships and networks I can build will only benefit me. Right now, I guess, it's about who you know. Everything in life has its risks, and I feel I should take this one. Once I learn what I need to be better prepared, and form those professional relationships, I believe I'll be ok, somehow.

Really, thanks to all who gave their thoughts, greatly appreciated! :huge:

[Patchwork]

Sympholink,

Congratulations on your acceptance. Best of luck to you wherever you go.

But before you decide to go to that place (ASU), please (please!) at least look at the following:

MSN Article (http://slate.msn.com/?id=2059540)

The article is about online plagiarism. Notice which institutions are cited by name and what is said about them.

Student Reviews (http://www.studentsreview.com/AZ/ASU_g.html)

This is a website that has student reviews of institutions. Try reading the graduate, undergraduate, and alumni pages.

The ASU administration claims to have 'solved' the plagiarism problem by making text search engine services available to the faculty about a month ago. However, enforcement is still up to a faculty that has proven at best deeply indifferent to the extent of the problem both in numbers and the seriousness of individual cases (think whole papers). There have even been arguments that international students that have plagiarized material should be exempt from disciplinary action. ASU has a long way to go on this issue.

You might also look at "Princeton Review" (sorry, I don't have an URL for this one). If you want numerical stats see this year's U.S. News & World Report graduate school issue.

Also, it might be worthwhile for you to look at back issues of the "Arizona Republic" (now actually a USA Today syndicate paper) for an op-ed piece that ran sometime in the last 2-3 years (2002-2004). The editorial was written by an ASU faculty member about what his role should be (all research and no teaching - graduate students are a burden at best). His attitude is not atypical!

Best of luck.

[lilyflower]

Adding to the years of experience thing, my company just came out with a new career ladder thing for positions - with no experience - someone with an MS or BS starts off basically at the same entry level job. (Same title, probably same pay). With a PhD, it's two levels higher (with no industry experience). To also put this in perspective - it takes a minimum of two years full time to get an MS and to do a straight PhD in science is five years. Say, Person A graduates college and goes straight into the industry, Person B goes straight for a masters and Person C does a PhD. In two years, Person A is probably above an entry level position (or on the way to being so), Person B is JUST getting hired in the same entry level job and Person C is still in school. In five years, Person C comes in with their PhD - two levels higher than the other two started at, however, Person A and B are probably BOTH at the same position or higher (particularly Person A who's been with the company and has five years of valuable experience now.) Also, Person A has no grad student debt and has been making and saving money for the past five years.

There are two morals to this story: 1) Don't go to grad school unless you're sure that it's THE way to advance in your career 2) If you DO go to grad school because you want to, get the experience in said field and have your employer foot the bill. :)