Advice on Masters Program..

[wolf_chatter]

Anyone here get their masters? How long did it take. Did you see any financial benefit from it? Do you think and MBA is much more valuable than a Journalism Masters? Does it matter to people as long as you have one?

Any thought would be appreciated.

Thinking about getting my masters pretty seriously right now.

[FR4NV]

Anyone here get their masters? How long did it take. Did you see any financial benefit from it? Do you think and MBA is much more valuable than a Journalism Masters? Does it matter to people as long as you have one?

Any thought would be appreciated.

Thinking about getting my masters pretty seriously right now.

I think it depends on what the major is and how you are going to use it. I don't have one (but would also like to go back, although time is running short). I have a friend who has a dual Masters in economics and history, yet he is a wholesale furniture salesman. He makes great money, but rarely uses the skille he was taught. Does your current situation call for a Masters to get a promotion? Are you looking to get into a different field? Those are the kinds of questions I would be asking myself.

[Blueblood]

Anyone here get their masters? How long did it take. Did you see any financial benefit from it? Do you think and MBA is much more valuable than a Journalism Masters? Does it matter to people as long as you have one?

Any thought would be appreciated.

Thinking about getting my masters pretty seriously right now.

I just completed my masters and it took me about a year in the fast-track program at a private university although it would probably take about 2 years to complete in a normal-paced program. As far as a financial benefit, no I haven't personally seen any financial benefit in this economy yet but I look at it as an investment to give me that edge on my resume when the market does pick back up. I'm a firm believer in doing what you can to make yourself more marketable to employers during economic recessions.

As far as an MBA vs. a specific Masters I think it depends on what your Bachelors was in, what industry you want to go into or stay in, and what do you want to do. I think the main question you have to ask yourself is do you want to be a manager in your industry (MBA) or do you want to be an expert in your field (Masters)? If you're serious about furthering your education, I would recommend just looking at the job description of your "dream job" and look for what they require as far as education goes. Also, don't forget, getting a masters requires a serious time commitment. My daily routine was work 8-5 then off to the library from 6-10 Monday through Friday and occasionally an 8-5 at the library on Saturday and/or Sunday. I know you have kids and a wife, as do I, so it's important to know the sacrifices that you and your family will have to make.

[BustNChops]

A few rambled thoughts:

My sister got her Bachelors in Journalism from Nevada and then realized she wasn't going to make any money with it. She went to Thunderbird and got her MBA. One of the best decisions she has ever made.

I had considered going back to get my MBA a number of times, but stopped a few years back. While I do think an MBA is important, timing in life was/is not.
- I am not willing to make the sacrifice to get it. I couldn't justify the time taken away from what is important in my life (wife/son).
- I did a significant amount of research and getting an MBA from the same university as your bachelors does not have an appealing quality and the value is slighlty dimisnished. I was and am not willing to move to get that MBA.
- I also found that an MBA itself is not what I was seeking. It was the additional learning and skill set. I will eventually go back for some continuing education, but when I do I will map out my own "customized/personal MBA" with a specific focus.
- I don't want to work for somebody else my whole life. I will eventually go the self employed route. There is no sense in paying for an MBA when I can/should save the money for that business venture. I can pull on my family and friends for many of the skills that are learned in the course of an MBA and get some crash course info from them.

I have seen recent articles talking about the value of an MBA. In summary, they have said that the downturn in the economy and the number of people gong back to school will have an adverse affect on that value. It is a great tool to have and add to your resume, but there are plenty of jobs that don't need it and those jobs that do will have a bigger pool to draw from.

All that said, I do think there is value in an MBA. But if you don't have a solid game plan on how that is going to help you, I'd reconsider.

One place I bookmarked last week to check out the other day was this: jack_welch: Excited -- launch today of our online MBA. Hope it's start of something really new and useful. www.jackwelchmba.com.

Good luck as you work through the thought process.

[wolf_chatter]

A few rambled thoughts:

My sister got her Bachelors in Journalism from Nevada and then realized she wasn't going to make any money with it. She went to Thunderbird and got her MBA. One of the best decisions she has ever made.

I had considered going back to get my MBA a number of times, but stopped a few years back. While I do think an MBA is important, timing in life was/is not.
- I am not willing to make the sacrifice to get it. I couldn't justify the time taken away from what is important in my life (wife/son).
- I did a significant amount of research and getting an MBA from the same university as your bachelors does not have an appealing quality and the value is slighlty dimisnished. I was and am not willing to move to get that MBA.
- I also found that an MBA itself is not what I was seeking. It was the additional learning and skill set. I will eventually go back for some continuing education, but when I do I will map out my own "customized/personal MBA" with a specific focus.
- I don't want to work for somebody else my whole life. I will eventually go the self employed route. There is no sense in paying for an MBA when I can/should save the money for that business venture. I can pull on my family and friends for many of the skills that are learned in the course of an MBA and get some crash course info from them.

