Comments on: Vent: My Disillusionment and Resentment with Graduate Education http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/ Breaking Financial Ceilings One Stiletto At A Time! Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:16:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: MC http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-536 MC Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:45:01 +0000 http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-536 So glad I found this post, I really needed to read someone voicing some of the things I've been thinking about. I'm also a grad student in a mental health program (not at the practicum point yet), and I'm discouraged by some of the income I see in job ads I will be qualified for when I finish. At 40, I have been in a different field all my working life, and have very little paid experience in the psychology/social work field. In order for me to get any, I will have to take a $12K-$15K/year pay cut, and with 2 children of my own and a family, I just cannot. So I continue to work in a dead end job I detest, while I go to school for a subject I love. When the day comes that I graduate, and am interning, I imagine I will revisit this and feel very much like you do. I console myself in knowing that I will at least have done something toward the dream I've always had of helping people...something I am not doing in the clerical position I currently hold (and got with a high school diploma). I think the job market is getting saturated with BA's now...it's the new AA degree. In the general job market, a BA used to mean management, and $50K, now it means maybe an interview, and possibly entry-level. So more people are going the graduate route, and the MBAs will be the next BAs, and so on and so on. I fear it will get worse before it gets better....all these 'get your MBA in 13 months' programs... I sympathize. Thank you again for the wonderful post. So glad I found this post, I really needed to read someone voicing some of the things I’ve been thinking about. I’m also a grad student in a mental health program (not at the practicum point yet), and I’m discouraged by some of the income I see in job ads I will be qualified for when I finish. At 40, I have been in a different field all my working life, and have very little paid experience in the psychology/social work field. In order for me to get any, I will have to take a $12K-$15K/year pay cut, and with 2 children of my own and a family, I just cannot. So I continue to work in a dead end job I detest, while I go to school for a subject I love. When the day comes that I graduate, and am interning, I imagine I will revisit this and feel very much like you do. I console myself in knowing that I will at least have done something toward the dream I’ve always had of helping people…something I am not doing in the clerical position I currently hold (and got with a high school diploma).

I think the job market is getting saturated with BA’s now…it’s the new AA degree. In the general job market, a BA used to mean management, and $50K, now it means maybe an interview, and possibly entry-level. So more people are going the graduate route, and the MBAs will be the next BAs, and so on and so on. I fear it will get worse before it gets better….all these ‘get your MBA in 13 months’ programs…

I sympathize. Thank you again for the wonderful post.

]]> By: Follow up to Disillusionment and Frustation with Graduate Education | Girls Just Wanna Have Funds http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-356 Follow up to Disillusionment and Frustation with Graduate Education | Girls Just Wanna Have Funds Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:11:19 +0000 http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-356 [...] readers are awesome! I’ve gotten so much positive feedback via email about this post. I figured I’d answer a few of your questions here. So..what’s the plan when December [...] [...] readers are awesome! I’ve gotten so much positive feedback via email about this post. I figured I’d answer a few of your questions here. So..what’s the plan when December [...]

]]> By: citygirl http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-351 citygirl Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:23:46 +0000 http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-351 I understand the dilemma, especially with regards to passion/purpose. I have a bachelor's in photojournalism, that I realized I didn't want to directly use while in my last year of college. I then spent almost 10 years working as a recptionist and admin for a company with crazy office politics while I took acting and film classes on nights and weekends. I want to make movies, really bad. But now I'm faced with needing to find a job to make ends meet. And though I desperately want to do something creative if I have to be stuck in an office from 9-5 again, the only opportunities that I've come close to in my 8 weeks of searching are boring cubicle-bound and soul-sucking. So, I totally get it. Good luck to you! I understand the dilemma, especially with regards to passion/purpose. I have a bachelor’s in photojournalism, that I realized I didn’t want to directly use while in my last year of college. I then spent almost 10 years working as a recptionist and admin for a company with crazy office politics while I took acting and film classes on nights and weekends.

I want to make movies, really bad. But now I’m faced with needing to find a job to make ends meet. And though I desperately want to do something creative if I have to be stuck in an office from 9-5 again, the only opportunities that I’ve come close to in my 8 weeks of searching are boring cubicle-bound and soul-sucking.

So, I totally get it. Good luck to you!

]]> By: Ginger http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-346 Ginger Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:39:16 +0000 http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-346 Kara you and I are --->HERE<---- I dont know of any places that offer a stipend for interns here in DC. Im sure there are some but they are few and far between. I decided against the PHD because honestly if I spend 7-8 years getting a PHD then I need to be making at least 100k. No questions about it. As I understand they are lucky to make 60k. MY classmates and I were talking this evening about our plans after grad school and its grim. Im not sure how long this feeling will last but Im willing to ride it out until December. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. Kara you and I are —>HERE<—-

I dont know of any places that offer a stipend for interns here in DC. Im sure there are some but they are few and far between. I decided against the PHD because honestly if I spend 7-8 years getting a PHD then I need to be making at least 100k. No questions about it. As I understand they are lucky to make 60k.

