To grad school, or not to grad school? Just about every English major has struggled with this question. Who better to answer it than grad school graduates?
We reached out to our wonderful (and well-educated) readers to find out what going to grad school really means – financially, mentally, and emotionally – and the results are in!
Before you take your next step, read what our 35 experts had to say about what a graduate degree is really worth.
Mary O'Brien - BA in English (Modern British Literature) - MA in English (Professional Writing and Rhetoric)
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
To refine my natural writings talents into something that could get me a good job.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
I was able to get hired only 5 months after graduation thank God. I believe the graduate degree helped with that.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Make sure to evaluate whether you can afford it, as well if it is necessary for the field you are interested in working in.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
My program was about $50,000 I guess. I wish I had tried to see about more summer classes to expedite my degree progress.
Anonymous - BA in English (Literature) - MA in English (Literature)
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
I wasn't sure what else to do. I knew I didn't want to teach in public school and had a vague idea of teaching college English.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
I was able to adjunct at a local college and was eventually hired as an advisor at a university because of my writing/communication skills and experience with students. It also played a significant role in my being accepted into a doctoral program in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in educational technology.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
While you study, take advantage of any and all opportunities to expand your experience – tutor, offer to teach workshops, volunteer to help with freshman orientation.
Crystal Kamm - BA in English (Literature) - MA in English
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
The school offered me the option of teaching classes for a significantly reduced tuition.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
I feel that it has made it more difficult to find appropriate employment.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
I would recommend working in many areas to decide what route is preferred before pigeonholing yourself.
Ashley Moutinho - BA English - MS Education
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
To teach.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
I was able to apply to teaching jobs.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
If you can afford it, do it. I learned a lot. I have since decided that I do not want to pursue teaching, but I gained insight into myself and the workings of a school system.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
I found a program that was (mostly) free. I interned for a school district (acted as a sub) and that district paid for my courses. I only had to pay for my student teaching semester.
Rory Griffiths - BA in English (Language, Literature, Linguistics and Communications) - MA in English
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
To learn more, teach more and become more employable.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
Theoretically it has helped, but I've spent 8 months job searching and applying with no success
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Make sure it's your passion and something that will fulfill you.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
I was able to a graduate debt free (and made money) by applying for scholarships, working a part time job while studying and teaching undergraduate classes.
Ethan Bishop - BA in English - MA in English (Specialization in Children's Literature)
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
I enjoyed my undergraduate experience, so I wanted to take my education a step further.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
My current position, Dean of General Education at Coleman University, requires a Master's degree.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Be certain you have chosen the right program.
Stephanie Lieberman - BA in English (Literature) - MA in British Literature
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
Additional education, and I wasn’t ready to enter the job market.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
I think it has positively enhanced them. Not only did I have a few years to hone my craft, but pursuit of a graduate degree shows dedication and commitment.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Do it!
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
I received a full tuition waiver and a small stipend. While may assistantships are classroom-based (teaching), I was able to work in a number of areas on campus and develop marketable skills.
Kelley Sullivan - BA in English (Language & Literature) - M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction for Secondary English Education
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
To earn more money as a public educator for high school English and to stand out among fellow teachers.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
I earn more money and have more upward mobility with a Master’s degree.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Work on time management and general writing! Time management and good fundamental writing skills will save you as you head into a graduate degree.
Kathleen Denison - BA in English - MA in English
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
Because I ultimately plan to obtain a Ph.D. but I knew I wasn't ready for that much of a commitment. So, I opted for the MA to get me a step closer and give me some extra time to figure out where I wanted to go next.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
Honestly, it hasn't made much difference. I get paid maybe $1,500 a year more for having it, but that's about it. The job I have I still could have acquired with just my BA.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
If you can, find a program that offers GA positions. Make sure to find a program that will help cover the costs. I wouldn't take my experience back for anything, but I wish I wouldn't have rushed the decision. Also, study for the GRE. It is only one component but it matters. If you aren't 100% ready or certain, then don't do it, because grad school is going to take your all.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
I paid for my program with student loans, because I was told MA students weren't eligible to becomes GTAs, which wasn't true. If I had to do it over again I would do more research rather than just trusting the word of others, even others who are supposed to be knowledgeable.
Susan Mace - BA in English - MA in Secondary Education
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
I decided to teach high school.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
It qualified me to teach in public school.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Money spent on education is never wasted. Also, getting the MA allows you to focus on an area since an English degree can be used for so many different career paths.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
My tuition was free and I got a small stipend for working as a graduate teaching assistant.
