What was your experience?
Mine’s a JD.
Went to UT Law.
It was boring, and cost about 80k, not including interest.
It did virtually nothing in terms of preparing me to practice law.
What was your experience?
PhD in the sociology of religion – left academia in '87, but no regrets: I got to spend five years thinking about some incredibly interesting stuff, and the training enhanced both my writing skills and my critical thinking skills, both of which are useful in a variety of contexts.
I’m finishing up a PhD in biology. I probably shouldn’t comment for a few years.
As an add-on to your question; are you using your advanced degree in your current work.
LinusK, are you practicing law?
Mine’s a Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS). I’m currently a Database Admin, so I guess I stayed within my field. I’m still paying off student loans.
And to answer your question about “my experience,” the only thing I have to say is that on hindsight I should have gotten an MBA, since my undergrad is computer science related as well.
I am a Master of Library and Information Science. You need the degree to get the job. Otherwise it is a total and complete waste of all that is good and holy.
Yeah. Not particularly happily or lucratively, but I’m doing it.
I mean, some days are better than others. I won a trial the other day (brag) so that was nice. Guy punched a kid in the face for messing with his daughter. (Seriously.)
Ph.D. in linguistics.
Paid out of pocket for dual bach degrees in biology and English lit. Spent five years getting those at a Big 10 school.
Got accepted to a Big 10 masters program in linguistics with a fellowship. Did the MA in one year. Continued to PhD, did it in two years, first year on a fellowship and second year as a TA.
I have a Ph.D. in sociology. It took me an embarrassingly long time to finish it, but I did. Towards the end, I worked off campus and had to pay tuition, but it wasn’t all that expensive as I was ABD at that point. No loans, thank goodness. I liked many things about grad school, but it was pretty hard on my self-esteem.
I’m not working in academia, but I regularly use the skills and knowledge I acquired in grad school in my career.
I majored in sociology of religion as a an undergrad.
So, what are you doing now?
Masters of Science in Library Science.
Valuable technical training, especially for my first job, and only cost about $1000/semester or something ridiculous like that.
I’m using it in my current field, but meh. Like Zsofia says, it checks a box. A very specific box, for a very specific job, in a dying industry.
I have a PhD in microbiology and a Master of Public Health in epidemiology. In the end, I’m glad I finished both degrees, but the process was painful at times. I’m currently doing research in an academic environment, so I liked it enough to stick around.
If I was 20 again, I think I’d make a different choice. My twenties and half of my thirties went by in a blur of late nights and ramen noodles, and I’m not sure that sacrifice has paid off. I still wish I’d followed my original goal to be a veterinarian.
One online fall class away from a dual Master’s in Public Relations and Journalism.
I currently part-time three jobs (one of which is working in the mall) after leaving an entry-level position back in September of '13.
So far the advanced degrees have yet to help me, but I guess I’m proud of having them.
Ph.D. in Ecology (1980). The field work was the best time of my life, the writing up one of the worst (both partly due to things that had little to do with the work itself).
I’ve never had an academic job, but my experience I gained in grad school was very important for the jobs I have had. And having the degree gave me prestige that was important in getting those jobs.
I have a JD from NYU. I actually learned a lot that helps me practice law. We had amazing clinical programs and “lawyering” classes where we did mock (and later real) client interviews, and did lots of trial work and brief writing.
I am one of the lucky ones I guess, I love my job (most days).
Masters degree in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota in 1996. I was working at IBM at the time, back when they had a program that paid for everything! I could take time off during work to attend class (usually video feeds), they paid all registration fees and the books, the books were in the classroom for us on the first day of class, and they handled all of the proctoring and sending exams and assignments to the campus. I was on campus twice during the four years it took me (one class at a time).
Getting the masters degree didn’t help me at IBM (except for a steak dinner when I graduated), but after I was laid off, it was critical for me landing a job teaching computer science at a community college. Thanks IBM!
I studied Law too.
I rarely practice anymore (I hate wearing suits), but my experience is similar to the OP; it seems Law (or litigating, at least) is one of those careers you learn mostly by practicing it. The degree gives you the necessary theoretical basis but if you didn’t work in a related field before graduating, you’re a fish out of water.
Fortunately I did work in a law firm while going to college, but since I learned mostly from work, going to class and studying seemed a pointless grueling chore.
MA in a professionally focused international relations field.
I’ll be paying this off until the public service loan forgiveness kicks in. But it’s a requirement to advance in my field, and I wouldn’t have my current job without it.
I learned a lot about the big picture of my field, and I lived being able to explore the cutting edge and innovative ideas. Writing was a pain in the butt and school was exhausting, but overall I am glad I did it.
Sometimes I get crazed thoughts about PhDs.
I have my M.S. in Biochemistry (08). I was actually on the PhD track but woke up one day sick of going to school and decided I didn’t want to do it anymore. I was completely burned out. Looking back it was a lot of factors, but the main one was working 30 hours a week at an actual paying job in addition to the graduate program. It was my own fault, as my eventual wife and I bought a house (a great deal that I couldn’t pass up and don’t regret) and needed to pay bills. About two weeks later I had talked my way to just graduating with the masters (which is supposed to be a big issue but wasn’t after talking to my situation) and walked down the aisle a month after that.
I far as experience goes I work in pharma and I’m in a senior position in the company (one of the younger one at my level), and wouldn’t be any higher with the PhD. Having to get the highest possible level of education was something I always thought was necessary, but ended up not being the case.
LLM in Professional legal skills. Post Graduate Diploma in Law.
I got my undergrad degree at Univ of Calif, San Diego. UCSD is different from most campuses, even from other UC’s. Like, no sports.
Anyway, I liked it and the whole paradise thing it’s got going, and so I went to Grad School there, too. Field for both degrees: Linguistics (Theoretical)
In a serendipitous coincidence, I landed a work study job in Financial Aid. By the second year I started school, I had applied for so many different things that my entire academic career was funded through scholarships, fellowships, and grants. I never had a loan.
Good luck, Linus