Do the master’s, don’t do the master’s, do the master’s, don’t…
In a world saturated with opinions, only you know the answer.
I could give you a summary of reasons why it can be difficult to decide whether or not to study a master’s degree. I could tell you how my master’s is going and why I chose it — but you’re not here for that. You’re here because you want to know what’s best for you, and you alone.
So here are some questions that you should ask yourself when making such an important life decision.
What would you want to gain from a master’s degree?
Wait — I know this might seem incredibly obvious but everyone has different reasons to be considering doing one. What are yours? Don’t get sucked in to what society, your industry, friends or family think. What is your end goal? A master’s should be something you do with a goal in mind. If you’re only thinking of doing one for the sake of it, it may not be the best path for you.
Why are you hesitating?
You’ve thought about it and yet you’re not going for it. Why is that? It could be anything from finances to relocating, but there is a cause for this doubt. Write all the doubts you have down. Then, list all the reasons you should study a master’s and compare them. Do the positives outweigh the negatives?
We’re not done just yet though, it’s not that simple…
When do you want your master’s?
An odd question I know, but hear me out. Your list of pros and cons is valid for today, as you write it. However, you don’t have to do a master’s degree now, that’s the beauty of master’s degrees: they can be taken at any stage in life. If you’re not in need of the benefits of a master’s today, maybe postpone applying and take some more time over the decision.
Still not sure?
If these questions have not helped you, maybe more research is what will help — it certainly did for me! By research, I don’t mean checking out courses online and looking up universities. Of course, it’s a great way to get informed but it doesn’t fully present you with the human aspect of a master’s.
Head over to YouTube and start looking for vloggers who attend the universities you are looking at. Make sure to find several as everyone’s experience is different! Subscribing to study vloggers is a great new way of discovering what your life could be like should you decide to take that leap.
These content creators are more brutally honest that a university website that is trying to sell you a degree, and they answer more of your burning questions for you.
I hope that these questions and tips have helped you, and don’t be discouraged if you’re still uncertain — it’s not an easy decision!