James Russell - BA in English (Language Arts with Emphasis in Secondary Education) - MA in 19th Century British Literature
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
To open up more job opportunities.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
Thanks to the rough market for adjunct faculty at most universities, I am no longer using my degree.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Make sure that you have the financing lined up well and a solid plan for what you intend to do after you graduate.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
Don't get an out-of-state Master's degree unless you have full tuition waivers lined up before you start.
Jennifer Kelly - BA in English and French - MA in English
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
I was planning on going for a Ph.D. teaching college for the rest of my life.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
I was able to teach for more than 10 years, but adjunct work didn't cut it in terms of financial stability. I haven't tried to get any other private sector jobs because I have young children.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
What would I do differently? I would think about going into a different field, though what that would be is still unknown. Anything to avoid feeling like a failure, which I already do. More than a decade of teaching and nothing to show for it. I'm almost forty.
Randi Ruela - BA in English (Literature) - Doctor of Chiropractic and Master Acupuncture Oriental Medicine
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
It was the plan all along.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
It’s increased job opportunities and earning potential.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Do it, it is worth it but be wary of student loans.
Amy Hendrix - BA in English - MA in English (Literature)
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
I wanted to continue school, but also I felt like a graduate degree would help me stand out for potential employers.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
I am still having problems finding a different job. Other than teaching there is nothing degree-specific that I can do.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Honestly? If you live in Oklahoma don't get a graduate degree in English unless you plan to move out of state to teach.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
I love my degrees and what they taught me. It would be nice if I could actually get a decent paying job with them.
Rebecca Janes - BA in English and Art - MS in Expressive Therapies
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
To earn a living post-divorce.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
I’ve gone on to become a licensed mental health counselor, and eventually into private practice.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
A liberal arts English degree gives the depth needed to be a good counselor, and feel good about making a decent living.
Ebony Murphy-Root - BA in English and African American Studies - M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
To increase my career opportunities, for the sake of rigor in my field.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
Most positions I have applied for have been impressed by the specificity and rigor of my advanced degree and offered me a pay bump.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Make sure you are studying something you have a real interested in, pursue grants and fellowships, and limit your loans, especially if you have debt from your undergrad degree.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
Mine was a one-year summer to summer program, paid for with a combo of loans and a fellowship.
Jamie Cyphers - BA in English - MS in Instructional Technology
Did you complete your graduate degree?
I will graduate in May 2016.
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
In the hopes of landing a better job; preferably in higher education.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
It's made me more aware of my skillset and where that skillset could be put to good use.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Make sure you research career options and decide if you're willing to relocate BEFORE starting the program.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
I would have preferred to complete my degree on campus.
Carlene Harwood - BA in English, minor in Education - MA in English
Did you complete your graduate degree?
I completed my MA. I’m working on Ed.D. now in reading education and adult education, to be completed next year.
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
More career opportunities.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
It allows me to teach college, but hasn't provided much advancement yet. Hoping my Ed.D. will.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Enjoy it and save your money now so you can pay for it without taking out loans. Look for financial aid.
Lisa Gray - BA in English - MA in English - JD
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
I had advanced as far as I could without one, and layoffs in the computer industry meant too much competition for jobs.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Get an employer to fund it instead of going into debt.
Raquel Krantz - BA in English (Literature) - MA in Education
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
I wanted to teach, but also be eligible for flexibility to be hired in other roles in a competitive job market.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
It backfires sometimes. People assume that because you have a Master’s degree, you're not going to stick around.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Be very specific and research the position you want. You want to make sure the degree is relevant.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
If I could do it all over again, I would not have gotten my Master’s degree. It cost way more than what I'm getting paid.
Jillian Grindstaff-Swathwood - BA in English (Literature) - MA in English (Literature; Rhetoric and Composition)
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
I initially wanted to pursue a doctorate.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
I have gotten a lot of "You're overqualified for this position" after interviews, but it has assisted me in getting a slightly higher starting salary at a couple of jobs.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Carefully consider how your graduate degree may or may not help you in your career. Think of the money it will cost and do a cost-benefit analysis, keeping in mind that employers want more work and more experience than before. Also, are you willing to relocate for your degree? Are you willing to relocate after your degree for better job prospects? There are a lot of things to consider, so make sure you understand how it will impact your entire life.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
My program is not very well known, but many of my professors were great teachers and I appreciate what I learned from them. However, the money I spent (approximately $1,400 per class after fees), was not worth taking out the loans needed to pay for it. While I have significantly less in the amount of student loans as compared to my friends in the U.S., it's money that I could be using for other things now. If I had the choice, I would have waited another year or two and reapplied to schools to get into a more well known school. Or I may have not gone altogether.
