Attention Economy


Monday, July 3, 2023

Grad School - Worth It?

Grad School Is Not the Escape You Are Looking For
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/07/03/grad-school-beckoning-it-might-be-a-trap/ad583a96-1993-11ee-be41-a036f4b098ec_story.html
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-07-03/grad-school-beckoning-it-might-be-a-trap
Erin Lowry:
Those who elect to get a job after finishing undergrad may unearth two competitive advantages. The first is to seek employment with a company that offers tuition reimbursement. This could enable you to cash flow a master’s degree or at least significantly reduce the financial burden. Plus, having some work experience can help with grad school applications. The other advantage is giving your adult self some space to explore the career you think you want to pursue. Getting some non-internship, hands-on experience will inform your career path. The graduate program you would have selected out of college may not be the one that makes the most sense a year or three or ten years later. It could be that graduate school doesn’t end up being a necessity at all. A fellowship or certificate program may make the most sense. 

Related:

‘Financially Hobbled for Life’: The Elite Master’s Degrees That Don’t Pay Off
https://www.wsj.com/articles/financially-hobbled-for-life-the-elite-masters-degrees-that-dont-pay-off-11625752773
Columbia and other top universities push master’s programs that fail to generate enough income for graduates to keep up with six-figure federal loans.

Related:
Law School Loses Luster as Debts Mount and Salaries Stagnate
https://www.wsj.com/articles/law-school-student-debt-low-salaries-university-miami-11627991855
With high-paying jobs out of reach for most, graduates of the University of Miami and other well-regarded programs routinely carry six-figure student loans for years
WSJ piece:
“A law professor at the university, Anthony Alfieri, said law schools “foster this kind of cruel optimism” in students, letting them think six-figure salaries are attainable, when in reality, those high-paying jobs are largely reserved for students at only the top-ranked law schools”.