MY classmates and I were talking this evening about our plans after grad school and its grim. Im not sure how long this feeling will last but Im willing to ride it out until December.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

]]> By: Kara http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-345 Kara Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:48:31 +0000 http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-345 I am also going for a masters in counseling but specializing in trauma. I don't start my internship until next year (if I can find one! jeez) but I already know I'll have to give up my full time job. In the entire city of Boston and outlying areas I have heard of ONE internship that offers a stipened. However, it's only 1000$ a semester! really now, does anyone expect a person to live off that little amount in a city? It wouldn't even cover two months rent for me! ugh, but yeah, I've been feeling very resentful towards gradschool lately. I'm contemplating continuing on to PhD and then maybe teaching, but who knows. It feels like there are practically no viable choices these days. I am also going for a masters in counseling but specializing in trauma. I don’t start my internship until next year (if I can find one! jeez) but I already know I’ll have to give up my full time job. In the entire city of Boston and outlying areas I have heard of ONE internship that offers a stipened. However, it’s only 1000$ a semester! really now, does anyone expect a person to live off that little amount in a city? It wouldn’t even cover two months rent for me!
ugh, but yeah, I’ve been feeling very resentful towards gradschool lately. I’m contemplating continuing on to PhD and then maybe teaching, but who knows. It feels like there are practically no viable choices these days.

]]> By: Ginger http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-343 Ginger Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:35:50 +0000 http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-343 Thanks Luke :-) Thanks Luke :-)

]]> By: Luke @ realworldreally.com http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-341 Luke @ realworldreally.com Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:17:16 +0000 http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-341 No problem, I owed you one ;) Good luck with everything! No problem, I owed you one ;)

Good luck with everything!

]]> By: Ginger http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-340 Ginger Thu, 13 Mar 2008 02:18:15 +0000 http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-340 @ Madcel- Thanks babes *kiss* @ IVy-Real Talk, all that idealistic stuff goes out of the door once graduation nears and you check with Sallie MAe about your monthly tuition payments. Sure, this is my fault because no one forced me to get into this field but I just feel let down. I thought salaries would have increased but I find they are lower than I expected. @Sennait-That's crap if I have an opinion about it. People who go to school and spend time and money accruing debt and knowledge SHOULD expect to be WELL when they graduate. Why should they not? What would be the purpose of a graduate education or at all? So they can HOPE to get a good job? No. MBAs don't amass $100k in debt just to sit on their tail HOPING they get a good job, they expect it. @C2A-I know the setup you're talking about and that is direction I am leaning towards if I choose to stay in the field. Here in DC metro companies contract with the federal and local govts to provide behavioral services to group homes and behaviorally challenged children. I worked for one last year and the pay was great. When I graduate I would consider working as a contract counselor at a higher hourly rate without benefits. This would be a viable option. @ Madcel- Thanks babes *kiss*

@ IVy-Real Talk, all that idealistic stuff goes out of the door once graduation nears and you check with Sallie MAe about your monthly tuition payments. Sure, this is my fault because no one forced me to get into this field but I just feel let down. I thought salaries would have increased but I find they are lower than I expected.

@Sennait-That’s crap if I have an opinion about it. People who go to school and spend time and money accruing debt and knowledge SHOULD expect to be WELL when they graduate. Why should they not? What would be the purpose of a graduate education or at all? So they can HOPE to get a good job? No. MBAs don’t amass $100k in debt just to sit on their tail HOPING they get a good job, they expect it.

@C2A-I know the setup you’re talking about and that is direction I am leaning towards if I choose to stay in the field. Here in DC metro companies contract with the federal and local govts to provide behavioral services to group homes and behaviorally challenged children. I worked for one last year and the pay was great. When I graduate I would consider working as a contract counselor at a higher hourly rate without benefits. This would be a viable option.

]]> By: c2a http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-339 c2a Thu, 13 Mar 2008 02:06:39 +0000 http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-339 My sister did a Master in Counseling Psychology. We're in CA so I'm not sure how other states work. After graduation she had to get a certain number of hours working under licensed counselors before she could work for herself. In addition to her post graduate job, one of her gf's with a license had a business providing counseling to group homes and other facilities. My sis worked for her and earned hours and pretty decent pay. Now she has her regular job, plus she works for group homes, the work is flexible and she teaches online. She was making 6 figures a couple years ago but again she was doing 3 or 4 things related to her field. In CA you have to have a counselor like her as administrator to run certain group and care homes. Its not many hours a week. These homes get about $5000 per child per month with max 6 kids, so they do pay and its extra pay if you operate as counselor in addition to administrator. My sister did a Master in Counseling Psychology. We’re in CA so I’m not sure how other states work. After graduation she had to get a certain number of hours working under licensed counselors before she could work for herself.

In addition to her post graduate job, one of her gf’s with a license had a business providing counseling to group homes and other facilities. My sis worked for her and earned hours and pretty decent pay. Now she has her regular job, plus she works for group homes, the work is flexible and she teaches online. She was making 6 figures a couple years ago but again she was doing 3 or 4 things related to her field.

In CA you have to have a counselor like her as administrator to run certain group and care homes. Its not many hours a week. These homes get about $5000 per child per month with max 6 kids, so they do pay and its extra pay if you operate as counselor in addition to administrator.

]]> By: Sennait http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-338 Sennait Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:35:14 +0000 http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/2008/03/vent-my-disillusionment-and-resentment-with-graduate-education/#comment-338 I found your site via the mommymillionairnextdoor.blogspot.com blog. I can understand your predicament. I love school, yet my passions are not paid well in the market, so I have turned to entrepreneurship that is semi-passive to make up the shortfall (i.e real estate, boarding students). I think an education (B.A at least) is very important, but I think it is unfortunate that people go to school and assume that all will be well because they have a degree. I look forward to looking through your other posts. God's Blessings, Sennait I found your site via the mommymillionairnextdoor.blogspot.com blog. I can understand your predicament. I love school, yet my passions are not paid well in the market, so I have turned to entrepreneurship that is semi-passive to make up the shortfall (i.e real estate, boarding students). I think an education (B.A at least) is very important, but I think it is unfortunate that people go to school and assume that all will be well because they have a degree. I look forward to looking through your other posts.

God’s Blessings,

Sennait

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