<p>I'm so stuck, and the obsessing is killing me. I just want to make a decision and feel good about it!!!! agh!!!</p>
<p>So... a little background. I'm 41, married, no kids. Been working as a paralegal for about 13 years and am so done with this career, ready to change. Things I love about my job: I'm good at organization, love love love people, enjoy problem solving. I want more responsibility, more upward mobility, etc.</p>
<p>I currently work for a local government, whereas the rest of my career was spent working for big, rich law firms. I took a pay cut going to the city, but that's ok. I work with real people now and I gotta say, I like that. There is b.s. in a city, but way worse b.s. in a law firm.</p>
<p>I envision myself working as a director of some sort, and do like the idea of nonprofit and/or govt. operations.</p>
<p>So you'd think MPA right? But here's the deal. No one I talk to even knows what an MPA is. Does that mean I'll be getting a degree that no one knows about?? Can that really be? Will I be pigeon-holing myself into an area and not able to move into corporate if I need to? Will I be stuck with a job that pays even less than I make now??</p>
<p>These are my main worries. Love to hear your responses. Thanks so much.</p>
<p>If you’re looking to stay in government, then an MPA program is going to more tailored to your interests. However, if you might even be considering anything else an MBA will be more versatile. </p>
<p>13 years of work experience, I’d say go to a law school, but since you don’t want that, lets look at other options. Just because an average Joe hasn’t heard of MPA doesn’t mean that your employment chances are dismal. Average Joe is not your employer, someone educated and who has heard of MPA before is likely to be your employer. MPA prepares you for admn jobs while MBA is bit more specific. You will have public interaction in both MPA and MBA, so don’t worry about that bit. The things that you enjoy “problem solving” “more responsibility” “upward mobility” will come with both degrees. It is really up to you whether you want to become a generalist or work in a field which is more specific like finance, accounting, marketing, etc.
Either way, you can’t make a wrong decision. </p>
<p>Hi all, and thanks for the responses!</p>
<p>Law school is definitely out. Working in the industry over the last 13 years has provided me with an in depth understanding of what lawyers do - and I do not want to do that.</p>
<p>I realized last night that part of my problem is not knowing exactly WHAT I want to do. Finance and accounting sound boring, but are they really? Accounting and number are something I know I have a knack for. Marketing sounds like fun, but who knows what it’s really like.</p>
<p>So it’s the versatility I desire. I want the degree that gives me the most bang for my buck. I hear that MBAs tend to center in the finance world. MPA is all about government and nonprofit.</p>
<p>I’m staying in my city, Denver. I’m looking at two programs:</p>
<p>MBA - 48 credit hrs, no thesis or capstone project - $30k approx.
MPA - 38 credit hrs, capstone project (6 months working with a local biz) - $22k approx.</p>
<p>I will continue working full time, so I believe I can finish the MPA in 3 years, the MBA in 4 yrs.</p>