thinking about going back to school

[Ostinato Rubato]

So my lady is graduating with her B.A. next week and will be going into a master's program right away. She's from time to time saying "you know you could always go back to school too" and I'm like, "I do a good job pretending to be educated and besides I already have my career so why bother?" but she keeps encouraging me nonetheless. I have an associates degree and a shit ton of units in Music classes and could easily (maybe not so easily) go for some kind of B.A. in Music even if I end up wiping my ass with it.

Looking at toilet paper roll getting low... thinking about it.

[gb74]

It's generally a good decision if:

a- you can benefit from it in your career. Some careers absolutely require a degree, others don't.

or

b - you are going to study something you truly love.

If you are already well-established in your career I don't see "a" being the case here. But maybe a music degree would fit into "b" and only you can answer how much that is worth to you.

Degrees are expensive, so it's not something I'd do just for the hell of it.

[sleewell]

fuck school

play with boobs

[NinjaRaf]

School is goddamned expensive. If you're looking at a music degree, though, probably isnt much you are gonna be able to do with it, in which case it just depends how much you're willing to spend on a music degree that will be largely for personal enrichment. If I had the money and time to spare, I'd probably do it, just for fun. But I'm done getting degrees to further my career, I think. I can't see myself looking to get a job that will require more than I already have unless I decide to get into teaching, which would only be at the college level...and that means Ill probably need a phd. I dont see that happening lol. Ive got enough student loan debt as it is.

[Ostinato Rubato]

fuck school

play with boobs

I'm doing this in the meantime and even if I decide to go back to school I'll still be doing this instead of studying most of the time.

[zach]

School is goddamned expensive. If you're looking at a music degree, though, probably isnt much you are gonna be able to do with it, in which case it just depends how much you're willing to spend on a music degree that will be largely for personal enrichment. If I had the money and time to spare, I'd probably do it, just for fun. But I'm done getting degrees to further my career, I think. I can't see myself looking to get a job that will require more than I already have unless I decide to get into teaching, which would only be at the college level...and that means Ill probably need a phd. I dont see that happening lol. Ive got enough student loan debt as it is.

Most PhD programs involve some sort of stipend (assuming you do TA or RA) and waive tuition fees.

So, there's a good chance that if you were to pursue a PhD, you could get it for free or close to it. The problem is that you can't really have a job and do that.

Once my girls are old enough to go to elementary school, there's a strong chance that I'll try to get into a PhD program somewhere.

[KCTigerChief]

Strictly in the IT field Most places require upper management (and even some managers) to have Masters degrees...Others don't.

I guess it really depends on what you want to do, and where you want to go with your career...No one can answer that but yourself.

[NinjaRaf]

School is goddamned expensive. If you're looking at a music degree, though, probably isnt much you are gonna be able to do with it, in which case it just depends how much you're willing to spend on a music degree that will be largely for personal enrichment. If I had the money and time to spare, I'd probably do it, just for fun. But I'm done getting degrees to further my career, I think. I can't see myself looking to get a job that will require more than I already have unless I decide to get into teaching, which would only be at the college level...and that means Ill probably need a phd. I dont see that happening lol. Ive got enough student loan debt as it is.

Most PhD programs involve some sort of stipend (assuming you do TA or RA) and waive tuition fees.

So, there's a good chance that if you were to pursue a PhD, you could get it for free or close to it. The problem is that you can't really have a job and do that.

Once my girls are old enough to go to elementary school, there's a strong chance that I'll try to get into a PhD program somewhere.

I worked in administration at UCF for 5 years, I know all too well how all of that crap pans out. Sometimes it works to where its free, but your basically a slave to your advisor. Not sure its really worth the amount of hell that I saw some of the biology students go through for their phds...

[sleewell]

i guess if your current income is capped and you dont see yourself happy for much longer i would consider it. getting a bachelors in your field would def open more doors than just an associates. some employers value work experience and performance over a degree though, i would have that converstion with your boss before taking on the debt.

i only have a bachelors and have been thinking about getting my mba but in 3 years i have been promoted 3 times and they just had me interview for another so i dont really think that would advance me quicker than just continueing to kick ass. i def would not be excited to take on more debt that is for sure.

[Ostinato Rubato]

This degree would be purely for my own personal enrichment if I were to do it. My career is going in a great direction without the need for a degree. It's in medical management, and very far removed from any benefit a Music degree would provide. A big part of me wants to put myself back into a situation where I'm immersed in music education so that I'm forced to continue growing as a musician. Are there other effective ways of growing as musician that don't require spending money on school? Absolutely. Am I ever likely to switch careers from medical management to music? very unlikely... but always a possibility.

I might just end up taking a class here and there at my community college again, like jazz improvisation workshop and percussion ensemble or something maybe some private guitar lessons again..

[gb74]

serious question: would you even consider school if your ol' lady was not bringing it up constantly?

If the answer is no, tell her to just get over it.

[NinjaRaf]

serious question: would you even consider school if your ol' lady was not bringing it up constantly?

If the answer is no, tell her to just get over it.

Pretty much this.

[Ostinato Rubato]

serious question: would you even consider school if your ol' lady was not bringing it up constantly?

If the answer is no, tell her to just get over it.

actually yes, I've thought about it many times without her urging me. I wrote the idea off altogether because of how much our schedule gets taxed by her school stuff, but that's not to say if I had the time I'd follow through and go. Maybe not for a degree altogether, but I'm liking the idea of taking some classes again. Even if it's once a week jamming in a band over a lead sheet and taking a solo over the head.

[Crunchtime]

Fuck that noise. Be a gigolo.


[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=lN-4lX0QyZc[/video]

[Snowstorm]

That's kind of scary. Is she going to make more than you when she gets her master's? Why does she keep bringing it up?

