I really enjoyed both the experience I had working in the university’s marketing department and in my class work in general. I had hoped that future employers would see my graduate degree as a sound business decision and not an attempt to prolong the real world.

Now I count myself lucky just to have a job, but it’s not within my field or well paid. Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn’t have just entered the job market as an English major. I don’t know if I’d be in any better shape, especially with the way the economy went.

At least I have a little piece of paper and letters after my name that might one day be of some use.

I just couldn’t attend class and work–it was just too difficult. Half the time I couldn’t even take classes I needed as a traditional MS candidate. So I selected a different MS online and am completing it now.
I’m half-way through.

What I would do first when browsing schools is type the name of the school +”diploma mill” into google. If too many hits come up, I would scratch it, because if I were looking over a resume, that’s the first thing I’d do with the final candidates.

I’m not getting an MBA. Instead, I’m purusing an MS in Engineering Management which is similar, I guess, but obviously more geared toward the sciences.

- It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Even when I was in high school, I always envisioned myself getting a Masters.
- I’ve always heard that if you do what you love, the money will come. If you saw my current salary, you’d know that I’m underemployed and *so* not chasing the money.
- I did this for ME. I haven’t been married for 2 years yet, so if I were to get widowed or even divorced tomorrow, I have to be able to support myself. Experience helps, but it makes *me* feel better knowing I have an MBA to back up my experience.
- I completed all my electives for my MBA, with the exception of 2 classes, in HR. Which means that because I have 18 hours in my “core concentration” I can teach HR at the collegiate level. Just another door for me.
- I went from working in Healthcare Administration and Medical Insurance to HR Outsourcing, so the MBA has assisted in solidifying my HR and global outsourcing knowledge.
- I attended an MBA program that offered online classes (though, I did the majority of my classes on-site because I hate online classes.) And yes, I absolutely agree that there are people who obtain their MBAs from these “degree mills” and do not at all deserve them. But it really boils down to the individual and how that person approaches learning. I was more focused on learning than I ever was in undergrad; I worked 40+ hours a week, maintained a household, was a newlywed, and earned a 3.8 GPA.
- My department just went through a round of layoffs (17 to 9 people). I recently learned that the people who remain all have degrees. So at least for me, the undergrad and MBA saved my job.

Again, not for everyone… but I know for me, it was really hard, but I’ve enjoyed (most) every minute of the ride. I don’t expect to be CEO or be promoted tomorrow. But for me it’s just another check marked off of my life’s “to do” list.

@money will do!

@Nelking I mean it.

@Lexy Wow, I really admire you. Sometimes I think about taking a refresher math course, but it makes my brain hurt.

Personally, I’m going back to undergrad to get a BS in Accounting… it’s something I find interesting, it’s super useful and I’m paying a lot less than I would for a Masters program. Will it help me get a job? I don’t know but it is already helping me understand aspects of my work environment I was never comfortable with.