HELP! Job - Type vs. Pay

[letmeknow0210]

Thank you for such a quick response!

May I ask, do you work in higher education? If so, do you think it's better to get a job first and then get a Masters or go straight to graduate school?

I tend to agree with your response. After graduation, I have an internship working with academic advisors, yet, at this moment, they do not know if it will be paid or not. Unfortunately, I believe if it is an unpaid internship, I might not be able to do it.

I should have probably rephrased being "cut off" as you said so. It's just a bit scary, but I know many people that do it and have no problems. I guess it's because I honestly don't know what I will be doing after graduation.

I'm leaning towards getting a job at a university that will then eventually pay for my masters program, if this is the field I end up wanting to stay in.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by letmeknow0210

Thank you for such a quick response!

May I ask, do you work in higher education? If so, do you think it's better to get a job first and then get a Masters or go straight to graduate school?

I tend to agree with your response. After graduation, I have an internship working with academic advisors, yet, at this moment, they do not know if it will be paid or not. Unfortunately, I believe if it is an unpaid internship, I might not be able to do it.

I should have probably rephrased being "cut off" as you said so. It's just a bit scary, but I know many people that do it and have no problems. I guess it's because I honestly don't know what I will be doing after graduation.

I'm leaning towards getting a job at a university that will then eventually pay for my masters program, if this is the field I end up wanting to stay in.

I don't work in higher ed. I used to work in the Development/Alumni office of my alma mater - it was my first job after graduation. So I can't give you a precise answer on whether you should get a job or the schooling first, but most of my acquaintances seem to have gotten at least a handful of years of higher ed job experience.

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by letmeknow0210

May I ask, do you work in higher education? If so, do you think it's better to get a job first and then get a Masters or go straight to graduate school?

I work in higher ed (currently as faculty, previously in administrative roles) and the answer I would give you is that it depends on the school.

Some schools offer their faculty/staff discounted tuition (some undergrad only, others offer tuition discounts for graduate level work). If you could work on a Masters while you're working for the school, that would probably be ideal.

Like Senusret said, you'll need at least a Masters to be considered for many administrative positions, so if it's a field you're actually considering, going right to graduate school might be the best thing. Especially if you can find a school that offers graduate assistantships in that field.

[als463]

Originally Posted by SydneyK

I work in higher ed (currently as faculty, previously in administrative roles) and the answer I would give you is that it depends on the school.

Some schools offer their faculty/staff discounted tuition (some undergrad only, others offer tuition discounts for graduate level work). If you could work on a Masters while you're working for the school, that would probably be ideal.

Like Senusret said, you'll need at least a Masters to be considered for many administrative positions, so if it's a field you're actually considering, going right to graduate school might be the best thing. Especially if you can find a school that offers graduate assistantships in that field.

Both Senusret I and SydneyK make some great points! The reason I say this is because I would like to eventually go back and get a doctorate. Many schools (the ones I've looked into) have tuition reimbursement. If my one alma mater hired me to be an academic advisor--I would take it in a heartbeat. I would take it partly because I really want to do advising but, also because once you get into some of these schools to work, you have an easier time getting a job internally. My one school, where I would like to advise and someday teach, is great for movement internally which is why one of my friends started working as a custodian so when a job opens up that needs his education, he has a better chance at getting the job as an insider. If you can go for the less paying job at the university (which most likely has some decent benefits), then I say take the job at your school. Good luck!