point of post graduate courses

louiscollins

hi to everyone on boards,
basically i cant get my head around why people feel a need to study after college. my brother completed social science in UCD a few years ago and got a nice job no problem without any post graduate masters or better course. he now works in a bank. what im wondering is...
whats the difference between someone who has a masters and then works in an office or a person who just has a degree like arts/social science and works in the same office? is there any point in doing further study at all? thanks all

leeroybrown

It would depend on the qualification and the career/job. For some people a postgrad enables them to change career area, get a job they couldn't have otherwise or make faster career progress. Plenty of people chose to do the right postgrad for the right reasons and very successful because of it. In your brothers case his course allowed him to get a 'nice' job but in many cases people finish up college directionless.

My own view is that far too many people wander aimlessly into a postgrad with any real consideration of what they will gain from it.

Some people also have the mistaken impression that they'll get better pay for the same work because they have a postgrad. In most cases they won't - but they might well have the opportunity to get a better job and career path.

MIN2511

A post grad does not entitle any one to more money in a job, I know a guy that his first degree is in CS and then he went on to do Classics for a PG. Lets just say, he wasted a year and is now working in a bank and earning 24k a QA/UAT. Personally I think anyone that decides to do a PG should do so in the field they feel comfortably in, there is no need doing a PG straight after your degree if you don’t have work experience. I am applying for PG courses this year and would do something in my field (IT)
The points for doing a PG for me are
• I have experience in my field, I can get more money
• Expose myself to other aspects
• Learn management skills…
• More money 

AARRRGH

louiscollins wrote: »

is there any point in doing further study at all? thanks all

Education is not just about getting a better job.

louiscollins wrote: »

i cant get my head around why people feel a need to study after college

I love learning and I love having knowledge about a whole range of things. Doing an MSc (or whatever) is a structured way to learn.

IMO education is for life, so I will always be studying.

I am currently pursuing an MSc and plan on doing another Masters next year, and eventually a PhD.

louiscollins wrote: »

whats the difference between someone who has a masters and then works in an office or a person who just has a degree like arts/social science and works in the same office?

The person with the post graduate qualification has a higher chance of earning more money and getting considered for management.

damnyanks

A post grad enables you to study something else for a year which is a great thing. As far as career goes it can be good and it can be pointless. Worst case scenario you are no better off.

Viewing some form of education is pointless and I don't mean this in the sense that education is a great gift and all that ****e. You learn about something in great detail and form a strong opinion about it. This gives you an edge in life

AARRRGH

Yeah, post grad education is particularly good if you want to get a job in another area. For example, tons of arts graduates do a post grad in IT and then go work as software testers, etc.