Young adults who are having trouble finding full-time jobs are returning to school in record numbers. By pursuing advanced degrees, they hope to either wait out the economic recession or land good jobs with their new credentials. It is easy to see why attending school would be seen as an attractive alternative to fruitlessly pursuing lacklustre job options, but the unemployment crisis is only made worse when people earn impressive credentials before worthwhile jobs become available again. Even though earning a graduate degree is a worthy endeavour in itself, it is no longer the guaranteed avenue toward fulfilling employment that it once was.
Grad school is certainly necessary in some fields. For example, a master of finance or master of laws degree is necessary if one wants to work in either of those arenas. Teachers also need to complete graduate programs within certain time frames after finishing their bachelor's degrees. People who dream of starting their own businesses need far more education and experience than four-year programs can provide. If someone's chosen profession necessitates advanced education, he would be well advised to attain the certifications that he needs to succeed.
People whose career paths do not depend on staying in school might be better off taking some time away from school. Graduate school is very expensive. The grants and scholarships that are available to undergrads cannot be applied to graduate tuition. Lucky grad students might be awarded paid fellowships, but fellowships come with some steep stipulations. Students have to work for very little money and maintain high grade point averages. In some circumstances it is actually better to decline the fellowship, find a job elsewhere and pay for school with private loans. It is not financially responsible, but the stress of working in labs while getting good grades can become unhealthy. The stipends only barely cover living expenses. Graduate students need to weigh the pros and cons of all of the financial arrangements that are realistically available to them.
It is important to remember that one can go back to school at any time, while certain opportunities have expiration dates. Many young adults prefer to enter the workforce and begin paying off their undergraduate loans before taking on even more debt. The work experience is just as valuable as additional degrees. If they go back to school eventually, they will benefit from already having hands-on experience in their chosen fields.
----------------------------------------------------
Jim Cantrell is a lifestyle blogger who blogs on a wide variety of topics including geekery, technology and education. His style of writing is ecclectic and varied. If you want to know more about college education, visit http://www.bond.edu.au/degrees-and-courses/index.htm and read about our fields of study that can help you achieve a successful career.
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=289408
No comments:
Post a Comment