Answering the most nagging question: relax, it is not necessary to get a Master’s degree and/or Ph.D.
Who needs a degree? First of all, it will be good for those students who engage in scientific activity. It will suit those who choose to devote themselves to teaching in the future. After all, getting a Master’s is the starting point for admission to graduate school. The latter, in its turn, opens the door to a higher doctorate.
Getting any academic degree implies writing immense amounts of articles, thesis papers, and the final dissertation. Those who are more involved in the scientific rather than writing or just want to spare some time could refer to the coursework writing service for assistance.
First of all, the Master’s degree program ensures individual attention to students. Significantly fewer students decide to go through this, respectively, much more attention is paid to each one who does. This determines the quality of the education received.
Here are the main pros and cons of postgraduate education.
The key points pro the postgrad education focus on options it opens to students:
1. Personal Growth
Postgraduate studies involve independent work. This does not mean that students have to spend time alone hunched over books and manuals. Studying for a Master’s or a Ph.D. allows attending many scientific conferences and lectures of renowned scientists. These events often give a chance to communicate in a versatile crowd. Such interaction will have the best effect on the personal development of graduate school students.
In other words, one can travel around the country (world), meet peers, and chat with interesting people. Besides the applied knowledge in the chosen sphere, one learns how to analyze data, give speeches, and make successful presentations.
2. Competitive Advantage on the Job Market
Of course, it is not guaranteed but still stipulated. But there are areas in which a degree is an advantage, for example, civil service, economics and technology. A lawyer or a doctor with a degree can also qualify for a better position and higher salary. It also secures all sorts of additional payments for having an academic degree. These include increased (up to 10% higher) fees for authoring textbooks and articles.
An academic degree gives a significant advantage to young people with no work experience in their field of employment. Employers take candidates with Master’s degrees more seriously. But in technical specialties, a candidate with a Bachelor’s degree and work experience is more preferable to an academician without any skills in the profession.
In any case, an academic degree (or at least a graduate school certificate) may become another point for your candidature. It shows the employer such qualities as intelligence and determination.
3. Chance to Conduct Scientific Research
As mentioned above, a postgrad student has the opportunity to attend conferences and other scientific events. For those who want to become a scientist, a Ph.D. degree is a must. It opens the way to the best lab equipment, engaging discussions, and may lead to promising discoveries in the chosen field of studies.
4. Opportunity to Become a Lecturer
Ph.D. provides a unique opportunity to stand on the other side of the teacher’s desk. After graduate school, one can be both a specialist in the studied field and also a teacher. Then, there is an option to become a professor. Bachelor’s does not open this option. For example, what could graduate school give to a doctor? It provides an opportunity to practice, say, surgery, and also take interns to pass the knowledge.
Despite all said above, getting a degree has its cons:
1. Time Investment
To become a master of science, one has to spend two more years at the university. Few people are willing to sacrifice their time for this. Yet, in some universities, students can apply for a doctoral degree after receiving a Bachelor’s one. In this case, the Master’s certificate is awarded automatically. So, this is a chance to save some time on this path.
2. Financial Investments
Few people can afford university loans. These two years will cost a pretty penny. Sometimes it just so happens that the degree does not come in handy at work and eventually gets forgotten.
3. Long Journey
If your ultimate goal is reaching the peak of an academic career, then you’ve got a long way ahead of you. Besides basic university education, one will have to study for about six years in graduate school and then write a Ph.D. thesis. All this time, the student will have to go to classes, burn the midnight oil in libraries, conduct various studies, do proper research and once again pass exams.
All this can get pretty boring even before graduation. That is why few have enough strength and desire to continue this ordeal.
Key Takeaways
Postgrad education is not obligatory. Yet, it gives certain advantages to those who decide to get it.
The main thing that a postgrad certificate gives at the end of postgraduate studies is the opportunity to obtain a Ph.D. It, in turn, allows working on more serious projects. Yet, this way is not easy to follow. The one who decides to pursue a career in science or teach does need a postgrad. Yet, those who have no such aspirations could do perfectly well with a Bachelor’s.
A postgrad education is an opportunity to deepen the already acquired knowledge in terms of the main program. There is also an option to change the direction of education as well as acquire new knowledge and skills. Thus, one can significantly expand the area of activity and become a more attractive candidate to any employer.
There are no right or wrong decisions. The choice depends on the inner motivation and passion for the chosen profession.
