Category: Graduate School

A Different Advancement

10/21/2016

Since we were on the subject of graduate school from the previous post, another thought came to mind this week. Should your graduate degree be in a different field from your undergraduate degree? Well, in some cases, yes! It may have some similarity, but I feel like having a different avenue of advancement can create advantage. A person can "box themselves in" one career by pursuing the same exact degree in graduate school as in undergraduate studies.
I know a few teachers who decided to pursue graduate degrees, but not in the exact same area of study as their Bachelor degrees. For instance, if a student majors in Early Childhood Education, the pursuit of a Master's degree in something like Secondary Education, Educational Leadership, or Higher Administration may allow for more career options. That person wouldn't feel "boxed in" one specific career under the wide umbrella field of Education.
Some nurses decide to take their expertise to another level by attending Physician's Assistant (PA) school. The need to stay in the same field was replaced by ambition to be more, do more, mean more, and make more.
I chose to pursue my Master's in Adult Education and Community Leadership so that I can venture into an educational background, even with my undergraduate degree being in a health profession (Radiologic Sciences). Being a clinical preceptor within my field, as well as an adjunct anatomy instructor, helps to make my career well-rounded and helps with my long-term goal of being a clinical coordinator at some point. I have other goals outside of the health field altogether. The blend of both degrees helped me become scholarly published as well.
Overall, I advise that students fully consider all aspects of their potential graduate studies. There is nothing wrong with pursuing the same program if you are sure that it benefits your career goals. Having a concentration within that program may expand your range as well, while giving you expertise in a particular area. Just know that your options are limitless, and that it comes down to how well you are able to make the degree work for you. There are no guaranteed positions solely because you have a Master's or Doctorate. But also know that you are not limited by the degrees you earned either. Many people work in areas they never pursued, but that's another topic.

I hope you have enjoyed this post, and that it helps and enriches you on your path to greatness. Thank you for reading. God Bless.

-T. A.

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The Value of Experience

10/13/2016

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Recently, I was involved in a conversation about the pursuit of a Ph.D., during which I (and others) gave advice concerning the need for building experience and not just education. We see many people pursue their Bachelor’s degree, then a Master’s, and then a Doctorate (Ph.D, Ed.D, J.D, etc). For teachers, some may pursue the Educational Specialist degree (Ed.S.) before the Doctorate. Usually, advanced degrees in Education lead to pay increases. In some cases, the pursuit of an advanced degree is a requirement. Areas of health professions like Physical Therapy, or medicine, require extra schooling and certifications. This is understandable. But in many Arts and Sciences, the need for an advanced degree is always questionable.
In making a decision to pursue an advanced degree, one must consider many of the same factors that went into the decision for undergraduate studies. Cost of attendance, location of program, job availability, job advancement, average salary post-completion, and more, should be evaluated. One advantage that many advanced degree programs have is that they favor the working individual. Classes are either online or in the evenings when most people are through working their normal, everyday shifts. I want to emphasize work for a few reasons as it pertains to graduate school studies.
While I applaud the passion and the dreams of achieving high levels of education, I also want to stress the need to build experience alongside that education. If you have any level of education, it is important to evaluate the need for the next level of education achievable. If a person has an Associate’s degree or even a certificate, has a great job with those credentials, the need to pursue a Bachelor’s degree may not exist. Careers in surgical technology, dental hygiene, and others may not require advanced degrees unless the person was expanding beyond the field itself. Areas like administration may require more schooling in some cases, but not all. Some may just require more on-the-job training.
In building a solid résumé, it is helpful to accompany your education with some type of experience that not only validates your education, but compliments it. If there exists only your number of degrees obtained and no work or life experience to back them, employers may overlook you. I know what you’re thinking: “How can I get experience if I can’t get hired?” First, understand that work experience is not the only experience to which I am referring. But let’s consider the following “experience” options:

Work experience: Any occupation related to the education you received, and more importantly, to the career you are trying to obtain, is a plus. Sometimes this is hard to obtain coming out of college, but at least try to get into the arena of where your career may be located. (See my post on Getting Your Foot in the Door from last month.) Some companies may pay for your educational pursuits because your education can enhance them as well.
Volunteer experience: So, you cannot find a job in your field. Well, while working elsewhere or not at all, consider the possibility of volunteer work. If you can volunteer in the field of your dream career, that adds value to your résumé because it shows dedication to your craft. It’s a rewarding situation that allows you to contribute to your community and build foundation for your education. You also build relationships and references through networking. Sometimes people find new passions and make a complete career change. Keep an open mind. You may also discover a way to tie your community work with your education, creating your own position.
Organizational experience: Is there a professional organization associated with your career choice? Like volunteering, this gives insight into how your career operates, can build lasting relationships and references. Sometimes, it’s not what you know, but who you know. So ask yourself: “Who knows me?” Being around other individuals of similar background or similar interest can open your perception about what careers are available within your field.
Life experience: Adults come with different experiences from different backgrounds. Military experience, experience raising children, experience with computers, etc. can be the skills that gets you an opportunity to work, volunteer, or join an organization. While it cannot give you an advanced degree, it can bring attention and opportunity. From there, other doors will open.

Overall, having a great education is wonderful. But one must be able to show that the education received is working for his/her career goals. I think it is vice-versa as well. Experiences without an academic foundation are not as strong as having both either. Before jumping into the sea of graduate school, evaluate it thoroughly. I hope this helped you greatly. Much love to you all.
- T. A.

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A Different Advancement

The Value of Experience

T. A. Acker

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