Kelsey Hixson-Bowles - BA in English (Creative Writing) - MA in English (Composition and Rhetoric) - Ph.D. in Composition - TESOL (in progress)
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
I chose to complete my Master’s in order to explore Composition and Rhetoric before committing to a Ph.D. program. I chose to pursue and Ph.D. because I am passionate about teaching and tutoring writing and felt that a Ph.D. best set me up for a successful future of teaching/tutoring.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
I am still in graduate school, but I believe my Masters made me a more desirable applicant for Ph.D. programs.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Don't go into debt for graduate school.
Katie Fiorella - BFA in Creative Writing - MFA in Fiction Writing
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
To pursue a career as a college professor.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
It allows me to apply for professor teaching positions.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Work at your pace. Don't rush to the end. Don't feel obligated to get it if it's not required for the job you want, but don't pass up the opportunity either if you are serious about writing. Grad programs are usually more focused on what you want to learn. You won't be required to take a math or science class. All your courses can and will be writing based so you will get a lot more out of it. If you want to write and publish, you will have a chance to do this or at least practice. You will gain valuable experience and critiques through workshops, which tend to be overlooked in undergrad programs. It's important to learn how to put your work out there and take criticism if you want to move forward in that career. Plus, you get to see all kinds of other writing styles which may influence you to try something different or strive to be as good as someone else in class that you look up to. You won't get these things anywhere else.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
If you can, do it online. Take one class a term and work your butt off in school and in a job to help pay off any loans. You may find it to be a little cheaper which will help, but it’s still a big expense. Do your research and pick the school you think will be best for you. Look at the classes they offer before you apply and read the descriptions to see what interests you and talk to others who have gone to that school and program for their opinions and suggestions.
Jennifer Iley - BA in English (Literature) - MA in Library and Information Science
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
It is the minimum requirement to be a librarian.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
Increased opportunities.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Find a way to pay for it that doesn't include student loans.
Matthew Stumpf - BA in English Literature - MA in Literature and Criticism
Did you complete your graduate degree?
I have completed my masters and am currently working on a Ph.D.
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
To be frank, I pursued my Master’s because I didn't want to be done with college yet. I then fell in love with the intellectual community that is fostered within English graduate programs and realized that was where I belong.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
With my Ph.D. I hope to find a career in teaching at a university. The academic job market is tough right now, but ever since my first day of undergrad I have wanted to be a professor.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Start reading yesterday, don't get too caught up in your own head, make friends, enjoy a cocktail here and there, and most importantly have fun with it.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
My Ph.D. is fully funded and I was awarded an assistantship that gives me a bi-weekly stipend. A Doctoral Fellowship award has also helped me financially. My Master’s on the other hand almost doubled my student loan debt, and set me back about 20k/year for the two years I was there. It is for that reason that I chose a Ph.D. program that offered full funding to its students.
K. Ruggles - BA in English - MA in English
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
My familial background was not one that lent itself to the pursuit of education. I knew that to overcome the history of my past, I had to go far above and beyond what the expectations of me were.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
I always told people that I wouldn't mind teaching, but I would never teach at the public school level. Now that I have my graduate degree, I get to do what I love (teach) but at the university level.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Do it. There is absolutely nothing bad about having a graduate degree in the long run. If you apply for a job and they tell you that you are over-qualified because of your degree...you were never really going to see opportunities for promotion anyway.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
The one thing I would do differently is more research. I did not know how to go about doing what I wanted to do, so I didn't know how to get grants and scholarships. So I am up to my eyeballs in debt. I also would have taken the thesis track in my Master’s program rather than the capstone track. It's harder, but I would feel more accomplished and worthy of my degree if I had written a thesis.
Blair Romain - BA in English - MS in Professional and Technical Communications
Did you complete your graduate degree?
Not yet, but I will be graduating after this semester (Spring 2016).
