The Value of Work Experience Before Grad School

Quick Highlights:

• Most master’s programs don’t require work experience, but working first can offer other benefits.
• Working before grad school can provide practical experience and financial savings.
• Going straight to grad school might prevent loss of academic momentum and increase career earnings sooner.
• Consider personal factors like financial situation, job opportunities, and long-term career goals when deciding.

After you finish your bachelor’s degree, you could potentially benefit from taking time off to work before graduate school. Most degree programs don’t require work experience, so a gap year before a master’s program may not help you get into school. However, there may be other benefits of working before a master’s degree. 

If you’re asking yourself, “Should I work before grad school?”, there are many things you should consider as you make your decision. By looking at the pros and cons of working before master’s programs, you can figure out the right choice for your individual career goals and circumstances.

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Understanding the Decision 

Should you get a master’s degree or work first? At a basic level, your decision is between taking a gap year before a master’s degree program or immediately starting your graduate degree. You should start by determining if the degree program requires or rewards work experience. 

Most degrees don’t expect you to work before graduate school. Because of this, the most important factor may be how your gap year aligns with your long-term career objectives. If you are getting an assistantship or scholarship for school, you will need to see if these types of aid will still be available if you delay the start of your master’s degree by a year.

Pros of Directly Pursuing a Master’s Degree

Should I work before grad school? If there is even a part of you that doesn’t think you will return to school if you take time off, you may want to avoid a gap year. The continued academic momentum is easier to maintain if you stay in school. If you leave school, there is a decent chance that you won’t come back. 

Likewise, finishing your degree can help you achieve career advancement earlier. It can take years to complete research trials or academic papers. By getting your graduate degree now, you can speed up this process. 

Finally, avoiding a gap year before a master’s program can increase your career earnings. Statistically, you will earn more money in the year after your degree finishes than you will during your gap year. Because raises are cumulative and occur over time, an extra year of post-graduation work will mean you earn a little more money throughout the rest of your career as well.

Cons of Directly Pursuing a Master’s Degree

Is work experience necessary before master’s degrees? While it isn’t always necessary, some types of degrees expect work experience. For instance, executive MBA programs often require professional experience before someone enrolls.

When considering the pros and cons of working before master’s degrees, you should think about your enthusiasm for more coursework. By the time you are in a master’s degree program, you have likely spent at least 16 years in school. If you are experiencing academic burnout, the decision to work before graduate school can help increase your enthusiasm and excitement for school. 

Likewise, you may want to spend time gaining real-world experience. This experience can help you land a job after graduation. Additionally, it can help you contextualize everything you learn during your master’s degree. 

When you look at the benefits of working before master’s degree programs, you should look at your financial calculations as well. Going to school is expensive. By deciding to take a gap year before a master’s degree program, you can save money for school.

Pros of Working Before Pursuing a Master’s Degree

If you have ever wondered, “Should I work before grad school?”, you should carefully consider the benefits and drawbacks. First, working before grad school is a way to gain practical, real-world experience. This can make your academic program more effective because your learning experiences allow you to gain a deeper, more practical understanding. 

A part of your grad school decision-making should involve your finances. If you start working before you get your master’s degree, you can save money. Depending on where you work, you may even be able to get your employer to contribute money toward your education. 

While you are still in school, the majority of your knowledge is theoretical. You don’t know which information will be more effective in your future real-world experiences. By getting work experience, you can gain clarity about what you need from the program and your overall career goals. 

Cons of Working Before Pursuing a Master’s Degree

While there are many benefits of working before master’s degree programs, there are also drawbacks you should consider as well. By delaying your degree, you could slow down your academic and career progression.

One major risk is that you will lose your academic habits and motivation. You’re used to doing homework at a certain time, and you constantly have to juggle your school schedule with the rest of your life. If you get a year off to enjoy more free time, you might not want to go back to school.

Once you do return after your long break, you’ll need to relearn many of your academic habits. You’ll have to learn how to study and prioritize assignments again. While all of these issues are solvable, you should carefully consider the pros and cons of working before master’s degree programs. 

Factors to Consider When Making the Decision 

As you think about the benefits of working before master’s degree programs, you have to consider your personal situation. Some people have full-ride scholarships and have to start school right away in order to receive them. In other cases, students are able to delay their degree without any repercussions. 

The average cost of a master’s degree is $59,684, so it is important to think about your financial situation prior to taking a gap year before a master’s degree program. If you have a good job opportunity available, the extra money could help you afford your degree without taking out significant loans. 

Additionally, you should think about the current job market. If there aren’t good employment opportunities available, you may want to spend another year in school. Afterward, you’ll be more employable because you will have an additional degree. 

Finally, you should think about your career goals and how your degree will help you reach them. If the only way to achieve your dreams is through a master’s degree, you may want to prioritize your degree over everything else in your life.

How to Make the Decision

When you make a big decision, it’s impossible to know what the outcome will be. You can’t tell if deciding to work before graduate school will boost your motivation or result in permanently quitting school. All you can do is make the best decision possible with the information you have available. 

Other than considering personal factors and your professional priorities, you should try talking to mentors and career counselors about your dilemma. If you can’t decide on what to do, you could consider the possibility of doing a part-time program while you work. A part-time program means your gap year would be less relaxing, but it would also allow you to keep moving forward toward your goals. 

Figure Out Your Gap Year Situation 

Should I work before grad school? By looking carefully at the pros and cons of working before master’s degree programs, you can determine if a gap year before a master’s program is right for you or not. While there are many benefits of working before master’s degrees, this choice isn’t right for everyone. You should carefully think about your decision to work before graduate school and consider how this choice aligns with your long-term goals.