Pursuing a master’s degree is both time-consuming and mentally taxing. It can also be a huge financial burden, unless you are on a scholarship. Many students feel like a master’s degree is a pre-requisite for a good career, while others believe it is necessary in order to command a decent salary. Generally speaking, both are true: and here are six other reasons why a master’s degree might be worth your while:
Intellectual growth
This may seem obvious, but many students forget that at the end of the day, graduate school is about academics. You will be taught by professors who are established in their fields and specialize in areas you want to learn about. Additionally, master’s degrees often involve tremendous amounts of research: this will help you to develop intellectually, be intimately familiar with your line of work, and become highly resourceful.
Increased job prospects
A master’s degree means you are an expert in your field, and this will open the door to more job prospects. Some positions require master’s degree holders, while others will allow you to move to higher-level positions not open to those without a master’s.
Increased mobility
If you are considering a career change, a master’s degree might be your ticket to a new role. You can move into another field or industry based on what you study: for example, engineering students working in a technical role who wish to switch to a management or marketing position should consider getting an MBA. A master’s can also help you specialize within your field: for example, if you practice general law and wish to switch to the mining industry, a master’s focused on mineral and mining law will help you qualify for that transition.
Networking
The people you meet in graduate school are more likely to rise to the top and become powerful leaders and influencers. That’s why graduate school is the ideal place to network. You and other high-achieving graduate students will often be in the same groups for projects, or maybe neighbors in residences. The connections you build in graduate school may help you on your own journey to your dream job.
A break from the teal world
Going back to school means that you get to re-live the life of a student. Graduate students access campus facilities, go to class, write assignments, complain about exams, and slack off. If you miss this and want a break from your day job, or if you’ve just finished your bachelor’s and aren’t ready to let go yet, graduate school is the cure for you. Above all, graduate school affords you the space and time for personal growth so that you can go back into the workforce more prepared.
Higher pay
A degree that makes you more capable and knowledgeable inevitably leads to a nice salary bump. An MBA graduate makes more than someone with a Bachelors of Business Adminstration. In addition, having a master’s degree also increases your chances of promotion and decreases the time it takes to get that promotion, leading to higher pay, faster.
* First published in Asia’s leading education website, www.EasyUni.com