Am I a tard for not wanting to go to grad school? - Page 3

PRE · #21 11-15-2007, 11:03 PM

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? how is 45k/yr not a really good salary right out of undergrad?

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Sorry, my post wasn't clear. I wasn't referring to all majors and i wasn't necessarily referring to undergrads. I was trying to say that settling for 45k when you could go to grad school and get 80k seemed surprising. But i keep forgetting that not everyone has the same goals me or my students do. Again, i wasn't meaning to be rude, and i apologize if it came off that way.

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nice save...

steggy · #22 11-15-2007, 11:08 PM

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? how is 45k/yr not a really good salary right out of undergrad?

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Sorry, my post wasn't clear. I wasn't referring to all majors and i wasn't necessarily referring to undergrads. I was trying to say that settling for 45k when you could go to grad school and get 80k seemed surprising. But i keep forgetting that not everyone has the same goals me or my students do. Again, i wasn't meaning to be rude, and i apologize if it came off that way.

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I think you're looking at it wrong. A) You most likely have to spend money on grad school and have to give up the potential full time salary to go to grad school and B) In the time it took to get a graduate degree, you will obviously be making more than the 45K.

I would say the decision would be based more on how much you made in the long run.

XXXNoahXXX · #23 11-15-2007, 11:27 PM

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? how is 45k/yr not a really good salary right out of undergrad?

[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry, my post wasn't clear. I wasn't referring to all majors and i wasn't necessarily referring to undergrads. I was trying to say that settling for 45k when you could go to grad school and get 80k seemed surprising. But i keep forgetting that not everyone has the same goals me or my students do. Again, i wasn't meaning to be rude, and i apologize if it came off that way.

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I think you're looking at it wrong. A) You most likely have to spend money on grad school and have to give up the potential full time salary to go to grad school and B) In the time it took to get a graduate degree, you will obviously be making more than the 45K.

I would say the decision would be based more on how much you made in the long run.

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The thing is, 10 years out, you've already made enough to make up for the lost earnings and the loans you take out for law school.

From that point out you are likely making more, with much greater job options and mobility.

schundler · #24 11-15-2007, 11:45 PM

Also, I'm wondering, is 3.0 such a bad GPA, assuming you're coming out of a good school? I'm not talking about grad school necessarily, but in the job market? Assuming your other qualities are up to par, is a 3.0 a liability?

Ganjasaurus Rex · #25 11-16-2007, 12:30 AM

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? how is 45k/yr not a really good salary right out of undergrad?

[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry, my post wasn't clear. I wasn't referring to all majors and i wasn't necessarily referring to undergrads. I was trying to say that settling for 45k when you could go to grad school and get 80k seemed surprising. But i keep forgetting that not everyone has the same goals me or my students do. Again, i wasn't meaning to be rude, and i apologize if it came off that way.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you're looking at it wrong. A) You most likely have to spend money on grad school and have to give up the potential full time salary to go to grad school and B) In the time it took to get a graduate degree, you will obviously be making more than the 45K.

I would say the decision would be based more on how much you made in the long run.

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It's actually deeper than that. You forgot to include the amount of money you can save each year for retirement, and how compound interest will affect your retirement savings. You also forgot that many graduate students (all of mine) get tuition waivers and stipends.

Anyway, the math has been done, and it's much better to spend the extra 18 months in grad school to double your starting salary. Furthermore, folks with graduate degrees get promoted faster (on average) and farther (on average). It's almost always the correct monetary decision to go to graduate school in my field. I can't speak for other fields.

furyshade · #26 11-16-2007, 12:54 AM

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? how is 45k/yr not a really good salary right out of undergrad?

[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry, my post wasn't clear. I wasn't referring to all majors and i wasn't necessarily referring to undergrads. I was trying to say that settling for 45k when you could go to grad school and get 80k seemed surprising. But i keep forgetting that not everyone has the same goals me or my students do. Again, i wasn't meaning to be rude, and i apologize if it came off that way.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you're looking at it wrong. A) You most likely have to spend money on grad school and have to give up the potential full time salary to go to grad school and B) In the time it took to get a graduate degree, you will obviously be making more than the 45K.

