After years of hard work leading up to your bachelor’s degree, you finally earn your diploma and the title of alumnus or alumna. But the work is just beginning. Now that you have an undergraduate degree, it’s time to decide whether you will go for your master’s in education right away or take some time to teach before applying for a program.

There are pros and cons that come with each decision. Applying now means at least one more year of putting school above all else. But many people who chose to put off their master’s degrees never return to complete them.

Benefits of Applying Now:

• You worked hard to get to where you are today, but there is still some work that needs to be done in order for you to get your dream job. By completing your master’s degree in education immediately, you will reach your goal more quickly than if you took time off to teach
• Teachers with master’s degrees are generally paid more than their counterparts who only hold bachelor’s degrees
• It is hard work to be a student, and even more work to live the lifestyle of a student. When you go for your master’s degree in education, you can keep up the momentum to complete your work and go to class that you had during your undergraduate years
• You can get your master’s degree under your belt before personal priorities, like marriage and children, take over
• Your student loans will be put on hold until you complete your master’s degree

Benefits of Teaching First:

• You can test the waters and find out if teaching, or teaching a specific subject, is really what you want to do with your career
• Schools are very mindful of their budgets. They are sometimes more likely to hire someone without their master’s degree because they demand a lower pay rate, especially if you plan to work in a less wealthy district
• You will know what you want to learn. Classroom experience will give you some insight into what you would like to know more about and give you completely new subjects to look into
• Your employer may offer you tuition reimbursement, which means that you could earn your master’s degree while saving thousands of dollars
• You can specialize your master’s program and learn more about what it takes to be a principal, administrator, professor or teach a different subject
• You may feel burnt out after completing your undergraduate degree and need a break from higher education. Teaching will give you new challenges and experience until you’re ready to go back for your master’s in education
• You can begin earning money right away

You must make the final decision on when you will apply for a master’s degree, and there is no way to choose incorrectly. You should sit down and consider the financial, personal and professional implications of each choice, and pick the path that best suits your needs.

If you having trouble deciding on what to do, reach out to one of our graduate admissions counselors today!

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