Introduction
With variations in academic, financial, career and personal goals, this is a case where there is critical need to apply critical and analytical skills in determining whether to seek for a job or on the other hand join a graduate school. While the options are broad, the final decision will be made by its reality on applicability and the achievements that it will put across. In this regards, such an option will be guided by personal capabilities and the available resources such as time and financial needs and their sources. Discussed below is a point-by-point format in the comparison analysis of getting a job or joining to graduate school.
Discussion
Description of the Desired Graduate School Degree and the Job Opportunities
Considering the option of the possible academic pattern to adopt, it would be based on my passion for my preferred field. With this regards, the course I would seek in the graduate school would be Business Administration and Management. Looking at the possible opportunities to make this a success, the list amount of time it would take to graduate on this would be two years in which one studies on full time basis.
In other cases, if one was to adopt the mechanism in which the target is to study on part time basis, it would progress to four years or more to attain the Master’s degree. The challenges standing in this path are the high competition for research positions, grant money, departmental politics and the fact that academic institutions offer fewer graduate programs. Since at this time one has added on some years, the sense for responsibility to family and other commitments will always come along and the graduate student will always be in attempts to balance this. In this case, one has to be strict on balancing academic and non-academic endeavors.
During the course of study, there are trips to major organizations to understand managerial operations and decisions. In a typical day when studying for this degree, one spends half the day in the lecture halls, and almost two hours in the library to add more content to what has been availed by the lecturer. The course is thus one that one has to understand fully the changing business and managerial trends thus requires one to conduct many social and economic researches. In the same accord, there is a time in which one must write a thesis examined by highly skilled examiners.
Besides taking up this degree program, there are chances that one may attain a job. Through the career services availed by SNHU and talking to the alumni, I am in a position to acquire a job with a bachelor’s degree. The job could be administrative support to the major operations in private, governmental or non-governmental institutions. This would be full time job in which one has to work for eight hours. In this scenario, having being fresh from the university, most organizations that would hire me would most probably allocate me to a position in which in a way seems tougher and also acts as a learning basis. In this case, one would be on a probationary period in which every task and responsibility granted is really scrutinized.
Entrance Qualifications
In my preferred institutions offering this educational service, all their admission decisions are based and advised by the Graduate Management Admission Test. Some significant work requirement is an added advantage though it is not compulsory as such. For a case in which one has just completed the undergraduate level, like for my case, they require a recommendation from the previous institution or the faculty that one was in. In addition, personal interviews and academic transcripts to review previous performances are very critical.
In relation to job opportunities that are available at this point in time, there are organizations that are always keeping their eyes open on the graduates coming out of SNHU. Despite this mean, there are online sources for available job opportunities that clearly indicate on the kind of Bachelor students that they want. The only way to get such a job is to apply and avail oneself on the interview day and give it all your best.
Aptitude
Success in a graduate school requires high commitment and focus. In this case, one thus has to have the intrinsic motivation that acts as the push to influence one to work hard on a ground that is highly competitive and very costly. It thus means that one has to follow every single instruction put across by the instructors and do extra work on a personal level. To succeed as an employee in a job vacancy that one is given to occupy, it is tricky as well. The thing here is, one is keen to impress during the probationary period. It is a continued event of demonstrating to the superiors that they made no mistake in their appointment. It thus means being cautious in delivering one’s duties and keen attention on the responsibilities allocated so as one is highly productive.
Outlook and Salary Expectations
Undertaking a Master of Business Administration has promising benefits. Within the M.B.A sector, the expected salary after graduating from a graduate school is around $72,500 to $124,000. To begin with it offers one a greater earning power and advances ones career such that one may think of a wider array of career chances. For from financial gains, one stands to benefit from community and international recognition and selection for various opportunities. There are also the benefits to enhance research skills, education upgrading, enjoying travel opportunities, chances to stand out from the rest and possible access to advanced tools and equipment such as rare books, great minds and supercomputers. To be realistic on available job opportunities upon completion of an undergraduate degree, the most possible salary that I am bound to earn would range between $25,000 and $40,000.
Financial Analysis
At this point, the possible financial sources to finance this academic event are scholarships, grants, grad assistant positions, insurance scholarships, credit cards and family loans. For the grants and scholarships, it is critical to note that since this is graduate school, such are very competitive and the mere opportunity to get them is minimal.
Graduate school fees have been skyrocketing for every professional program. Going by the fairest of academic prices, a public grad school requires tuition fee in the region of $21,900 whereas in a private one, it is in the region of $34,100. These are only tuition fees, there are the living expenses that are not included which will be required for the two years as provided by a school program. In this case, to minimize on living costs, it would be convenient to be in a graduate school tow which there is possible accommodation in its neighborhood. The possible rent would be $700 a month taking the cost to a staggering $8,400 a year. This would be followed by a sacrifice to use public means of transport which would cost around $1,000 a year.
Looking at this, there is needed to assess the possible hidden costs. If one is not capable of paying for the degree up front, one will opt for a loan. For instance in this case, I would go for the $50,000 loan with an interest of 5%. This is to mean that I have to pay monthly payments of $530 for ten years taking the total amount paid to a staggering $63,000. Another financial aspect is that with the same regards, as a graduate student, one will not be contributing to the retirement savings an indicator that one will miss out on $5,000 annually. There is a concern hereby if graduate school will end up costing me an estimated $80,000 while there is a chance that the starting salary for future jobs may range between $40,000 and $55,000.
Conclusion
Bearing in mind that I would have complications in raising adequate funds to support my academic needs as identified above, I would consider the job opportunity over joining graduate school. This is because, the economy of the nation is dynamic, and the unemployment levels have showed worrying indicators. Therefore, though there are many benefits from joining a graduate school, it is of personal view that the appropriate step would be to consider part time studying while one is working. The academic expenses at this level are very high, part time working would thus fit in to supplement the costs.
The decision for the convenient and appropriate opportunity to go for in this case has been determined by the availability and the usability of resources. The resources in this case are money and time. Though graduate school in a way promises that one might earn a better salary as compared to an undergraduate, that fact is a risk on itself. There is uncertainty on that fact because of the minimal employment opportunities. The most realistic opportunity to grab at this stage would thus be to seek employment.
