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When is it best to get your Master's?

I am split between getting it right after undergrad or waiting until I have more money to pursue this degree. #graduate-school

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Kristin’s Answer

Hi Eldon,


The best advice I received about grad school was from one of my professors when I was in my senior year in college; work for a little bit, and then go back for your masters. I was a public relations major, minoring in event planning and business, and he advised me to wait for a couple of reasons. The first was because my major and minor could take me in many different ways, and I could decide that I would want to get my masters in something else. The second was because, he said with the way college pricing has gone up, it could be worth it to see if the company I work for would pay for it, and they would have more of a vested interest, because they would want to keep me as their employee. To give you some perspective, when I was a senior in college, I thought I'd get my masters in public relations...I'm glad I didn't, because as I went in my career, I found that an MBA would be better for my career, and help me with more of my career goals. Plus, I work for a company that offered tuition assistance, and worked with some of the local colleges to give discounts on tuition.


I do think if you're going into an industry where a masters degree is expected, like teaching or psychology, then going for your masters after you complete your undergrad would be best.


Hope this helps!
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Odiles’s Answer

Hi Eldon, for me I didn't know I wanted to get my Master's until after I finished my Bachelor's degree. I was fortunate enough to have already been working for NYNEX (dating myself) now Verizon and they offered tuition assistance. I was able to complete my Bachelor's and move right on to my Master's because of the assistance. If you are able to find a job where tuition assistance is offered that is definitely a great help. If not then I would suggest working a little before trying to go right into a Master's program. Hope this helps!
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Terry’s Answer

That will depend a lot on what your field of study and desired profession are. Some careers really need you to have a masters in order to advance or make it to the next pay tiers. In my experience, I worked for a number of years before I went back to get a masters, and it was largely because my employer helped pay for it. The challenge with waiting is that life gets in the way - working in your career to grow and advance, starting family, traveling, etc. can all lead to delays, and the more you push it out, the harder it may be to start. Or you may need the time to figure out what grad program to pursue. If you feel you know what you want, and the finances are manageable, I would say trying to start it sooner would be better. But if you don't, it certainly doesn't mean that you can't go back and do it later.
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