I hope this turns out ok...

No, no

No and no.

A post-grad degree is not necessary for my field. I'm earning my professional designation through self-study and a sequence of exams.

Seems like everyone I know is back in school for an MBA.

I decided to go back to school in the spring and I'm really excited! This should bring me more opportunities and better paying jobs. I wondered if others could say that it did so for them.

Yes & I haven't notice

I didn't necessarily get into the kind of career that I had studied for, but I got a job that is close enough

I started my Master's degree, but my money and enthusiasm for my thesis ran out at just about the same time.

Yes and yes.

And I'm starting my second one in the spring, though very reluctantly.
I have an MA in English and I wanted to get my MFA in Creative Writing. But I have to get a Master's in Teaching for pro-cert crap. Blech.

But having an MA in my field has definitely opened doors for me. I make more money because of it and I was given the promotion 2 years ago to department head because of it. But it's only because my master's is in my academic field and not just education.

Nope, instead I'm "special" and getting a 2nd bachelor's since I changed fields (teaching history to graphic design 0o).

Maybe the Master's sometime after I pay off student loans and get some experience... if I decide I want to teach at the university level. Maybe.

yes, i have a masters degree..and yes, it is a requirement in my field

Yes

It's not a requirement but it was a good experience esp. since I did not have to pay a dime for it.

Although I do not notice that it opens door specifically, but I notice that companies do appreciate the degree. Maybe it helps in the recruitment process but I think my experience plays more role when recruiters looking at my resume.

Yes and I haven't noticed.

My job requires a Masters degree so I am really not sure if there are other alternatives. I'm thinking of going back to school to get a second Masters.

I have a BS and a related Masters and once Joseph get here and we get settled I have works prelim okk to go work on getting a Phd .. maybe I will become Dr Syl

Thanks for your input everyone. At least no one said that they have fewer opportunities. I'm off to the library to research scholarships/grants/fellowships - I don't want to pay for my education this time around.

Yes and yes. It's not a requirement in my field, but it does raise your starting salary and probably got me some job opportunities I wouldn't have had without it (or at least, I'd have been expected to have more experience instead). The actual training I got in my MA program also helped me pass some certification exams I needed, but I could have done a proficiency certificate instead and gotten almost the same training, so that's less major of a benefit.

No. It would be a lot of money for no benefit.

I do have my bachelors. No I don't have my masters. I been thinking about it. Wouldn't hurt to have it under my belt.

yes and no

I do and it's made a big difference. It's not a requirement in my field but it will open a lot of doors and will help me move up and can qualify me to teach at the university level.

Good to hear.
I think it'll make a big difference in my career as well. I will be paid more and I've been researching potential jobs and I'm excited about this.

No, I'm an RN with my BSN (don't really need a masters unless I wanted to teach or be a nurse specialist). Vipul is in his last year of graduate school though in computer emgineering. For him, yeah, it should be very beneficial as far as his profession goes.

Yes--but due to a chopf#ck immigration attorney filing me as Category 3 rather than Category 2, I had to endure an unreasonably long wait for my GC!

I plan to pursue it this fall..

I don't have my Masters. If I did, and wanted to work again, it would help my pay rate a lot in my field. But now I am not sure I'd even want a Masters in my field(Sociology). Maybe one day, but I don't know.

I don't have my Masters, but am going back this fall to start it in a completely different field. In order to work in my planned field you need a masters degree.

If I were to get a masters in the field I work in now I think it would almost be a hindrance. I know one or two people who went on to get their masters right after getting their bachelors degrees and can't find jobs b/c they're overqualified for the entry level positions they're applying for.

I don't have a Masters, but I do have a Bachelors. I used to work for a recruiting firm, and unfortunately what I have found is that alot (not all) of employers will use the requirement of a 4 year degree as a way of weeding through applicants.

Before I go back to work I am think about my M.B.A... Good luck to you anyway.

No, and don't plan on pursuing it...not even sure I'll stay in my career much longer.

Next year, if things work out as planned.

It would definitely boost my income but I'm more inclined to learning/specialization than thinking about the dough.

Though it doesn't make much difference in the company I am in, salary-wise.

I've known some people with the same problem. This gets me to careful thinking and planning, while I get experience in my field.

yes and yes

Thanks!

I'm in this position and it really sucks.. when I start applying for jobs in the US I will probably leave it off my resume

The Ph.D. program I went to would sometimes award masters degrees to people who flunked out, but not too severely. It was sort of a consolation prize. I didn't flunk out. So, no Masters. Just a Ph.D.

I am working on my Master's degree now. My company pays for it... so it surely can't hurt!

This upcoming academic year will be my final year of Ph.D. hell. I can't wait to finally finish. I'll be swimming in debt, but very little of it is from the M.A.....most of it is from this last one. I would have probably done another M.A. if I had it to do over again because of the debt, but the Ph.D. is required for my field. The M.A. has been very helpful in allowing me to teach at the community college level during the summers when I am not teaching at my university. I have to pay the rent!!!

I wanted to do a master's after I completed my degree however I couldn't afford it. I may do it when I move to the US, however I'm not sure if it will be any use. I have a BSc in Forensics and I have a feeling in order to get a job in Forensics you may have to be a USC as they are more than likely federal positions.

I have two Master's degrees, but earn less than an administrative assistant in NYC. I happen to have chosen the lowest-paying career which actually REQUIRES a Master's(didn't know it at the time...). At least I never had to take out student loans ...