Pursuing_an_Mba

Pursuing an MBA: What’s in it for me' Pursuing an MBA Jessica Brown University of Phoenix In a society that constantly reminds us that “Knowledge and Power is everything,” we often feel obligated to make ourselves stand out in some way. The chances of succeeding in life are far greater for those who possess a considerable amount of knowledge. It also doesn’t hurt to be connected to the right people either. For this reason, many people have considered pursuing higher levels of education, more specifically master’s degrees. Whether it is due to gaining a competitive advantage in a highly competitive market, financial stability, long-term employment, or personal growth, there are many benefits to pursuing master’s degrees. Personal Growth I’ve always had a personal need to strive for excellence. Being a product of an educator, the importance of receiving a quality education was strongly encouraged. I learned early on that life would be difficult if I did not have a good education. A professor once told me “The day that you stop learning, is the day that you cease from living.” Those words were enough motivation for me to seek more knowledge and increased learning so that I would be able to position myself in an increasingly competitive market. Gaining an Competitive Advantage The pursuit of higher education has become the norm in society today. The increasing demand of technological advancement warrants young professionals and the like to search for ways to gain a competitive advantage. The ideas that are being used today were developed five years ago. Teachers are preparing students to develop ideas for products and services that don’t exist yet. Between 1998 and 2005, the number of computers in public schools has increased from 90 to 154. (NCES, 2009). Nearly 50 million students are enrolled in 99,000 public and secondary schools for the fall term and an estimated $543 billion will be spent on their education. (NCES, 2009). What does that say for our educational system' It says that our world is moving forward at a swift pace and we must be able to keep up. Growing Need in Today’s Job Market Gone are the days when people can simply rely on their years of experience to remain in a particular industry. As our economy continues to compete globally, more companies are requiring their employees to obtain higher education. Today, having a bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for most entry-level positions and a master’s degree for positions in management. Employees with master’s degrees are better equipped to handle a wide range of responsibilities within their field. The tools that an individual receive in a graduate program further enhances his/her ability to think analytically, communicate and solve problems more effectively. Graduate programs teach individuals how to take what they learned and apply it to real world situations. Also, graduate programs are often the perfect place to network with others pursuing the same interests. These opportunities could potentially lead to future job offers. As the market continues to become more competitive, it will become increasingly difficult to acquire certain jobs. The percentage of individuals graduating from graduate programs continues to increase every year. As a result, an undergraduate degree will eventually become the equivalent of a high school diploma. Simply put, a master’s degree enables an individual to become more marketable in a competition-driven market. Dollars and Sense Most people will agree that money may not bring happiness, but it will definitely keep them comfortable. The average salary that an individual with a master’s degree earns is $20,000 more than an individual with a bachelor’s degree and significantly more (2.6 times the average) than that of an individual with a high school diploma. (U.S. Census, 2009). As prices continue to rise, the average standard of living is becoming more difficult to reach. In 1950, a family of five could live comfortably on one income and have money for savings and recreational activities. Today, most households consist of two incomes that only cover the necessities and leave little or no room for long-term savings and investments. Bottom Line Pursuing a master’s degree will further enhance an individual’s quality of life. This decision will lead to greater opportunities that may have not been afforded before entering into a graduate program. The experience of obtaining a master’s degree is like going through a rite of passage. A person can look back on what he/she has endured throughout the journey and appreciate arriving to the final destination. The feeling of achieving this goal is priceless. References National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, Digest of Education Statistics, 2008, Chapter 6 (NCES 2008-022) http://nces.ed.gov/ Accessed on 30 August 2009 United States Census Bureau http://www.census.gov Accessed on 30 August 2009