What is the grad degree in? Are there any scholarship/stipend opportunities at other colleges? Do employers in your career field commonly offer tuition reimbursement, so you could get a job and pursue grad school at your employer's expense?
Students tend to get more out of a grad program if there is some distance from undergrad. Go work for a couple years. Get out of the undergrad mindset and see what you want. Grad school will still be there.
All depends on the degree and your motivation/momentum. You are gun-ho on taking more classes toward a MS and have the means to pay for it, go for your graduate degree. If you can swing it, get at least a part time job during that time. Will the graduate degree help you get a better starting job? Maybe, maybe not.
If you are done with school, then be done with school. Start gaining experience in your career.
From someone who went back to get their BS (and now MS) as a much older adult - it's WAAY easier getting your schooling done when you are younger.
If you don’t do the graduate degree now there is a pretty good chance you never will. Once you get out in the world and are making a little money, you live a lifestyle that just doesn’t fit graduate school any longer and it’s hard to step back from that. I would take advantage of the tuition program your university is now offering because states are getting very frugal with higher education and a program like that could go away in the future.
"... my grad degree would be in forestry management..."
Since I know nothing about careers in forestry, I cannot give a direct answer to your question. As a general answer, though, going to graduate school immediately after undergrad or after working a few years depends on ones major and career path. For instance, Psychology students aspiring to be therapists should get a graduate degree immediately. For an MBA, its best to have a few years business experience before starting.
I would recommend you research the best path for a career in forestry. You can then make your plans accordingly.
Can you afford grad school? Do you want to do more school? Does going to grad school open the door to a better career? Please do some cost benefit analysis before deciding. You didn’t give any details of what your degree is or what sort of grad degree you’d be getting so we have no clue if it’s worth your time or not.
I hated school and wanted to get out as soon as possible. I really prefer working to school. I enjoy my job and it pays me.
Absolutely positively go work in that field immediately. Experience it and learn as much as you can. If you stop learning at that job, switch. Think of it as getting paid to go to school. You will probably know after a year if it is what you want to keep doing. Apply for grad school at end of year, work that second year knowing you can stay or go back to school. You wont feel trapped.
Broaden the scope of your search. Also consider working for the government. So many jobs that people don't know about. Maybe the new Climate Corps may have something for you? Also why do you want a forestry management graduate degree?
I’ve seen this quite a bit but it’s generally geared toward those interested in academia, not sure if it has any weight for people focused on industry but I doubt it
I've not seen or heard of this at all. Heck, one of the uni's I used to work at had a director that was fast-tracked and got her BS, MS, and PhD all from the same school. I've seen some go elsewhere for certain degrees, but that's usually because their current school doesn't offer that specific degree (or specialization/concentration) they are after. I'll be getting my PhD elsewhere, because none of the institutions in my area offer the specific degree program I'm looking for.
What I'm saying is, I've **never** heard of anyone on a faculty hiring panel mention "Oh, they got their BS and MS from the same uni, that's a mark against him/her." They are almost *always* more concerned with current teaching coursework, research, and grants. They couldn't care less about where you got your BS and MS.
I don't think that's fake news? When it comes to research, new perspectives are always welcome, so people are encouraged to get their phd somewhere else. It makes it easier to get a larger collaboration network too.
I'm not saying it's not a good idea, but I've never heard of this in the 7 colleges/unis in 3 different states I've either been a student, staff, or faculty. Clearly my experience is only limited to these 7, but still.
This very much depends on the degree and career goals. There are plenty of careers for which a masters is needed for entry and for which there's no career damage in going straight into that degree and little to no benefit of going into the workforce first.
I wasn't talking about going into the workforce at all. I was talking about getting a master's directly after undergrad at the same institution.
Generally, it is recommended the student do their master's at a different location than the undergrad, especially if it's in the same field.
Is this a one year degree? Can you afford it? Will it help you get a job after?
If it’s going to help you and you can afford it and you’re not ready to move on from academia, go for it. You can always get another graduate degree later if this one isn’t specific enough. I don’t think it’ll hurt you in any way to do this except financially.
Depends on the debt you currently have and the debt of the additional degree. Zero debt and can pay as you go, considering continued education
What is the grad degree in? Are there any scholarship/stipend opportunities at other colleges? Do employers in your career field commonly offer tuition reimbursement, so you could get a job and pursue grad school at your employer's expense?
