updated: the value of masters degrees

scarlett wrote: If anyone is interested in a free masters and job security, please let me know.

Who isn't?

Carmen wrote: [quote=whynot_31][quote=vidro3]you'll get a grant from a university in Zaragoza

True, and in exchange Columbia University will give one to a Zaragza University graduate student. I forgot about the ability and desire for some to stay within Universities at all times. I have friends that have stretched grad school out to 12 years.

...my answer assumed one would engage the practical, concrete, world. ...and get a job.

My mistake.

At some point, one must graduate.... those tenure track positions just aren't out there like they used to be. An those adjunct positions pay something like 6k a semester.

I have many, many friends on this career-student path. A girl I know has been in grad school for 8 years and has yet to even get a degree of any sort due to continuing to change her concentration. This means she has been in some form of secondary ed for 12 years and has gotten a bachelors degree thus far.

She has never had a job. I believe at this point shes continuing school because it defers her student loans, which have to be well into six figures.


Heh. My sister is finally joining the workforce at the sprightly age of 36. She has managed to amass, since turning 17, several undergrad degrees, two masters and, more recently, a PhD. Why?

I have a BS and MA from NYU -- no debt and no mom/dad payments.
My husband has a BA, MA from VT, and is 2/3 of the way done with law school -- no debt and no mom/dad payments.

Some people work and lots get the school to pay THEM to get their degrees. My husband hasn't had to pay a dime for school in years.

I think going into debt for a degree that won't lead to a higher paying position is stupid. I think getting a degree that you either enjoy or will lead to a job without going into debt is a great thing.

I do think it's your attitude that leads it to being worthless. You learned nothing while studying? If you learned anything while getting the degree it wasn't worthless educationally, maybe only financially - and they are two very different things.

Well, I was gonna say that you may just be imagining things with your #1 above, DR...

But it is mighty suspicious that the OP has just now removed all of his posts after you posted that.

:-k

With the change in subject title, I had no idea what this thread was about. How about something like "How valuable is a Master's Degree?" or "Discussion of the value of a Master's Degree" or something that at least refers back to the original subject intent?

jeffrey wrote: done!

thanks :-)

First things first, that dude should definitely get himself a crock pot.

whynot_31 wrote: more typing from whynot!

Although not profitable in terms of $, some masters degrees do allow people to earn less money than they other wise would, but pursue their interests.

Take the following example:
A person with a BS in Business is presently working at a corporation and earning 60k year. However, he has always wanted to become a teacher.

In this example, I'll send him to SUNY and he eats nothing but ramen for two years. On Saturday nights, he goes crazy and adds peas to the ramen.
By working part-time as a clerk, he is able to finish graduate school simply being 2 years older, and sick of ramen.

For the sake of arguement, let's assume he learned very little in school ...he simply got a certificate at the end.

However, this certificate now enables him earn 45k a year for the rest of his life. He can rest assured that at age 65, he will still be earning 45k a year. Financial planning is easy.....

..although we may not understand his choice, it may be a better fit for him. The masters degree, in this instance, serves as a barrier to entering a field that is lower paying than his original profession.

or this individual can decide to enter the NYC Teaching Fellows program. Over the next two years she will earn a subsidized Master's degree at a City/State university while working full time as a teacher. The starting salary is $45k per year but Teaching Fellows are also eligible for a $2,500 untaxed stipend and a $4,500 AmeriCorps award. She will earn close to $55k at the start of her third year of teaching and will then work her way up the maddeningly complex levels of salary increases.

she also gets to retire after 20 odd years with a virtually guaranteed defined benefit pension plan and health care. not too shabby.

vidro3 wrote:
or this individual can decide to enter the NYC Teaching Fellows program.

Easier said than done. Getting into the teaching Fellows is incredibly competitive and, besides, they have no money. My niece was accepted, only to be told later not to come because they didn't have any money

better yet, become a cop or fireman and retire with 100k a year, which will automatically award you the title of a regular at farrell's.

the membership entitles them to a football jersey with numbers higher then their I.Q.'s