Those of you close to finishing your undergraduate studies might wonder what to do after your Bachelor’s degree – or when is the best time to do a Master’s degree. Fear not! There might not be a ready-made answer, but this post is here to help you make an informed decision.
We have broken this question down into the factors you need to consider before making up your mind. Keep on reading!
1. Benefits Of Getting A Master’s Right After Your Bachelor’s
Many undergraduate students have already decided on the path they wish to follow after their Bachelor’s degree, be that work or a postgraduate degree. If you still haven’t, do not let the question of ‘When should I apply for a Master’s?’ stress you out. Not being certain regarding a major life decision is totally normal. To sort it out, begin by considering the pros of attending grad school after your Bachelor. We have made a list to get you started:
- You’re In The Zone
Let’s face it. Leaving university and returning years later can be rough. Your mindset will have changed, and so will your life. You won’t be in student mode anymore. Opting for a Master’s degree right after your studies is good as you know your way around attending lectures, writing essays, and preparing for exams. In addition, you’re used to living in a more financially stringent way and have a student circle of friends. So transitioning to the difficulties of a Master’s degree will not affect you as much.
- The Money
Undoubtedly, money is one of the biggest reasons students choose to continue with a Master’s degree right away. If you decide to continue your education and you have accumulated student debt from your undergraduate studies, you can talk to your bank and get a deferral for your loan repayment. This will give you the freedom to pursue further studies before you have to start repaying rather than worrying about it later. Beyond that, you may be able to get a scholarship or you can discuss with the university a feasible and realistic fee payment plan. Many universities like us at GBU-Europe offer Master’s scholarships to aspiring students and we always offer easy payment plans.
- No Generation Gap
Pursuing a Master’s Degree alongside peers of a similar age might be easier than being the odd ‘mature’ student, and this may be yet another reason to pursue a Master’s degree straight after your Bachelors. In addition, you won’t have any other worries, such as housing, family, or work, and you’ll have more time for internships, placements, and teacher-student mentoring.
- Change Of Direction
Entering a graduate school is the perfect opportunity to switch fields. If you feel like your Bachelor’s wasn’t the right decision, a Master’s will help you define your goals better. In addition, it will increase chances of job security and is a ticket to a better quality of job as well as a higher salary.
2. Pros Of Working And Doing A Master’s Later
No one can deny the advantages of a Master’s degree. However, if you constantly shift between the thought of a Master’s or work, here are the benefits of waiting and working instead.
- Save Up!
If you have just paid for your Bachelor’s degree, then it is normal to have a disinterest in paying up more or applying for additional loans. However, a Master’s degree is an investment, so you should consider if it helps with your career goals. There are fields for which a Master’s degree is helpful on the one hand but not really necessary in terms of money or position on the other. Working and saving up until you are sure is the mature thing to do.
- Hands-On Experience
To land the job you dream of, you need work experience in the field, even if you do have a Master’s degree. So, to answer the question ‘Should I do a Master’s or work,’ keep in mind how employers prefer candidates with on-the-job experience. Choosing work experience, for the time being, will teach you a lot and help you get accepted into a graduate programme later on (especially if you didn’t finish your BA with a good grade).
- Let The Company Pay For It
Tempting, right? There really are employers who understand the value of equipping their current employees with further education and already have established programmes to help pay for, among other things, grad school. Or at least part of it. This is a tremendous financial help; if you have invested enough, they will probably want to invest in you.
- Hail Wise Elder
Attending graduate school with work experience means you have a much clearer idea of who you are, what you want out of the programme, as well as your life compared to your co-students. Your job training will make it easier for you to follow classes and pay attention to things you wouldn’t have otherwise. You will know what you want to specialise in and which modules to pick. All in all, it will make the experience more valuable.
- Career Change
Suppose you have already tried working at the job you wanted only to discover it is not as fulfilling. In that case, you can simply change it via your MBA, even more so if you have tried entry-level jobs, internships, and trainee programmes where you have circled around various departments and/or industries. The perfect time to do your Master’s degree is when you know what you want.
3. Best Of Both Worlds
Still can’t decide? Why not part-time it? Or choose a university that allows your to pace your studies according to your own schedule and time.
Cutting down on some hours either from work or studying will improve your motivation and performance. Part-time and flexible studies are pretty common nowadays and are offered by most universities.
Another option is to part-time both work and studies or apply to a work-study programme for financial aid. If, however, money is not an issue, you should consider taking internships. This will give you free training, work experience and more time for your studies.
At GBU-Europe, all of our programmes are designed with flexibility in mind!
4. The Quiz
Not everyone has to do a Master’s, yet no one can deny its benefits. If you’re still on the fence about whether it is something you want, then try answering the following questions for clarification:
Are you passionate about the subject and crave for knowledge?
Will it help your career?
Are you aware of the available study modes – on campus or distance learning, full-time or flexible studies?
We hope this guide has been helpful! Whatever decision you make, just remember it is never late or the wrong time for you to do a Master’s degree. Only you know the right time.
So think carefully and realistically about what you want, and in the meantime, check out the Master’s programmes we offer at GBU-Europe for some inspiration!
