<p>Hi everyone, I have a few questions about graduate school I was hoping you could answer. I am in my junior year in college and my plan is to go to law school but I want to go to graduate school and get a masters degree first. I've heard that a masters degree is usually very expensive and does not increase your earning potential that much (do they vary by department?). I want to go to supplement my education and learn more in something I'm interested in while I'm still young, but would this be completely impractical? </p>
<p>Also here are the fields Im interested in (from most interested to somewhat interested, you don't have to choose one for me, but i've listed what I think are the advantages and disadvantages of each so please make comments about them)</p>
<p>Here it is (the second part of the original post) Btw Im a finance major in undergrad if anyone was wondering. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Political Science
Adv: Its what Im most interested in, I feel like it would tie in to law school better than the other things Im considering, the best balance between academic learning and practical benefits
Dis: Overlapping material with law school? Limited use as a stand alone degree (if something happens and I don't end up going to law school)?</p></li>
<li><p>Public Policy
Adv: Practical and well rounded, interesting and similar to political science but with more practical use
Dis: Maybe overlaps my undergrad classes in finance and economics? I don't like how its a practical degree because I fear it may take away from the educational/academic experience. Few lay people know of a degree in public policy. </p></li>
<li><p>Philosophy
Adv: Interesting and probably an intellectual learning experience, after a lot of quanitative analysis as a finance major, i should probably focus on something that tests non quanitative reasoning skills.
Dis: Limited practical use? limited modern theory?</p></li>
<li><p>Economics
Adv: Interested in economic theory, economic reasoning and expiremental economics, most practical degree?
Dis: have already taken many economic courses, dislike the quanitative part of economics</p></li>
</ol>
<p>5 and 6: History and Classics
Adv: Interested in learning both
Dis: Same as Philosophy (Limited practical use? limited modern theory?)</p>
<ol>
<li>Religion
Adv: Interesting to me (esp christianity) and I am a religious person so why not study something thats personally important to you
Dis: Not sure if I can take a whole year of classes based on religion, could gain more knowledge from church?, afraid my personal bias will impact my learning </li>
</ol>
<p>Comments please, sorry if anything is unclear (its late), just ask me and I will clarify.</p>
<p>In general, if you don't even know what field you would like to study, it's not wise to consider graduate school. Decide what field you like best - no one else can do that for you. When you figure out your primary interest, go with that.</p>