My Master's vs DH's job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you are really set on getting a master's, there can be inexpensive ways to do it. When I got my master's, I got a job at the university I attended and got tuition benefits after three months. Made getting a degree very affordable. Would your husband be more on board if you were working too and/or found a cheaper option to get your degree?

That has been suggested multiple times, but OP is very set on doing her expensive 3 year program so she can say she went to X school.

Or so that she'll have connections from X school and have X school on her resume, which will help in her job search. Would you rather higher someone with a degree from Georgetown or Strayer?

I hire the person I am confident can do the job, and in my experience that doesn't always correlate to attending grad school at the "big name" program.

[Anonymous]

NP - in my part of the STEM world, having a graduate degree is pretty much required to be in the game, so OP's goals ring true to me. At my organization, we wouldn't even look at a resume for most positions if the applicant didn't at least have a masters.

Yes, DH and my brother agree that a PhD can definitely push you to a new level in a STEM career, but didn't feel that a masters alone would really give much of a boost.

[Anonymous]

This is why people are pushing back against college.

People should be learning the Master's stuff in undergrad.

Graduate degrees are nothing but elitism these days and burdening people with ridiculous amounts of debt just so they can make a living.

If you are in here spouting off getting your degrees from Harvard and not looking at resumes that don't have at least a Master's you are part of the problem.

People want to say GenXers are the best generation without any cultural blame, you guys are doing this.

Your kids will all have to get PhDs just to make $40K. Congrats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

NP - in my part of the STEM world, having a graduate degree is pretty much required to be in the game, so OP's goals ring true to me. At my organization, we wouldn't even look at a resume for most positions if the applicant didn't at least have a masters.

Yes, DH and my brother agree that a PhD can definitely push you to a new level in a STEM career, but didn't feel that a masters alone would really give much of a boost.

Quite the generalization your DH and brother are making for a large field. I don't see this as true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy sh*t. Another ungrateful, self-righteous DW on DCUM? What? Of couse your DH should continue to work a job he hates while you go back to school. Of course your really hard work over a couple of years justifies you taking two years off and taking on debt to pursue your BS passion. I think DH should do the same and puruse his passion. We should all quit! This whole thread makes me sad & angry!

Maybe you should try reading the thread before spouting off nonsense. There is no debt involved. Her DH has only been at hIs current job for the past few months and has switched jobs repeatedly in the last few years. It's not like he has had some well thought out plan in the works for years.

You're right. DH is not the consistent bread winner that he should be! Time for him to suck it up while DW gets a useless $100K Master's Degree in Psychology. Then she will finally be happy and willing to "sacrifice" in some $25K/yr lab job studying mayflies. Another DCUM living in fantasy land...

Wow you really have a reading comprehension problem. Op will make 50-70k after her degree, not 25k and her degree would be about 20k or so based on the cost per credit she cited. But why let hard numbers get in the way of your rant.

First. The "cost per credit" or tuition cost per credit hour is only a fraction of the total cost of the degree. There are fees on top of tuition which often double the actual cost.

Second. When I was in grad school the masters program required around 90 credit hours for a "STEM" degree. That means the tuition alone is closer to 45K. It all depends on the number of credit hours she need. Did she say exactly how many hours she needs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree that going to school to earn a Master's Degree is a bad investment.
No so at all.

There is no wiser investment one can make in obtaining add'l education & life knowledge.

An undergrad degree is great, but completing Grad School will set you up for a much better way of life regardless.

Plus if you give up this (or any!) dream due to your husband's reservations, resentment will always be a sore spot in your marriage.

I stand behind you 100% on this!!

If OP just wants to learn she can watch those Khan Academy and other videos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree that going to school to earn a Master's Degree is a bad investment.
No so at all.

There is no wiser investment one can make in obtaining add'l education & life knowledge.

An undergrad degree is great, but completing Grad School will set you up for a much better way of life regardless.

Plus if you give up this (or any!) dream due to your husband's reservations, resentment will always be a sore spot in your marriage.

I stand behind you 100% on this!!

If OP just wants to learn she can watch those Khan Academy and other videos.

I look at those as a talking book. Estimates of MOOCs for MBA courses are that you get about 50% of the course content.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I'm happy to report DH and I had a discussion and came to an agreement we're both happy with. Thanks again everyone!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. I'm happy to report DH and I had a discussion and came to an agreement we're both happy with. Thanks again everyone!

Very glad to hear it, OP.

I was a PP who was concerned about your husband making you put your life on hold so he could move your family on his time frame.

I hope your agreement helps you both plan long term in a way that respects both of your goals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree that going to school to earn a Master's Degree is a bad investment.
No so at all.

There is no wiser investment one can make in obtaining add'l education & life knowledge.

An undergrad degree is great, but completing Grad School will set you up for a much better way of life regardless.

Plus if you give up this (or any!) dream due to your husband's reservations, resentment will always be a sore spot in your marriage.

I stand behind you 100% on this!!

If OP just wants to learn she can watch those Khan Academy and other videos.

Yeah because khan videos are the same as getting a master s degree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree that going to school to earn a Master's Degree is a bad investment.
No so at all.

There is no wiser investment one can make in obtaining add'l education & life knowledge.

An undergrad degree is great, but completing Grad School will set you up for a much better way of life regardless.

Plus if you give up this (or any!) dream due to your husband's reservations, resentment will always be a sore spot in your marriage.

I stand behind you 100% on this!!

If OP just wants to learn she can watch those Khan Academy and other videos.

Yeah because khan videos are the same as getting a master s degree!

Yep you don't get 50k in debt for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. I'm happy to report DH and I had a discussion and came to an agreement we're both happy with. Thanks again everyone!

So what was the compromise?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are just delaying getting a job to the detriment of your family. Get a job.

+1. Amen!

+ 2

[Anonymous]

No one asked this.....your husband is trying to leave a job about six months. He is that confident and his field is that lucrative that he will find something making the same amount of money?

Several people said this, the degree is very relevant and I suspect the OP was afraid of getting beat up more than she already was. Also, fees are always added to per credit hour, and I look at Mason's fees: http://studentaccounts.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/Fall2016Graduate.pdf

It is not $500 per credit hour before fees for any masters degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you are really set on getting a master's, there can be inexpensive ways to do it. When I got my master's, I got a job at the university I attended and got tuition benefits after three months. Made getting a degree very affordable. Would your husband be more on board if you were working too and/or found a cheaper option to get your degree?

That has been suggested multiple times, but OP is very set on doing her expensive 3 year program so she can say she went to X school.

Or so that she'll have connections from X school and have X school on her resume, which will help in her job search. Would you rather higher someone with a degree from Georgetown or Strayer?

b

You know, it really depends on the field. My much younger SIL has a master's in IR from Georgetown and has been trying to get a toehold in anything related in that field and has done nothing but unpaid internships and temp gigs in five years. My in laws are still paying her rent. Everyone in the family feels bad because we see how hard she is trying. But despite a series of (what appears to me) pretty prestigious internships and temp assignments, none have resulted in a permanent paying position. She says it is just super super competitive and hard to stand out if you are not a "star."