[Nova]

fuck school

play with boobs

America.

[colejustesen]

I know you say that you would get it probably in a music if you did go back, more power to you. I really feel that the education you get in a bachelor's degree or higher teaches critical thinking skills and how to tie concepts together. I took time off from school and found that my level of intelligence really wavered from when I was committed to studying and applying concepts. Whether or not you feel school is beneficial, it always is!

I am not trying to tell you to go back to school, but what I am telling you is to consider the amount of brain power you will gain by having to study and apply concepts that you don't typically deal with.

On the other side of the fence, I have a good friend who was the CEO of a Fortune 500 company and was bringing in well over $350K a year. When the economy stifle hit in 2008, it really took a toll on his business and he had to let his business go. He was fortunate to have found a great career for 15 years of his life, but when it was gone he had nothing to fall back on. He found it difficult to find anything that paid even $40K a year without a degree. So now he has been accepted to the same pharmacy school that I am attending and is on his way to having a career that will be more stable.

I know you aren't considering this as an advancement for a career, but the long term potentiation that you develop by critically thinking and applying concepts in your curriculum will only benefit you! Plus, it establishes in your children's eyes the importance of post-secondary education.

I hope that whatever you choose, that you will be happy in life! Good luck in the decision!!!

Cole

[racerevlon]

Go back, take classes, and if it seems attainable, get the Bachelor's. Otherwise, have fun and take another Associate's.

[gb74]

On the other side of the fence, I have a good friend who was the CEO of a Fortune 500 company and was bringing in well over $350K a year. When the economy stifle hit in 2008, it really took a toll on his business and he had to let his business go. He was fortunate to have found a great career for 15 years of his life, but when it was gone he had nothing to fall back on. He found it difficult to find anything that paid even $40K a year without a degree. So now he has been accepted to the same pharmacy school that I am attending and is on his way to having a career that will be more stable.

Can't be a Fortune 500 company. The CEO of a Fortune 500 company wouldn't be making 350k, more like 3.5M and even that would be on the very low side. He wouldn't struggle getting a 40k job either. It was probably a small, independent business and the guy liked to say it was bigger than it actually was.

[colejustesen]

On the other side of the fence, I have a good friend who was the CEO of a Fortune 500 company and was bringing in well over $350K a year. When the economy stifle hit in 2008, it really took a toll on his business and he had to let his business go. He was fortunate to have found a great career for 15 years of his life, but when it was gone he had nothing to fall back on. He found it difficult to find anything that paid even $40K a year without a degree. So now he has been accepted to the same pharmacy school that I am attending and is on his way to having a career that will be more stable.

Can't be a Fortune 500 company. The CEO of a Fortune 500 company wouldn't be making 350k, more like 3.5M and even that would be on the very low side. He wouldn't struggle getting a 40k job either. It was probably a small, independent business and the guy liked to say it was bigger than it actually was.

That could totally be the case... Granted, he has had a hard time finding a job in the same field. I have seen remnants of his spoils of living a wealthy life. The point is even something great can eventually end and having a degree will make it that much easier to stay afloat afterwards!

Cole

[Ostinato Rubato]

That's kind of scary. Is she going to make more than you when she gets her master's? Why does she keep bringing it up?

I don't mean to exaggerate the amount of times she's brought it up. She's mentioned it when I'm sitting down with some of my old sheet music from school, or when I'm complaining about having a hard time finding guys to play music with, or when I've made a comment about pretending to be educated though I'm really not because I didn't finish school. There's nothing scary or ulterior about her encouragement. And considering her field I don't see her making more money than I do, though I wouldn't have any issue with it if she did. I'd just have more money to myself

Plus, it establishes in your children's eyes the importance of post-secondary education.

I hope that whatever you choose, that you will be happy in life! Good luck in the decision!!!

Cole

That does actually play into my considerations. I like that the boys can sit down and do homework at the table while my wife is working on hers. She leads by example and I think it helps their own performance too. They're all doing really well in school so far.

[SuperFlyinMonke]

I went to post-secondary right out of high school and got a tech diploma and some provincial certification to operate pressure equipment and operated plants for 7 years. Now I'm back in school for an undergraduate engineering degree. It wasn't a matter of money to me because I was making 6 figures operating, but I wanted something more enriching and better/healthy lifestyle because shift-work isn't good for you in any capacity. I'm 28 and half-way through my degree and I'm pleased I made the jump.

If you think you'll benefit from it, you probably will. This doesn't sound like a career altering move for you, but it might end up being that way in the long-run if things follow a certain path. The thing I'd ask myself is if I could take a break from the career I currently have without too much hassle or penalty to me (losing tenure, position, wage) if you decide to take an extended leave and come back.

If it's something you just want to accomplish and have fun doing it, but do it after work hours, it could take a toll on your family due to you not being around after work. There's a lot to consider, for sure, but it sounds like you'll be happy.

[Repner]

I've been considering this over the past few months as well. For a while I've thought about writing soundtracks as a career choice.

Before that I was tempted to do it anyway, but could never justify the expenses. But it's something I'd really like to do now.

[Macelind]

Having a degree could be one of those "I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it" situations. Things happen and if we knew they were going to happen they would not be called unforeseen. My mom works at the single biggest book keeping firm in the country. She worked at Accenture before but they downsized her department. If she had not possessed a degree, she would not have gotten her job. Her degree is in psychology.

I have been working on my bachelors full time while still working 40 hours a week I just completed another 18 hours and have a 4.0 GPA again. Why am I patting myself on the back? My displayed work ethic just landed me a better paying job. I probably would not have gotten the job with just my associates degree even with all of my experience.

Better to have it and not need it...

[Repner]

Is is probably one of the few threads I've seen on this that isn't completely full of "Don't do it. It's useless!" comments.