Applying for a next education. Advice while working.

[Eric Dunbar]

On 08/02/07, Joel Bryan Juliano <joelbryan.juliano at gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm a half a year on completing my college degree, and I'm thinking
> of applying for a masters degree. I like to know more about computers
> and programming, it's my very interests. The second choice I have is
> MBA, but the cost of education is not cheap and I'm not rich though,
> and would likely to work after college, I'm thinking of working while
> studying masters degree, and I want to ask the experiences of people
> with similar situations, that are currently applying or successfully
> completed their masters or PhD while working and studying. How did
> you manage both of your time for school and work?

> Does studying masters
>  really require all of your time? Is it worth it? Can you give me your most
> helpful advice on this matters. I apologize I have to send this to Sounder,
> I really don't have lot's of contacts to talk about this matters... :-)

My personal opinion is: If your masters is worth pursuing then it's
going to be difficult to manage a FULL time masters AND a FULL time
job -- your graduate studies should be challenging enough to demand
your full attention, and then some (I worked 50-60+ hour weeks --
research-based MSc (2 years)).

You're also going to find some masters that are worthless and some
that are fantastic. My advice is to ask the school whether they can
put you in touch with a few students who are currently in the program,
preferably people in your situation: i.e. you're still an undergrad (I
presume you're in an American "college" (i.e. university/degree
granting institution)) so you should be speaking to students who
jumped from their undergraduate degree to graduate studies without a
break.

Ask them what they think about their program(s) and see if it's for
you. You're going to spend two years of your life on this so make sure
it's the right decision for you.

Eric.