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A big question that always comes up when deciding whether or
not to attend graduate school is the cost. Whether or not you are still paying
off student loans from your undergraduate experience, nearly everyone wonders
how they will afford paying for a graduate program.
At my graduation ceremony in 2016, I was able to sit next to
a couple of my classmates whom I only knew virtually since the program was 100%
online. One woman was from Texas, one was from California, and another was from
Virginia. As we got to talking, all four of us could point to ways that our
Master’s degrees in Higher Education Administration were worth the investment.
The woman from Texas mentioned that she got to write about
some interesting topics that ultimately assisted her in her role in Study
Abroad Student Affairs. She also mentioned that some courses opened her eyes to
a whole different way of thinking and helped her gain new perspectives that
were helpful to her both personally and professionally. Perhaps most valuable
of all, she saw this degree as a pathway to advancing her career and knowledge
in the field she loves most.
When speaking to the woman from California, she agreed that
the program was helpful in her career and being able to step up her
responsibilities and skills. She enjoyed being able to collaborate with so many
talented and enriching educators across the globe and now had contacts in other
fields and states. The exposure to different types of jobs and departments in
higher education opened her eyes to other areas of interest she could move
into.
Talking to the woman from Virginia, she mentioned that as
soon as she received her Master’s degree, her boss immediately gave her a raise
– talk about worth it! She saw an increase in pay as a result of her hard work and
commitment to education. She noted that it was inspiring to see all the
accomplishments of everyone and how far we all came.
For me, hearing all of these women describe how their
graduate program was worth it made me feel confident that I made the right
choice. I shared similar perspectives and thought the program made me more
informed and confident that I could advance myself and my career to the best of
my ability.
I ask that you keep these important points in mind when deciding
if graduate school is worth it:
·
Research all funding options (e.g. scholarships,
grants, graduate loans, employer assistance, EdAssist, etc.) to maximize your
benefits
·
Consider the diverse, eye-opening perspectives
that you will gain through your program
·
Know that you will learn new techniques and
skills that are relevant and important to your industry and that will help you
take your career to the next level
·
Keep in mind the potential for a promotion and
pay raise immediately after you receive your degree!
·
Know that there will be others like you who are
nervous but excited to take this next step in their lives
·
Be proud of your decision – you can do this!
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