Most people think of their graduate school degree as a great accomplishment, and they are right. These days, a Bachelor's degree will get your foot in the door for most positions, but to be a true competitor in this difficult job market, a Master's degree could be your best asset. If you have already completed your Bachelor's degree, what has stopped you from completing your graduate degree? Think about the pros and cons before deciding if a Master's degree would be a great career move for you.
Most Master's degrees carry a price tag of about twenty five thousand dollars or more. The goal is to move into a new, higher paying position or at least advance within your own company once it is complete. Be sure to check out the salary listings for the jobs that you would like to apply to after graduating. Often times, the ends do not justify the means. Be sure to learn more about online classes so that you can be more well rounded on the subject.
Suppose you have to take out a student loan for twenty thousand dollars to cover the cost of tuition. The interest rate for the loan is four percent. In the first year of repayment, you will pay over a thousand dollars in interest alone! Is the increase in pay worth the amount you would borrow? Only if you can pay it down quickly and avoid letting too much interest accrue.
If you have the means to pay for your graduate degree in full, it would probably be in your best interest to go forward with your education. You could make some valuable connections in grad school, or learn a new skill set that allows you to open up the business you have always wanted, or move into a top management position.
If you are anxious to go back to school, but you do not have the resources to leave your job in order to complete courses, there are online programs that offer the flexibility of attending courses at your leisure. If you can only watch lectures before work or at three in the morning, that's ok. Although they tend to cost a little more than traditional face to face degrees, online schools provide flexibility that's crucial for working students. Don't stop reading here, there is much more to be learned about back to school for adults.
For some, there is a question looming over their heads for financial reasons; should I use the money I have to spare on graduate courses, or pay off my existing student loans? Although furthering your education will most likely land you a higher paying job, paying off your loans is a sure fire way to reduce debt and therefore have extra spending money.
Look for opportunities within your own company for financial aid. Some offer programs that reimburse your tuition costs based on the grades you receive in your courses. An 'A' will earn one hundred percent reimbursement, a 'B' seventy five percent, and so on.
Most Master's degrees carry a price tag of about twenty five thousand dollars or more. The goal is to move into a new, higher paying position or at least advance within your own company once it is complete. Be sure to check out the salary listings for the jobs that you would like to apply to after graduating. Often times, the ends do not justify the means. Be sure to learn more about online classes so that you can be more well rounded on the subject.
Suppose you have to take out a student loan for twenty thousand dollars to cover the cost of tuition. The interest rate for the loan is four percent. In the first year of repayment, you will pay over a thousand dollars in interest alone! Is the increase in pay worth the amount you would borrow? Only if you can pay it down quickly and avoid letting too much interest accrue.
If you have the means to pay for your graduate degree in full, it would probably be in your best interest to go forward with your education. You could make some valuable connections in grad school, or learn a new skill set that allows you to open up the business you have always wanted, or move into a top management position.
If you are anxious to go back to school, but you do not have the resources to leave your job in order to complete courses, there are online programs that offer the flexibility of attending courses at your leisure. If you can only watch lectures before work or at three in the morning, that's ok. Although they tend to cost a little more than traditional face to face degrees, online schools provide flexibility that's crucial for working students. Don't stop reading here, there is much more to be learned about back to school for adults.
For some, there is a question looming over their heads for financial reasons; should I use the money I have to spare on graduate courses, or pay off my existing student loans? Although furthering your education will most likely land you a higher paying job, paying off your loans is a sure fire way to reduce debt and therefore have extra spending money.
Look for opportunities within your own company for financial aid. Some offer programs that reimburse your tuition costs based on the grades you receive in your courses. An 'A' will earn one hundred percent reimbursement, a 'B' seventy five percent, and so on.
About the Author:
Although ambitious students looking to return to graduate school have their head in the right place, there is something to be said about being financially stable before you embark on any traditional or online degrees that will cost more than they will return. Education Connection Online will have more info for you.
