Online Masters Degree WORTH IT in 2021? Should You Get a Master's Degree?
20.8 هزار بار بازدید -
4 سال پیش
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Is getting an online masters
Is getting an online masters degree worth it, and should you even get a masters degree? I break this down and share the 10 questions you should ask yourself, and my own experience with getting an online masters. Add me on instagram: @kikoga
1: Are you truly passionate about this subject?
I think you have to start here, getting a secondary degree needs to be more about passion for the subject matter than just the piece of paper. You are going to be learning more advanced material, and going to be amongst higher caliber colleagues, so you need to have to drive and passion to expand your knowledge and make it worth your while. Especially if you’re trying to do an online program after a long day at your regular job, its really hard to do you homework and reading assignments if you really don’t care about the material.
2: Are you a self starter? Or do you need more guidance and direction?
You need to be self disciplined to succeed in an online master’s program. A lot of the lectures will be just pre recorded and its up to you to keep up with your assignments and projects. With in person lectures, you’ll be able to physically be with other students and you can share ideas and questions easily; online, you’ll have to reach out to people you’ve never seen or heard speak before for help or to even work on a group project.
3: What value am I going to get out of the master’s degree?
For financial value, make sure you are doing a simple cost comparison between online and in person classes. Some schools charge more for their online programs due to demand and then you have to ask yourself if its worth the cost? Is the convenience of online worth the extra money? Are the courses the same for the online and in person programs? What is the difference between the courses of different programs and is it worth the cost?
4: How reputable is this program? Have I done my research?
Because of what I said earlier about being a self starter in an online masters program, the quality of your professors matter a little more in an online program. Talk to your professors at your own school and see what they think, or if you’ve been out of school for a while, reach out to professors in the program you are considering and see if they can meet for a zoom call or just email information. If they don’t get back to you, then think about how your online master’s journey will be with them.
5: What does your schedule look like?
One of the perks of the online program is that you have more flexibility with the coursework as you don’t have to attend class at the certain times when the professors are available. If you’re trying to continue working while getting your master’s degree (which I highly suggest you do), an online program makes so much sense since you can manage your time appropriately.
6: How much debt do I currently have?
This is such an important step because I truly believe that if you are inundated in debt, spending any amount of years doing a masters program just financially sets you back even further. If you are in debt, my suggestion would be to find you career and work for a few years first to chip away at that debt, then when it’s more manageable and maybe even gone, you can revisit a master’s degree.
7: Am I doing this because I want to? Or being forced by circumstance?
If you are unsure about your career path, you likely won’t find clarity with a master’s degree. You’ll know what career you want by getting out there and doing that job. I would say that if you’re feeling forced to get a further degree just because you don’t really know what else to do, you should just find a job in any field that interests you. If you don’t like it, stop and choose another. Keep trying out jobs until you find one that you enjoy being at.
8: Do I really know what field I’m going to be going into?
Similar to the last question but more for those who believe that getting a master’s degree will increase their pay. Before you do this, be certain that you know this to be a fact. If you haven’t already done the job through an internship, ask around for people in their job what their day is like. And if you’re even zoning in on getting a master’s degree for a specific company, its even more important that you do your research because companies can change culture and direction in an instant, and you don’t want to be getting a masters for a company that you truly don’t understand.
9: Will my company pay for my degree?
This is the best scenario that you can be in, and you should always ask your employer if this is an option. A lot of the larger companies will have an education reimbursement protocol for their employees, and the worst thing they can tell you is no.
10: Should I get an online master’s degree in 2021?
So if you are passionate about learning more about the subject, are pretty certain on your career, did the proper research on schools, and debt is managed I would say yes, absolutely go for it.
1: Are you truly passionate about this subject?
I think you have to start here, getting a secondary degree needs to be more about passion for the subject matter than just the piece of paper. You are going to be learning more advanced material, and going to be amongst higher caliber colleagues, so you need to have to drive and passion to expand your knowledge and make it worth your while. Especially if you’re trying to do an online program after a long day at your regular job, its really hard to do you homework and reading assignments if you really don’t care about the material.
2: Are you a self starter? Or do you need more guidance and direction?
You need to be self disciplined to succeed in an online master’s program. A lot of the lectures will be just pre recorded and its up to you to keep up with your assignments and projects. With in person lectures, you’ll be able to physically be with other students and you can share ideas and questions easily; online, you’ll have to reach out to people you’ve never seen or heard speak before for help or to even work on a group project.
3: What value am I going to get out of the master’s degree?
For financial value, make sure you are doing a simple cost comparison between online and in person classes. Some schools charge more for their online programs due to demand and then you have to ask yourself if its worth the cost? Is the convenience of online worth the extra money? Are the courses the same for the online and in person programs? What is the difference between the courses of different programs and is it worth the cost?
4: How reputable is this program? Have I done my research?
Because of what I said earlier about being a self starter in an online masters program, the quality of your professors matter a little more in an online program. Talk to your professors at your own school and see what they think, or if you’ve been out of school for a while, reach out to professors in the program you are considering and see if they can meet for a zoom call or just email information. If they don’t get back to you, then think about how your online master’s journey will be with them.
5: What does your schedule look like?
One of the perks of the online program is that you have more flexibility with the coursework as you don’t have to attend class at the certain times when the professors are available. If you’re trying to continue working while getting your master’s degree (which I highly suggest you do), an online program makes so much sense since you can manage your time appropriately.
6: How much debt do I currently have?
This is such an important step because I truly believe that if you are inundated in debt, spending any amount of years doing a masters program just financially sets you back even further. If you are in debt, my suggestion would be to find you career and work for a few years first to chip away at that debt, then when it’s more manageable and maybe even gone, you can revisit a master’s degree.
7: Am I doing this because I want to? Or being forced by circumstance?
If you are unsure about your career path, you likely won’t find clarity with a master’s degree. You’ll know what career you want by getting out there and doing that job. I would say that if you’re feeling forced to get a further degree just because you don’t really know what else to do, you should just find a job in any field that interests you. If you don’t like it, stop and choose another. Keep trying out jobs until you find one that you enjoy being at.
8: Do I really know what field I’m going to be going into?
Similar to the last question but more for those who believe that getting a master’s degree will increase their pay. Before you do this, be certain that you know this to be a fact. If you haven’t already done the job through an internship, ask around for people in their job what their day is like. And if you’re even zoning in on getting a master’s degree for a specific company, its even more important that you do your research because companies can change culture and direction in an instant, and you don’t want to be getting a masters for a company that you truly don’t understand.
9: Will my company pay for my degree?
This is the best scenario that you can be in, and you should always ask your employer if this is an option. A lot of the larger companies will have an education reimbursement protocol for their employees, and the worst thing they can tell you is no.
10: Should I get an online master’s degree in 2021?
So if you are passionate about learning more about the subject, are pretty certain on your career, did the proper research on schools, and debt is managed I would say yes, absolutely go for it.
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