I have seen recent articles talking about the value of an MBA. In summary, they have said that the downturn in the economy and the number of people gong back to school will have an adverse affect on that value. It is a great tool to have and add to your resume, but there are plenty of jobs that don't need it and those jobs that do will have a bigger pool to draw from.

All that said, I do think there is value in an MBA. But if you don't have a solid game plan on how that is going to help you, I'd reconsider.

One place I bookmarked last week to check out the other day was this: jack_welch: Excited -- launch today of our online MBA. Hope it's start of something really new and useful. www.jackwelchmba.com.

Good luck as you work through the thought process.

Thanks for the advice. I will look at that site

[wolfin1]

Anyone here get their masters? How long did it take. Did you see any financial benefit from it? Do you think and MBA is much more valuable than a Journalism Masters? Does it matter to people as long as you have one?

Any thought would be appreciated.

Thinking about getting my masters pretty seriously right now.


If you are looking at getting a Masters just for the sake of getting one...an MBA will probably be your best bet. If you want to study a subject a little more in depth than your undergrad just for the love of knowledge...go with one related to the subject matter you are interested. No matter what...if its something you want to do and have about 20-30 hours to devote to it a week...do it. Financial benefits would depend upon the field you are working in. I work in human services/education..and having some extra letters next to my name got me in the door for an interview. The subject matter that I studied got me the job.

[mr_pack]

Go to law school it actually sets you up for a field/career. To be honest an MBA is just another validator, it really doesnt do much other than giving you a better shot at getting a job that you may desire.

No program can really tell you how to run a business properly. Just look around at all these successful run companies both large and small, the people running them generally do not even know what MBA stands for.

Anyways good luck!

[NevadaConvert]

I almost went for an MBA a long time ago. I took the GMAT and everything. But I ended up getting an engineering degree after my business degree, instead. So that's enough school for me in my lifetime. Unless I had to have an MBA for a job I dreamed of, I couldn't stomach a couple years of school.

[Nevadan]

Anyone here get their masters? How long did it take. Did you see any financial benefit from it? Do you think and MBA is much more valuable than a Journalism Masters? Does it matter to people as long as you have one?

Any thought would be appreciated.

Thinking about getting my masters pretty seriously right now.

I have a Master's degree in my field and while it hasn't bolstered my career, it also hasn't hurt that I've had it. The knowledge that I acquired through the program has been very good to have and apply it regularly, which seems to run counter to the impressions of may here...'you may get the degree, but you'll never use what you learn....real world experience trumps book learning'...yada, yada, yada. Personally, I think that education and real-world experience complement each other rather than one invalidating the other. If you don't see that a program will give knowledge that will benefit you, then you either have the wrong program or your intent to further your education is maybe coming from the wrong place.

On the topic of an MBA, my brother graduated from Nevada with his undergrad business degree and then attended Thunderbird, one of the premier international business graduate (grad only) schools around, in Phoenix. He has benefited greatly from getting his MBA AND his education from Thunderbird. He stepped into a VP position with the U.S. division of an international firm and makes very good money. Now, he travels probably between 1.5 to 2.5 weeks per month, which sucks on his family life, but he makes bank and lives a pretty nice life all in all. Most all of his contemporaries from Thunderbird that I've heard of landed similar gigs and many live relatively rarified-air kinds of lives.

Good luck with your choice, Chatter and be careful to undertake the effort for the right reasons.

[Nevadan]

Go to law school it actually sets you up for a field/career. To be honest an MBA is just another validator, it really doesnt do much other than giving you a better shot at getting a job that you may desire.

No program can really tell you how to run a business properly. Just look around at all these successful run companies both large and small, the people running them generally do not even know what MBA stands for.

Anyways good luck!

Yeah, just what the world needs....another attorney....:rolleyes:

[mr_pack]

Yeah, just what the world needs....another attorney....:rolleyes:

Nevada especially needs them...too many companies taking advantage of their employees..oh wait are you being sarcastic?

[ord_buckeye]

One thing to consider is that most top MBA programs (say top 25) are going to require several years of significant (i.e. not managing a brewpub--founding one maybe) work experience between undergrad and grad school.

I did my Master's in an international relations program that offered the opportunity for a joint degree with the university's law or mba programs. My program was a pretty strict two years and done. Had I done a joint degree, it would have pared a year off the combined time frames: i.e. 3 years for an MA/MBA or 4 years of a MA/JD.

[wolf_chatter]

One thing to consider is that most top MBA programs (say top 25) are going to require several years of significant (i.e. not managing a brewpub--founding one maybe) work experience between undergrad and grad school.

I did my Master's in an international relations program that offered the opportunity for a joint degree with the university's law or mba programs. My program was a pretty strict two years and done. Had I done a joint degree, it would have pared a year off the combined time frames: i.e. 3 years for an MA/MBA or 4 years of a MA/JD.

I am 40 and have owned my own business for 7 years.. plus management experience (Marketing Director ) in Mortgage and several years in management for Enterprise Rent a Car experience shouldn't be an issue.