That is the true question….
I have honestly been contemplating going to grad school for years/months and every time I get close to just doing it, someone sways me in the direction that it isn’t needed in my field of public relations….
So once again, I am putting it to a vote…
What do you all think???
Grad School or No Grad School??
( and yes, I have big dreams of owning my own company or a company someday so keep that in mind)
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Numerous elements are involved in making this decision – and I address merely a few. While the nay-sayers certainly make a good point that a PR position may not need a graduate degree, owning/running/managing a company (even say a PR company) requires more than just PR experience. Here is where one might suggest an MBA, or an MA in a business-related field to give you the tools you’ll need to effectively build/run said company. Perhaps a Public Policy masters if you find more interest in working for companies that interact regularly with, or conduct business with local/state/and federal governments. There are a plethora of great degrees available, and all offered from the numerous excellent institutions in the area.
Clearly there are those that didn’t need a post-undergraduate degree to become CEO’s, and the like – let’s use the start-up’s as an example (i.e. “I started my company in my garage and now we sell iPhones..etc.etc.). But that is a small cross-section of individuals and unless you’re really thinking from a ground to the sky/beginning-to-end creation of your very own start-up project/company, it may not be best to put yourself into this group. Having some friends who have the ambition to do this, I’ve seen up close how difficult the start-up endeavor can be (not to mention the cost).
To play devil’s advocate a little, degrees are expensive. They generally require students loans and that is another important element to consider in your go/not to go equation. You can utilize part of your focus/energy on trying to obtain scholarships and grants (and there are a lot of them if you look in the right places), or you can try to get your current employer to assist with the cost of further education. Depending on the field there are also loan forgiveness plans as well – for instance if you make 300 monthly payments on federal loans at even an income-based repayment rate, any remainder may be forgiven (yes I’m aware 300 months is a long time, but still… just a thought). In short, if you plan properly it may not be terrible. Yet at the end, you’re likely looking at some semblance of student loans. How much that will be can vary, but you should be well aware of some rough number that will burden you down the road. There are plenty of people who fail to make this consideration and it can be ruinous and very stressful both during school and thereafter. Just remain positive about it and make sure you have an end-goal in mind when you begin and this can mitigate some of that stress.
At the end of the day, the decision should be yours to make and you should feel confident and excited about it. Anything new will bring the burden of the “what ifs”, and the fear of the unknown. But if you put good time into researching a program that really interests you, that works into your larger long-term goals in life, at a school that would be fun and interesting to attend, it works into your schedule, and you can financially manage the outcome, then I say GO for it!
From: A friend who will be poor for a long time, but is happy and glad to have taken the leap.