I would say the decision would be based more on how much you made in the long run.

[/ QUOTE ]
It's actually deeper than that. You forgot to include the amount of money you can save each year for retirement, and how compound interest will affect your retirement savings. You also forgot that many graduate students (all of mine) get tuition waivers and stipends.

Anyway, the math has been done, and it's much better to spend the extra 18 months in grad school to double your starting salary. Furthermore, folks with graduate degrees get promoted faster (on average) and farther (on average). It's almost always the correct monetary decision to go to graduate school in my field. I can't speak for other fields.

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what happens when you spend 4-6 years in grad school, can you ever make that back long run?

Quicksilvre · #27 11-16-2007, 10:11 AM

GsR,

I'm well aware of the benefits of going to grad school, on things like income and advancement. That's the reason I was considering applying for grad school anyway.

Here's the thing--I don't think it would be a simple case of just going for 18 months for me. There's the issue of getting in with my GPA, already pointed out. It also sounds like staying in is going to be a problem if I feel worn out by just undergrad studies. From what other posters are saying, not finishing is a real possibility if I go to grad school straight out of undergrad. Then the benefits of going are presumably greatly reduced.

I'm not asking about not going ever, just not going right after I'm done with a bachelor's.

Ganjasaurus Rex · #28 11-16-2007, 10:52 AM

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? how is 45k/yr not a really good salary right out of undergrad?

[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry, my post wasn't clear. I wasn't referring to all majors and i wasn't necessarily referring to undergrads. I was trying to say that settling for 45k when you could go to grad school and get 80k seemed surprising. But i keep forgetting that not everyone has the same goals me or my students do. Again, i wasn't meaning to be rude, and i apologize if it came off that way.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you're looking at it wrong. A) You most likely have to spend money on grad school and have to give up the potential full time salary to go to grad school and B) In the time it took to get a graduate degree, you will obviously be making more than the 45K.

I would say the decision would be based more on how much you made in the long run.

[/ QUOTE ]
It's actually deeper than that. You forgot to include the amount of money you can save each year for retirement, and how compound interest will affect your retirement savings. You also forgot that many graduate students (all of mine) get tuition waivers and stipends.

Anyway, the math has been done, and it's much better to spend the extra 18 months in grad school to double your starting salary. Furthermore, folks with graduate degrees get promoted faster (on average) and farther (on average). It's almost always the correct monetary decision to go to graduate school in my field. I can't speak for other fields.

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what happens when you spend 4-6 years in grad school, can you ever make that back long run?

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It depends on many things, including: How long are you willing to work before retirement? What is the starting pay increase when you get a grad degree? How much faster are promotions, etc? In my field, it's usually worthwhile to get a M.S. but getting a PhD usually doesn't increase your total lifetime earnings (above the M.S.). Most PhDs that i know do it so they can teach or for pride.

Ganjasaurus Rex · #29 11-16-2007, 10:55 AM

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GsR,

I'm well aware of the benefits of going to grad school, on things like income and advancement. That's the reason I was considering applying for grad school anyway.

Here's the thing--I don't think it would be a simple case of just going for 18 months for me. There's the issue of getting in with my GPA, already pointed out. It also sounds like staying in is going to be a problem if I feel worn out by just undergrad studies. From what other posters are saying, not finishing is a real possibility if I go to grad school straight out of undergrad. Then the benefits of going are presumably greatly reduced.

I'm not asking about not going ever, just not going right after I'm done with a bachelor's.

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In your case, it sounds best not to go. I wasn't trying to talk to you into going. Was just discussing the topic abstractly at this point. You can always go later anyway, as has been pointed out. Either way, i hope things work out well for you. Cheers.