A Master’s degree is a specialized degree that is earned after your bachelor’s degree. As implied by the name, it is the art of becoming a master in a certain subject. Master's degrees are very in depth and require advanced skills, patience, and determination to complete.
The process of putting yourself through a master’s program is very arduous, yet very fulfilling, and rewarding. A Master’s degree is a very honorable and distinguishable thing to have because it shows dedication, both to you, and to your area of expertise.
The learning that you receive while working towards your master’s degree is very important, but the way you prepare for a master’s degree is even more important. Before the program begins, all your affairs need to be properly aligned so that you will have the best experience possible.
David Rondon, a PHD student studying Rotor Dynamics knows all about this process and is here to give some advice.
When David was about to start his master’s degree, he was very nervous. For David, studying a master’s degree was like venturing into the unknown. The amount of work that is required for a master’s program is on another level compared to a bachelor’s program. By the definition of a Master's, you are studying a specific topic in depth, and therefore, the studies are much more focused and intense. In a master’s program, there is much more thinking and applying on a professional level. However, depending on the program and focus, as well as the likes and dislikes of the student, the program may be perceived the be more or less difficult and enjoyable.
As for challenges, financing the program was a big hurdle for him, specifically keeping himself funded for 2 years in a row. Within the timeframe of his program, David had to be very frugal with his money and balance everything to make sure he had enough money to live on comfortably for the duration of program. To help with the money situation, he was able to secure a job as a teaching assistant, which helped pay the bills and ensure stability.
Another unique challenge for David was his age. When David started his master's program, he was 26, which is about 4 years older than the average age at 22. Therefore, it was increasingly difficult for David to connect with other students, make friends, and join study groups. The age difference created a barrier for David because of maturity levels and the difference between the stages of life.
There was also a learning curve when it came to the department’s curriculum. As it was to be expected, the transition from a bachelor’s program to a master’s program is much more challenging because of its intrinsic style of work. The increased work output demands more real-life applications and analysis; the learning curve was not fun, and he considers it a definite drawback.
David graduated with his master’s degree on time (within two years.) Most of the push that motivated him to complete his degree on time was his parents, as David’s mom and dad were the ones paying for his education. If David was to need additional semesters to complete his master’s program, his parents would have had to pay money for him, which would have not put them in a very happy mood.
As graduation day slowly approached, David started thinking about what he wanted to do with his life after he graduated; did he want to continue his academic career as a PHD student, or did he want to jump into the industry and get working? Another thought that swayed his decision was that a PHD is basically a guaranteed contract of employment (for a certain amount of time,) compared to a job in the workforce, which could end at a moment’s notice.
After much deliberation, David decided to pursue a PHD because he loved researching and working in academia. At the same time, David was a bit scared to venture out into the workforce; he did not know if he had what it takes to start a successful career and maintain it.
Ironically, after a few months into David's new PHD program, he realized he did not like it. After quitting the program, David secured a job in working with natural gas.
When looking back and thinking about preparing for a master's program, and especially while the program is in progress, the most important thing to consider (that can make or break the program) is to choose a program that is of interest to you. Also, consider why you are getting a master’s, how will it benefit you, and what will you do with a master’s in the future; will it help you reach a goal or improve your life outlook? As for David, he worked towards a master’s degree because he wanted to get a better job, and a master’s degree would help him to network with more companies in his desired field so that he could achieve that goal.
“I had an idea of what I wanted and how I was going to get to that, but some people don’t, some people don’t know what they want ... so they should start giving it some more thought” – David
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