7 of the Worst Reasons to Do a Master's Degree

Every nerdy college student has said at some point in their lives that they aspire to become an academic. With no experience of working life, how do you know for sure there isn’t another vocation out there that you’d love? As a rule of thumb, it’s always a good idea to mull it over, so why not try taking a year to venture out into the real world before committing to a master’s degree?

There’s no reason to rush into a life in academia, so take your time and consider trying something else first. You might even find that the research interest you were so committed to a year ago doesn’t interest you anymore.

There’s no better way to figure out what you actually want to do in life than by doing things and working. Try out a job, and if it’s not for you, learn why and give another career a go. Find out what works for you and what doesn’t, while building valuable work experience. Avoiding the problem won’t make it go away.

The perks of having a “prestigious” alumni network to use as a safety net can often be overstated. There are other ways to build a network of contacts that don’t involve paying hefty tuition fees. Interning with a company you like, for instance, and making a good impression can have just as positive an impact on your future job prospects.

One of the most prevalent misconceptions out there is that having a master’s degree on your CV will make up for an average undergraduate classification. Most recruiters will be happy with a 2:1 in the UK or a GPA of 3.33 in the US, provided you meet the other requirements of the job and have the right personality. The myth of having the perfect CV is a little overdone. In most cases, you just need to be able to do what’s listed in the job description.

Doing a master’s degree abroad on the off-chance an employer will sponsor you can be a bad idea. Employers tend to be unwilling to hire a candidate they need to sponsor unless there’s a significant skills shortage they need to fill. Unless you have skills which are particularly in-demand (such as web developing, engineering, or computer science), or visa laws explicitly state that holding a master’s degree from a local university will render you more eligible for a work permit, then don’t bother.

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