Would you do it?

I have the opportunity to go to grad school - with my job paying for the tuition. It will cover three classes a year money wise if I go to a state school.

Mostly I would go because I like school. I went back for "fun" in the late 90s to get an English degree because I loved the courses. Work paid for that also.

Grad school would be more because I might "kinda" enjoy it but some of the courses look tough and I am school rusty. I'm not sure how well I would do. I dont even think it would necessarily help my career actually; my first undergrad didn't help my career path either.

I'm stagnate at my job but secure so not itching much to leave. I would be going more because it would be "something to do" that I might or might not enjoy and might or might use in the future.

Should I do it anyway because I have opportunity? I'm sure a lot of career minded people would suck up to go because they are amibitious; I'm not feeling that though. If I want to really suffer with school - I would completely change my career track and start from scratch. I'm not feeling that either.

[quote="FranticWoman"I have the opportunity to go to grad school - with my job paying for the tuition. [/quote]

Combined with



Makes this an easy yes. Even if you don't realize direct financial return on your time in school I'm a firm believer that education creates happier, better people. I would not turn this opportunity down.

Yes - if your employer values education and has a liberal tuition policy, go for it! You may be surprised what you learn and how it may improve your career, even if you just think it's for "fun." I mean, not everyone has to have an MBA!

Is the value of the education or learning process worth more than the time?

If so, the answer is yes.

Education isn't all about financial rewards. What I learned in grad school made it worth going. The increase in my earning power was just a side benefit.

Not that I'd give the money back or anything.

1000000000000000000000% yes

Don't try to predict that you're already done with the degree or how well you will do, just start it and see where it takes you. Can you go for anything, or is it for an MBA or other industry related degree? You're lucky that English was paid for. I had a math degree paid for, but I sort of slipped it in before they got very stringent and I wouldn't have been able to later (in either my previous company where I got the degree, where it was then grandfathered, or my current company).

if it's free, yes. if it is in a field that will provide no benefit in the long term, yes and no. yes, if you feel it will enrich you somehow on a personal level since it's free. no if it won't and if it impacts other things in life that are more valuable. if you are stagnate at your job, then use the opportunity to get educated in something that will get you moving again either at your current company or at a different one. don't worry about being rusty. grad school is soooooooo easy, too easy i feel. at the very least, it will give you something to do other than watching america's got talent. a busy mind is also healthier than an idle one as well.

Being an English major means I knew how to BS the reasons they should support it - along with detailed essays of the reasons supporting this

Funny thing is - I actually learned "real" skills that really helped my analytical job. THat was a nice surprise. (like problem solving,organizational and analytical skills that can apply to any industry really)



I agree in theory. I think maybe I just don't think I'm up to going thru it (and all the stress/work it involvs) if I don't have a specific goal in mind. Will mull on this....hmmm.



It is a MS in Health System Mgmt, which is directly related to my job/industry. It is the closest thing to a MHA in the area I've found (and a hot new academic program from what I gather compared to 5-10 yrs ago).

You all have said things worth thinking about and your responses are positive - thank you.

PS: The main thing I'm not liking about school...it is accelerated semesters and I'd have to give up 30 Saturdays per year (at 8:00 am - and I am NOT a morning person lol). Shallow reason...you bet.

me neither, but you will probably learn a whole new life at 8am.. and what do you do on saturday's that are so important anyways?

I am in a similar position as you, but I decided not to go. Reason: my office has a catch. They will pay for you to go to grad school, but you have to repay them if you leave the company in less than five years after you graduate. So for me, it was wayyyy too risky. I don't see myself here for the next 8 years!
Just make sure you read the fine print. Sometimes there's a catch!

Sleep of course!

Mostly I'm burned out from work. I like slow starts on Saturday then a visit to the farmer's market on my bike followed by a browse at the free book exchange followed by brunch with my book friends I run into at the market and book thing. I know...important *shakes head*



Ouch, that's tough. I cant blame employers though. I'd hate to pay bucks for education only to be left after graduation. Thank you for reminding me I should check into this here. Last I knew it was 6 mns we had to stay after the last class or we had to pay it back. (There are some upsides for working for non-profits that really can't pay you much. They flood you with benefits, this being one of them).

Does that repay thing mean you have to pay ALL of it back?? If so - and the five year thing - I would find that so risky and too scary to even use.

We had to stay there 4 years, but it was a graduated percent (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%) for how far back the class was in years. I kept a spreadsheet of how much I owed at any given time, but by the time I left, they were into some organizational transitions, so they just let the few thousand that I owed slide (they soon started layoffs and pretty much disolved into another company).

it was a rhetorical question, I really didn't want to know about your life on Saturday's.

so, now instead of a slow rolling start, you are going to be getting up, eating breakfast, going to school, then having brunch, quickly stroll farmer's market, free book exchange. you can slow roll sunday's. ok, there now it's decided. good luck.

you can't beat free life enrichment, especially if you like school. go for it, get the master's!

ps, it's the post-master's years that make you want to bang your head against the wall...

I just wanted to add that, even if it's "free," it's not really free.

Giving up 3/4 years of earning a good income and gaining career experience counts as a cost.