is a masters degree self-indulgent? what is the average cost of one?

[Anonymous]

I want to do a masters degree but I feel like I'd be doing something self-indulgent and it makes me feel guilty as hell.

[Anonymous]

What is the problem with being self indulgent?

[Anonymous]

It may or may not make sense to get one, but self-indulgence and guilt are not usually part of the equation. Can you afford it? Are you married? Kids? What do you want a degree in? Will it improve your employment situation?

[Anonymous]

I would only get a masters degree (I have one) if it will help you in your career. If you want to get one "just because" yes that is indulgent and it isn't really the best way to learn about a subject.

For example, if you want to learn about economics because you are interested in the subject, I would just start reading economics textbooks, listening to economics podcasts and reading economics books and blogs. Actually getting a masters degree in economics isn't going to be the best way. A dirty little secret about masters degrees is that for the most part you teach yourself the material. It isn't like undergrad where your professor walks you through it step by step.

[Anonymous]

To add on to my post above, I got my masters at George Mason and it cost maybe $15,000 over 2 1/2 years. My company paid for it all.

[Anonymous]

Go for a PhD.

[Anonymous]

It depends. I didn't have to pay for mine cause I got a fellowship, so in my case it was a good move.

[Anonymous]

Eh, it depends. I was unemployable after getting my B.A. I went into debt ($60k) for a Master's Degree out of desperation, but it worked out. I immediately got a job paying $50k, left after 3 years for a job paying $75k, two years later I crossed the $100k mark. Paying off the debt was hard but manageable. I really didn't have a choice at the time; I was making $10/hr at temp jobs and had countless rejections.

[Anonymous]

Well I don't have any funding opportunities for my masters. At most, I might be able to get a 2000 scholarship. For people who had it funded, it makes me feel really self-indulgent thinking I'd be paying out of pocket. I wouldn't have to take out loans, but it still makes me feel guilty. The cost would be around 16k and I just think of all the other things that money could go toward. I also don't have any debt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eh, it depends. I was unemployable after getting my B.A. I went into debt ($60k) for a Master's Degree out of desperation, but it worked out. I immediately got a job paying $50k, left after 3 years for a job paying $75k, two years later I crossed the $100k mark. Paying off the debt was hard but manageable. I really didn't have a choice at the time; I was making $10/hr at temp jobs and had countless rejections.

I'm in the same boat. My degree is in communications. The masters would be Public health. What is your masters in?

[Anonymous]

It depends on which degree. A masters in nursing? Practical and well worth it. A masters in philosophy? Not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on which degree. A masters in nursing? Practical and well worth it. A masters in philosophy? Not so much.

Public Health

[Anonymous]

Two reasons to get a masters:

1) It advances you in your career field
2) You love the subject and can't learn enough about it

If it doesn't fulfill either one of those, and you just want more letters next to your name, then it's a waste of time and money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on which degree. A masters in nursing? Practical and well worth it. A masters in philosophy? Not so much.

Public Health

Again?!

The MPH poster strikes again.

[Anonymous]

Why are there so many recent posts about a masters degree in public health?

Is it just a really common field or is one person obsessing about it over and over.

OP, if you look over the posts of the last week, you'll see that in the USA, work is hard to find in this field. If you pay out of pocket, there is no guarantee it will ever pay off with a job in public health.