Grad school vs. Business Degree

Graduate School
1

<p>Hey guys, </p>

<p>I am under a lot of stress right now and just wanted to put my thoughts into words for people to comment on my situation.</p>

<p>Perhaps with some of your comments I will be able to see different sides of my current issue and make a better informed decision in the near future. </p>

<p>I am graduating in less than a year with my degree in Communication (Social science not media / journalism). </p>

<p>I was originally planning on attending graduate school by preparing for my GRE's this summer in order to take the test sometime during the first few weeks of the Fall semester. </p>

<p>After careful consideration and self reflection for several months now I have started to seriously doubt if graduate school is the best choice for me. My professors have all told me to apply for graduate school, I have a 3.9 Major GPA lots of letters, and would basically be guaranteed admission to my institution's M.A program if I managed to pull off decent scores on the GRE. </p>

<p>However, after reflecting on my undergraduate work, my employment outcomes thus far, and the types of careers that most interest me, I am beginning to seriously doubt the value of an M.A in Communication for what I want to do. My career interests are mostly public sector jobs such as Human Resource Specialist, Event / program manager, Social Service specialist, as well as someday opening my own restaurant business on the side. </p>

<p>I am now very strongly considering not studying for the GRE this summer and scrapping the idea of Grad school all together. Instead I would be studying Trig, and Pre Calc this summer in order to declare a double major in Communication and Business Management when the fall semester starts. </p>

<p>This would effectively mean that my finances that I had reserved for graduate school would be exhausted in the process of completing a business degree instead. </p>

<p>I am now beginning to see the value of having a very solid foundation in quantitative knowledge like mathematics. </p>

<p>Most people I know who are graduating with a business degree have got a job lined up after graduation, the same goes for many of my friends and family who are majoring in mechanical engineering and aerospace. I however, despite having a plethora of experience in the administrative field working both as a research assistant and the Mayor of my city's Administrative Assistant (unpaid), cannot find anyone to employ me after graduation. </p>

<p>One other very disturbing and eye opening trend I am noticing is, engineers and business majors get sought after by the actual companies or government agencies recruiting. There is no such luxury for those of us who choose to major in a social science. At least not based on my experiences. </p>

<p>I am about 2 weeks away from making this extremely important decision that will have tremendous consequences for the rest of my life. </p>

<p>I have spoken to the Counseling, Career Services, Business, Communication, and Psychological services and departments in my university. I still cannot come to a decision.</p>

<p>I am not asking for anyone here to tell me what to do, or anything of the sort. However, I would appreciate any comments that come to mind as you read this. </p>

<p>Every little bit helps. </p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>I don’t know what a MA in communications would do tbh… always think about your goals and whether what you’re doing is helping you achieve them. I don’t think you necessarily have to change/add to your major if you get good experience.</p>

3

<p>Why not just go for your MBA? </p>

<p>There is an article floating around that addresses this topic and the author did not recommend double majoring in business when it was possible to get an MBA.</p>

<p>I’ll see if I can find it for you.</p>

4

<p>Unless you have a couple years of real-world business experience, you are not going to be admitted by any MBA program worth paying for.</p>

<p>Most reputable programs have an admissions requirement that applicants have a year or two (or more) experience working in a business/management environment. The MBA is designed to provide advanced management and leadership skills and if you’re a freshly-minted bachelor’s degree holder, you don’t have the basic experience you need as a foundation.</p>

5

<p>Have you thought about applying to human resources master’s programs? It’s an idea, but only pursue this route if you really want to become an HR manager.</p>

6

<p>Ditto the suggestion of a Human Resource’s Master’s degree program. From what I can tell, work experience is not required in the same way that it is for an MBA (though, I believe, it is recommended). Top programs such as Cornell, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Illinois have great placement rates for graduates, who go on to work in such fields as human resources (of course) and business, as well as government and the public sector, in some cases.</p>

<p>To be honest, I don’t think that an MA in Communication would do much for you, unless it’s academia you’re after – it does not, in my opinion, scream “employment prospects” in the same way that some other Master’s degrees do. If I were you, I would try to gain more practical, hands-on experience, rather than another academic credential. Have you had any internships? You mentioned your work in the Mayor’s office – could you turn this into a full-time, paid position?</p>

<p>I agree with the notion that a double-major in Business is less desirable than a graduate degree, if you can manage one. However, not all Master’s degrees are created equal. I admit that I do not know much about the MA in Communication, but I would be willing to bet that there are other programs (such as an MBA, a Master’s in Human Resources, or maybe a Master’s in Social Work) that would make you a much more marketable, employable job candidate, if that is your primary concern.</p>