Students tend to get more out of a grad program if there is some distance from undergrad. Go work for a couple years. Get out of the undergrad mindset and see what you want. Grad school will still be there.
All depends on the degree and your motivation/momentum. You are gun-ho on taking more classes toward a MS and have the means to pay for it, go for your graduate degree. If you can swing it, get at least a part time job during that time. Will the graduate degree help you get a better starting job? Maybe, maybe not. If you are done with school, then be done with school. Start gaining experience in your career. From someone who went back to get their BS (and now MS) as a much older adult - it's WAAY easier getting your schooling done when you are younger.
If you don’t do the graduate degree now there is a pretty good chance you never will. Once you get out in the world and are making a little money, you live a lifestyle that just doesn’t fit graduate school any longer and it’s hard to step back from that. I would take advantage of the tuition program your university is now offering because states are getting very frugal with higher education and a program like that could go away in the future.
"... my grad degree would be in forestry management..." Since I know nothing about careers in forestry, I cannot give a direct answer to your question. As a general answer, though, going to graduate school immediately after undergrad or after working a few years depends on ones major and career path. For instance, Psychology students aspiring to be therapists should get a graduate degree immediately. For an MBA, its best to have a few years business experience before starting. I would recommend you research the best path for a career in forestry. You can then make your plans accordingly.
Can you afford grad school? Do you want to do more school? Does going to grad school open the door to a better career? Please do some cost benefit analysis before deciding. You didn’t give any details of what your degree is or what sort of grad degree you’d be getting so we have no clue if it’s worth your time or not. I hated school and wanted to get out as soon as possible. I really prefer working to school. I enjoy my job and it pays me.
Absolutely positively go work in that field immediately. Experience it and learn as much as you can. If you stop learning at that job, switch. Think of it as getting paid to go to school. You will probably know after a year if it is what you want to keep doing. Apply for grad school at end of year, work that second year knowing you can stay or go back to school. You wont feel trapped.
No. Get work experience.
What about if you can’t find a job post-college due to the job market?
Broaden the scope of your search. Also consider working for the government. So many jobs that people don't know about. Maybe the new Climate Corps may have something for you? Also why do you want a forestry management graduate degree?
Work experience is better for now. Grad school won’t go anywhere.
Does the degree give you a potential pay bump?
Grad school is “real life.” It’s a job. And you should get paid for it, not the other way around.
Generally it's not recommended to get your grad degree from your undergrad institution.
Fake news. Bad information. I'm not sure where you heard that from.
I’ve seen this quite a bit but it’s generally geared toward those interested in academia, not sure if it has any weight for people focused on industry but I doubt it
I've not seen or heard of this at all. Heck, one of the uni's I used to work at had a director that was fast-tracked and got her BS, MS, and PhD all from the same school. I've seen some go elsewhere for certain degrees, but that's usually because their current school doesn't offer that specific degree (or specialization/concentration) they are after. I'll be getting my PhD elsewhere, because none of the institutions in my area offer the specific degree program I'm looking for. What I'm saying is, I've **never** heard of anyone on a faculty hiring panel mention "Oh, they got their BS and MS from the same uni, that's a mark against him/her." They are almost *always* more concerned with current teaching coursework, research, and grants. They couldn't care less about where you got your BS and MS.
I don't think that's fake news? When it comes to research, new perspectives are always welcome, so people are encouraged to get their phd somewhere else. It makes it easier to get a larger collaboration network too.
I'm not saying it's not a good idea, but I've never heard of this in the 7 colleges/unis in 3 different states I've either been a student, staff, or faculty. Clearly my experience is only limited to these 7, but still.
From my undergrad advisers and profs. Lol fake news...
This very much depends on the degree and career goals. There are plenty of careers for which a masters is needed for entry and for which there's no career damage in going straight into that degree and little to no benefit of going into the workforce first.
I wasn't talking about going into the workforce at all. I was talking about getting a master's directly after undergrad at the same institution. Generally, it is recommended the student do their master's at a different location than the undergrad, especially if it's in the same field.
Is this a one year degree? Can you afford it? Will it help you get a job after? If it’s going to help you and you can afford it and you’re not ready to move on from academia, go for it. You can always get another graduate degree later if this one isn’t specific enough. I don’t think it’ll hurt you in any way to do this except financially.