Should you go back to school to advance your career?
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Thinking you should do an MBA? Does a “Dr” in front of your name have you interested in pursuing your PhD?
Dr. Jen Harrison is a PhD, highly experienced dissertation coach and mom of two. Because she works with so many folks who are tackling higher education, I interviewed Dr. Jen to get her thoughts on when and why a person should further their education to support their life and career goals.
Different levels of education
When thinking about chatting with Dr. Jen Harrison, I realized that I didn’t even know what types of education are out there. We all know about the undergraduate degree, we know a bit about diplomas, maybe masters. But what are the options?
Dr. Jen says that the type of education you want to pursue depends on how much of an expert you want to be, and how much time and research you want to put in.
Diplomas, Certificates, and Licenses
The structure:
Often quick and goes into great depth on a specific topic
Could happen before or after different levels of education (e.g. to upskill as a professional)
Why you’d go for this:
You have a specific goal in mind and you want to prove your competence
Examples:
A cosmetology certificate
A nurse who wants to specializes in ICU
A Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching (like me!)
Associate Degree
The structure:
Often quick and quite affordable
Could be taken at a community college
Why you’d go for this:
A good step before committing to a 4-year degree if you’re unsure
Could be used to test the waters and then roll those credits into a bachelors degree if you want to keep going
Examples:
Associate of Arts
Asociate of Science
Undergraduate/Bachelors Degree
The structure:
A 4-year program
You get a broad range of study, but focus in on your major and potentially a minor if chosen
Why you’d go for this:
You’re looking for a well-rounded education
Supports job acquisition and salary conversations
Examples:
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science
Graduate (Masters) Degree
The structure:
Multi-year program, varying paces
Includes a capstone project or research/writing assignment
Learn about research
Why you’d go for this:
Gives you status
Can provide higher earning potential in certain fields
Shows commitment and desire to take your craft to the next level
Examples:
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Nutrition and Dietetics
Doctorate/PhD
The structure:
Multi-year program, varying paces
Always includes research
Why you’d go for this:
You have a Masters in the field
VERY passionate about the topic
You want to be THE top expert in your field and be on the cutting edge
If you want to get into…
Higher education
The industry of your field itself
Research
How do decide if you should go back to school
“A degree is not a magic wand to get you anywhere you want to go in life.”
- Dr. Jen Harrison
Figure out your end goal first
Know what the end goal is so you can leverage the right tools that you need to solve for that.Research all of the options you have to achieve your goal (not just education)
A degree is not your only option. E.g. If you want to write a cookbook, you don’t necessarily have to go to culinary school, you could start a blog.What challenges and sacrifices would you be faced with in each option, and are you okay with those
Is it worth it? Does it work with your personality? Your life stage? Your family? Your financial situation?Consider the time commitment
The time it takes to complete the education is one thing, but also think about your daily/weekly family schedule, and if that is the life you want over the next phase of life.Plan for hiccups or roadblocks
Life happens, you might have a supervisor that isn’t fully supporting you, or you might just want to take your pace a bit slower (or cut it off part way through). Think about all these scenarios before embarking on more school.
More about Dr. Jen Harrison, founder of ReadWritePerfect
Dr. Jen Harrison is a highly experienced dissertation coach. A PhD herself, she has coached and supervised first-generation, ESL, and non-traditional students in the UK and USA for more than 10 years. Many of them have achieved first-class degrees. Dr. Harrison offers support in writing, research design, motivation, and research methods. She specializes in helping you achieve your dissertation and career goals quickly and easily, so you can feel confident and supported moving forward.
To connect with Dr. Jen Harrison click here.
Email jen@readwriteperfect.com
Find Dr. Jen Harrison on Twitter @perfect_write
