Diana Pochara

Once students graduate, they can either take a gap year, work, apply for jobs, volunteer, or continue their education through a master’s degree. Advancing their career through a master’s degree will be a major advantage for students in their career.

Why you should consider a master’s degree after college

Reasons for pursuing a master’s degree found according to Coursera, a global online learning platform that offers access to online courses and degrees from leading universities and companies, and Abound, a graduate school, include:

• Head start on your career
  • Through first-hand experience
• Increased salary
  • More money, more freedom
• More advanced job opportunities
• Becoming a valuable, knowledgeable employee
• To pursue further postgraduate education, such as a doctoral degree
• Secure protection during a career change
• Competitive edge within your career field
• Access to new opportunities through networking activities in your field, like conferences available to graduate students
  • Become a lifelong learner
• Focused understanding of the components of your subject
• Chance to build skills you can utilize throughout your career, such as honing your critical thinking abilities
• Opportunities to fully explore your passions in a practical way
• Opens the door to relocation possibilities
• Sense of personal achievement

Professor Seonghee Han, a current Penn State Abington professor of finance with an MBA concentration in finance, and a master’s degree in statistics, said they sought a master’s degree, “To become a professor in finance.”

According to Post University, a private university in Waterbury, Connecticut that offers graduate and undergraduate degrees, “Certain career paths require a master’s degree as a starting point. Some require additional licensures or certifications, but earning a master’s degree is often a critical transitional step toward pursuing them. If you are considering following one of these paths, then a master’s degree is a must.”

This is true for Mecca Muhammad, a Penn State Abington student in a psychology major who plans to pursue a master’s degree explains, “I am a psychology major. Getting a bachelors degree in psychology won’t get me anywhere. I might have well eat my money.”

Nevada says, “I think if you’re interested in pursuing a career in accounting, it’s great to have the supplemental courses and additional credits, especially if you plan to take the CPA exam. Even outside of the accounting field, I always think that continuing your learning is a plus. It gives you a competitive advantage and constantly opens you to new topics and networking opportunities.”

Requirements for a master’s degree 

• A bachelor’s degree in your subject area (some institutions are flexible about specializations)
• Minimum GPA from your bachelor’s program
• Prerequisite undergraduate courses in the subject area
• Entrance exams like GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT
• Letters of recommendation (typically by those who know you well academically)

Length of time it takes to complete a master’s degree

According to Coursera, “Earning your master’s degree typically takes anywhere from one to three years, depending on several factors, such as your field of study and the time you wish to dedicate to your program. If you’re currently on a career path, you might find that taking one or two classes a semester is more manageable and, therefore, may need three or more years to complete your program. If you’re in a position to dedicate more of your time to being a full-time student, you could finish within a year or two.”

Strategies for choosing a master’s degree

Han suggests, “the first thing to do is to create career goals. I advise students to seek a master’s degree if they believe it will enable them to accomplish their objectives,” Han, “Chose the best MBA program in South Korea.”

In addition:

• Make sure you can get the minimum GPA required before graduating
• Make sure you speak with your academic advisor

A graduate degree is typically pursued after graduation, but planning ahead will greatly benefit you to set your goals and strategize the best degree for you.

For additional information, discuss plans with your academic advisor. They will be able to guide you to more resources and information. Professors who have a master’s degree or are pursuing one may be able to offer advice and information.

In addition, you may contact the Office of Academic Affairs, however, they may suggest you talk to your advisor.

If you are interested in certain graduate schools, reach out to their point of contacts listed on their websites to ask questions and get additional information.

Alternatives

If you are looking for additional ways to boost your resume and career prospects before graduation, check out (minor article) {Minor article??}

According to the Pioneer Pursuit, “The truth is, you can pursue a master’s degree in anything as long as you’ve met the admissions requirements (including any prerequisite degrees or coursework)…Many graduate schools offer flexibility to help students from different educational backgrounds enroll in their program of interest.” These include a Master of Business Administration (MBA), MS in Computer Science & Information Technology (MSCIT), And MS in Digital Marketing.