I Applied To Get a Graduate Degree
If you’ve been following me for a while, it’s not a surprise that I consider myself to be a nerd/geek. I grew up nerdy and still am nerdy. I love learning new things and taking courses. I am all about education.
I even applied to take a graduate degree part-time in the field I am currently in. I didn’t think too much about it. Until I received an offer of admissions.
After giving it a lot of thought and weighing the options/uncertainties, I actually decided to decline the offer. A small part of me that was (and still is I think) obsessed with titles thought it would look impressive to have a graduate degree under my belt. Although nowadays it seems that everyone has a Master’s, such that a Master’s is the new Bachelor’s degree.
The idea of being able to network and make new connections wouldn’t work because I would be taking almost all of the courses online. Just the thought of having to study stuff I wasn’t really interested in after a long day of work made me exhausted. The one thing that really bugged me was that there was no guarantee of a promotion or a higher salary with the degree, at least not with the current organization I work for.
Since I am planning to do a career switch, studying for that particular Master’s didn’t make sense anymore. It sort of did at the time I was applying. I had originally applied with the idea of being accepted for Spring 2015. When I found out those applications were being deferred to Fall 2015, I agreed to have my application be considered for fall. At the time of the notification, I had already begun to have second thoughts about a Master’s.
In all honesty, I just wanted to see if I would get accepted.
I didn’t regret declining the offer. For once, I actually felt I made the right decision and happy with myself for going with my gut, rather than listening to others or considering what other people will think. There really isn’t anybody within my family or close circle of friends who work for a startup, has done a coding boot camp, job hopped, or even made a drastic career change. Hence, my strong desire to step out of my comfort zone and network with more like-minded people (which is terrifying for shy, introverted people like myself).
Criticize me however you like, but I’m turning my back on “traditional education” or “traditional types of degrees”. I’m going more with my gut and what I feel is more practical education.
Do you think I made the right decision? Why or why not?
I think you investigated why you wanted a graduate degree in the first place and made the right decision in turning the opportunity down. Now you’re free to pursue other goals in that time you would have otherwise been focusing on an achievement you no longer wanted.
Exactly. 🙂
I think you absolutely made the right decision! I understand you might be feeling pressured to get that title and extra education, but if you don’t need it, don’t bother. The option to go in the future if things change is still there – and you’d very likely get accepted again.
Thanks Amanda! If I did for whatever reason decide to pursue a degree, it mostly like would be an undergraduate or a diploma in a different field. I’m done with science. Lol.
As long as you are always learning it doesn’t matter how it’s done. A graduate level degree is not always the answer.
I recently have been struggling with the same thing. My company has even offered to pay for the entire cost of the program. But after long consideration I have decided that it would take up too much of my free time that I currently use to blog, read, and learn things that interest me.
Favorite Quote: “A formal education will make you a living, but a self education will make you a fortune.” – Jim Rohn
I don’t know if you feel the same way. But I fell like I have learned and retained much more outside of the school system then inside it.
Cheers!
GYFG
So true. Thanks to the internet, there are so many online resources ie You Tube, Codecademy, you can learn practically anything in your own home.
To be honest, I felt that everything I learned in school, I only retained it for that period of time.
There is no right or wrong decisions for your life, you do what you think is on your path. Your life path. If you believe that a graduate degree isn’t for you, then it isn’t. Hopefully your decision will be respected.
My fiance supports my decisions and goals completely. I haven’t told my immediate family though, because #1 I’m not ready and #2 I still feel they’d disagree with me wanting to leave a secure government job.
I absolutely think you made the right decision! I’ve met so many people (some of my family members included) who feel like they wasted so much of their time and money on grad degrees that never paid off. It’s important to trust your gut, and it’s so great that you did!
Thanks Anum. I’m thinking I really should trust my gut more often. 🙂