I am an incoming freshman to college (high school grad) and I will start college in the fall. I have been told that the majority of the time, Masters degrees are self-funded while Ph.D.'s are usually fully supported as Teaching Assistants or Research Assistants. So I was just wondering what are some ways to cut down on the costs of grad school before the time actually comes where I have to pay for it. What are ways I can start saving and fundraising before I start my undergrad, so that the cost of grad school won’t be a TREMENDOUS issue later on?
Well for starters, you can make sure that you do your UG degree at a low cost school. That’s a great way to save. You can also start working paid positions in the summers so that you can start saving money. Look for scholarships offered by your school to reduce the costs
PhD after Bachelors? See http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/1406400-phd-after-bachelors.html
Saving and fundraising? Do you have a summer job?
Most students work at summer jobs and part-time jobs to fund their grad school. My daughter is working full time and going to grad school part-time.
Are you majoring in computer science? I think you should be able to find well-paying part-time school year work by your second year in college, and paid summer internships by the summer after your sophomore year. Sock that money away in the bank and you’ll have a nice kitty.
And, depending on where you end up working, many employers reimburse for part-time masters programs in computer science.
(Your user name seems to indicate the CS interest. If you’ve changed your mind, then this probably wouldn’t apply.)
@arabrab Yeah, I’m studying Computer Science. How common is it for employers reimburse for part-time masters programs and does it happen at mainly large companies or the size doesn’t matter?
Many larger companies do…don’t know about small ones or start-ups.
Many of the good – not just top, but good – cs masters will be funded or you’ll have a way to get funding (RA, TA, etc).
Also, employers paying for a cs masters isn’t typically a thing. Cs is one of those fields where a BS is usually enough – unless you want to go into research. From my own experience, very few companies will fund a cs graduate degree (and the ones that will make you take a very long time… to keep you at the company)
Yes there are many employers who will have tuition reimbursement as an employee benefit. I have read posts of people doing online MS from Stanford and GTech paid for by employer.
There are ways to make yourself more attractive for a partially or completely funded MS. That includes being involved in research projects. Also having experience a TA as an undergraduate can be helpful. Yes going into a fuded PhD program and leaving with a ‘free’ MS does happen, but usually you don’t go in planning that. My dd is I guess what you call an ABD.
You are probably a bit ahead of yourself. But if you are in a very strong program a MS may not be necessary. You learn a lot by working. Working a couple of years can be equivalent to an MS for some employers. Some employers do value it more and will see it as more qualifications for certain types of positions. Sometimes you want the MS for specialization in a particular area.
Indeed. Why grad school? What program? (PhD is very different from a professional Masters)
What possible goals in life?