Got accepted into funded master's program. Not sure if I should go.

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10 years ago 04/15/2014 3:16pm EDT

I applied to master's programs last fall and got in to one that is funded... or at least they waive tuition and give me medical insurance. They will also give me a paid internship in the summer. Despite all this, I estimate that it will cost me $36,000 to support myself and go to school for two years. I currently have about $15k, but should have close to $20k by the end of this summer. I think I will end up going $10-20k in debt if I do this master's program, but it will also bump up my salary by about $20k/year, so it should definitely be worth it. However, I think I want to be a teacher eventually and teach high school science. I'm not 100% certain though since my teaching experience is limited to tutoring small groups in college. It's what I think I want to do though. The reason I haven't started teaching yet is that I wanted to gain other life and work experience, travel, etc. I reasoned it would make me a better person, a better teacher, and would also be fun to live in different places. I've really been enjoying it. If I go to grad school, I will likely work in the field (ecology) for 2-4 years, then become a teacher (unless I really like what I'm doing and no longer want to teach). I'm not sure this really makes sense though. I'm 25 now. I'll turn 28 the summer after I complete my master's. If I don't go to graduate school I'll probably work on my teaching certification this year and start teaching in 2015. I'd end up getting an online M.Ed. or something after a few years. My worry is that I might end up not liking teaching, and then I'd be back to where I'm at now, just older, and I'd have to go to grad school anyway.

I think I know what I'm going to do, but I want to hear advice from the LR crowd. What are your thoughts?

10 years ago 04/15/2014 3:45pm EDT

re: Manny Jack

So no research or teaching assistantship. If your real goal is to be a teacher then look into being a TA for Intro Bio. These positions usually pay at least 1K to 2K a month (depending on how many sections you teach), and what better way to get some teaching experience?

10 years ago 04/15/2014 3:45pm EDT

re: Manny Jack

How will it bump your salary by $20k/yr? What if you go into HS teaching? How would that affect your salary?

10 years ago 04/15/2014 4:11pm EDT

re: Manny Jack

Unless you want to go into administration don't assume any more debt. Teachers don't make enough to make that sort of investment.

10 years ago 04/15/2014 4:41pm EDT

re: Same Sex Partner

I think you might be pursuing this in the wrong direction. Many high schools will pay for a master's (though usually in education or administration) after you have been hired.

That said, you will be able to teach for 30+ years, while the opportunity to pursue a degree that you find interesting is more fleeting.

10 years ago 04/15/2014 5:37pm EDT

re: Manny Jack

Do it. It sound like you want to but are concerned about the financial side of it. Based on your savings, you can pay for most of it. And you can always work a part time job while you're taking classes to help supplement the cost as well. As another poster pointed out, an assistant-ship or TA-ship would help out also. I'm currently in a PhD program and I'm getting 15,000 a semester for TA duties.

And if tuition and insurance is covered by them, how did you come out to it costing 36,000 dollars to support yourself for 2 years?

10 years ago 04/16/2014 4:37pm EDT

re: coffee me

So I just got more details. The program is waiving tuition my first year and giving me a TA position that comes with a $9,000 stipend for the first year. I have been told I will NOT be given a TA position my second year, however, nor any other sources of aid and will have to pay tuition my second year. This means that the master's program will cost me about $8k in addition to living expenses for two years (about $30k). I will have to pay for living expenses whether I'm a student or if I decide to do something else anyway, so I'm not sure that should really be considered as a cost.

My concern is that many schools and programs give TA positions to their grad students every semester, and these positions come with stipends of $15k-30k/year, which is a great deal more than the measly $9k this program is offering me. It could be the difference of $30k or more.

Any further advice?

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Got accepted into funded master's program. Not sure if I should go.

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