Graduate School, What Is It Good For!

I wanted to write a piece for those of you who are thinking about pursuing their master’s degree.  I have not had the easiest time trying to get my grad degree but I intend to stick with it and I encourage you also, because of three very important reasons. A master's degree gives you credentials for professional work. It is a learning experience that includes learning what is being debated in your field.  Lastly, a Master's program allows you to network with likeminded individuals.

A master's degree gives you bona fides, credentials that open opportunities for employment wide open.  If you desire to teach a collage level class than you will need at least a master's degree.  Other professional positions like to see that you have a master's, like museums looking for a curator or an archivist.  Saying that you are a master's student also gets you certain opportunities, for example when I'm applying for jobs I always tell potential employers that I'm a master's student.  It tells them that I am ambitious and that I care about what I am doing with my life and that I have chosen to further my career with them.  I have also told people that I am a master's student when I'm doing research, people often seem more helpful when they realize you are a students doing a project for class (that’s my experience anyway).

I'm sure most professors believe that my next point should have been the first mentioned or least considered the most important but in my opinion it is the second most important (The first is using my degree and getting a job). That is learning, you will work your butt off and by doing so you will learn.  As an undergraduate history major you have learned to research, write and have a knowledge of who are the best scholars in your field.  Grad school will push that knowledge to the max! While you read a book per week, per class.  While doing that, you will also be expected to research on your own and write a graduate level paper.  You will be introduced to debates and to the leading minds in your field. And you will be introduced to their books, lots and lots of books.  Professors will push you to do the best job you can, to make you the best scholars possible (hint: pick a good school or at least one you like the professors at).

Finally a master's program will give you networking opportunities. If you do it right this will be the greatest asset you take out of grad school.  As the old proverb goes "it's not what you know, it's who you know," so make friends.  Be on good terms with your professors, and your class mates.  Those class mates will graduate and become fantastic teachers and scholars and if you know them, jobs, research projects and looking for advice can be that much easier.

Now it is time for me to be honest with you, these points are only my impressions of grad school. I did not do much (or any) research in preparation for this post.  After only one semester, this is why I think it is important for me to finish what I have started and why you should start.