A lot of my younger friends who are still in college have been asking me recently about career advice. Now, naturally I told them to read this site and then ask me questions afterward, but I’m way too much of a talker not to try and guide them. They all had an alternative to getting a career started after they graduate and that’s to obtain a Master’s Degree. I’m all for higher education and anything that differentiates you from another candidate is a smart move. But with that said I, like many graduate school counselors, believe 3-5 years in a working environment is a great move for a transition to a graduate program. I think too often, people are scared of the “real world” or afraid to leave the arena of college fun and excitement.
In doing over 65 professional interviews before I chose an entry-level career, I never once forgot to ask if they pay for higher education. 95% of the companies I interviewed with and even applied to, paid for a Master’s Degree. So even if you have the money or your parents do or even grandparents, why not let a company pay? Considering you’ll work more than 40 hrs/week on average, let them help you in my opinion. Times have changed with our generational gaps. The depression/war generation were fine with a trade or just a High School Diploma. Baby boomers typically have a bachelor’s degree. The younger, Gen Y and Gen X are now needing a higher degree with a Bachelor’s being so much more common. Similar to a bachelor’s degree, you pick your area of study and it’s a more specialized program. I included an article on the difference between an MBA (Masters of Business Administration) and an EMBA (Executive Masters of Business Administration). The reason experience is important when applying to a graduate program is because it better prepares students for the specialized curriculum and the application process for these classes is similar to a career interview. The GMAT test needs to be taken, an interview typically follows and only a certain percentage of applicants are accepted. As a theme with all interviews, differentiation is one of the top priorities. In summary, here are my suggestions that I collaborated with an admissions counselor on:
- Research: Schools Do they have evening classes that won’t disrupt work? Where do they rank in the Harvard Business Journal?
- GMAT. Kaplan has classes to prepare you as well as practice exams. Know what the school you’re applying for typically requires in a score.
- See what companies pay for pursuing a higher degree. Some pay a % based on grades, some reimburse, some just cut a check to the school.
- Don’t pursue a program to delay the inevitable. See what a career in your Bachelor’s degree is like before getting a Master’s in that field you may hate.
- www.mba.com
- http://www.gradschools.com/Category/Why-GradSchool.html
- http://businessmajors.about.com/od/programcomparison/a/mba_vs_emba.htm Karen Schweitzer of about.com
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Ethan Oblonsky is a successful account executive for a Fortune 500 IT company and has been providing resume writing services and interview consulting for the past 3 years to a wide-range of clients.
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