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
I wanted to be more specialized than simply having an English degree and I certainly didn't want to teach (which we all know is what people expect we will do when we say what our major is). I started in a graduate program in Composition and Rhetoric where I took a course in technical writing. It immediately clicked with me and I left the program to pursue a degree that focused on technical communication.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
So far it hasn't as I currently am working at a job where I'm not utilizing my writing skills. But, once I graduate, I hope to officially begin my career in something I'm passionate about with a stellar portfolio that I have built up during my program.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Getting a graduate degree is a major expense, but can be worth it depending on your career path. Unlike your undergrad degree, everyone in your grad program has similar interests to your own and you can form an invaluable network of peers upon completion of your program.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
If possible, I would approach your employer and see if they offer to compensate you for taking classes. This is an option that I wish my employer offered. I also completed my graduate degree entirely online, which I highly recommend. It allowed me to complete coursework at times ideal to my crazy schedule and gave me the option to apply to schools I may not have considered otherwise.
Julia McCrossin - BA in English - M.Phil. in English
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
I was interested in the subject and thought I wanted to teach.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
It hasn't at all.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Do it for the passion, not for career prospects.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
Student loans are not “good debt.”
Shannon McGinley - BA in Communications - MA in TESOL
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
I wanted a career change.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
More job offers, increased salary.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Explore all options for funding (assistantships, etc.).
Shanee Campbell - BA in English - MA in English (Composition and Rhetoric)
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
To broaden my understanding of the topics I was interested in: writing, deconstruction and derrida, why we make errors in writing, etc.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
Mostly not at all. I'm working a job in which anyone with an Bachelor's can work. However, it did pretty much solidify the company's choice to hire me. I was hired within 3 hours of my first interview.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Graduate degrees should be for yourself, not for money. There is rarely any advancement in pay with an MA so your choice to do it would be entirely either because you wish to get a doctorate and teach, or because you simply want to understand/learn more about a particular subject. Choose a university based on this. I went to a university that had a Master's concentration in Rhetoric and Composition for this reason.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
I went to a "budget" university for my graduate degree, paid entirely out of pocket. I had a great experience, and I was allowed to pursue my own interests (or incorporate my interests) in any classroom. A Master's degree will NOT get you much more in terms of money, so really pay attention to your interests and understand that you're doing this for – self-improvement over all other reasons.
Rick Middleton - BA in English - MA in English (Composition and Communication)
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
Intense interest in the subject matter, career advancement potential, and the classes were free since I work at a university.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
I still have the same job (university grant writer) as before, but I'm also pursuing doing part-time community college teaching now that I have an MA. I also consult, and having an MA builds credibility.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Try to look at many career paths (3 or 4 of them), since "being a professor" is one of the hardest to follow. There are many fulfilling writing and communications jobs for smart English majors outside of academia.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
I was fortunate to get my degree for free, since I work at the school.
Brandon Hines - BA in English (minor in Education) - MA in English - MA in Education
Did you complete your graduate degree?
No, still in progress.
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
In California, teaching credentials must be obtained through graduate school. A year-and-a-half program with a Master’s folded in made sense. Saves time and earns more money.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
I will make more as a teacher, and can be pickier about job offers.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Make sure you feel it's worth it. School has never been harder and the cost is pretty draining. More than just financially.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
As an in state student, UC tuition isn't much more than when I was an undergrad, but not being able to work makes it so much harder.
Lisa Taylor - BS in Speech Pathology - MA in Literary Studies
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
I was pulled to the liberal arts and thought it was a way to get a job.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
Not at all, sadly.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Make sure you know your desired end result and be specific. Pick a program that panders to that specifically. Do not stray.
Elizabeth Gassel Perkins - BA in English - MA in English - Ed.D. in Leadership/Higher Ed.
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
I worked in my campus's writing center as an undergrad and loved helping people (as much as I loved editing). I wanted to do that forever!
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
For my job, it's required. I got a FT tenure-track teaching job at a two-year college and am now the dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. My credentials got me my first job, but my writing abilities (learned in my MA program) are really what helped me advance in my career to leadership positions.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Take advantage of every opportunity you get! Can you work as a TA? Can you tutor in the writing center (even as a volunteer)? Can you get leadership experience by joining Sigma Tau Delta? Can you apply for conference stipends? Do it all!
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
I loved my program and my professors. I completed it in 10 months while working full-time hours (no online courses, either). I used loans and my own money and finished quickly, so that I could get a job. Grad school doesn't have to be a black hole if you are very motivated!
Kim Buelow - Middle School Education - MA in English
Why did you choose to obtain a graduate degree?
Loved school.
How has your graduate degree affected your career prospects and advancement?
Gave me more opportunities to work in different arenas.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree?
Know your strengths and weaknesses and have an open mind about what the degree can bring you.
