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This isn't me personally but what are some ST thoughts about avoiding the economy by enrolling in grad school?

Posted by Hotkiss (aka hotkiss7348) Mar 11 '09, 12:36

I'm seeing more and more of my peers applying now. But one friend noted, "The economy isn't going to get better in 1, 2, 5 years. People taking out even more loans to go to grad school is just furthering the problem that started all this in the first place."

Responses:

I got out of grad school just before the economy went to pot. -- nm - Mop Mar 11, 12:48
who *pays* for grad school? -- nm - the emerald city loves mandy lane Mar 11, 12:45 20
- *starts to raise hand, then reconsiders* -- nm - TaurusII Mar 11, 12:46 19
  - Don't worry, Taur. Every time you go to the strip bar, you're paying for someone's grad school. -- nm - Mop Mar 11, 12:50 1
    - *feels relieved* -- nm - TaurusII Mar 11, 12:52
  - well, full-time grad school. part time obvs is OOP, but full-time? you can almost always go for free. I mean, *I* do. anyone could. -- nm - the emerald city loves mandy lane Mar 11, 12:47 16
    - Dude, not everyone is as smart as you. I paid for it. -- nm - Max Mar 11, 12:52
    - Yale wants 80 grand for the MFA graphic design program I was looking at. -- nm - lileve Mar 11, 12:50 6
      - right, but that's *yale.* set your sights lower, work your ass off, and shine at a different school. -- nm - the emerald city loves mandy lane Mar 11, 12:54 3
        
        seriously. brand name schools are overrated. look for a program that succeeds on its merits that complements what you're looking to do with your life -- nm - znufrii Mar 11, 13:02 1
        
        (and I mean overrated as a whole. I'm sure there are a number of programs at brand-name schools that actually do live up to the hype) -- nm - znufrii Mar 11, 13:04
        
        True. I would shine if I worked my ass off. -- nm - lileve Mar 11, 13:01
      - And how much will they give you to take it? -- nm - TaurusII Mar 11, 12:52 1
        
        I have not even considered applying yet. -- nm - lileve Mar 11, 13:01
    - It really depends on the program. the high-profile ones have so much demand they can get students who can and will pay for the privilege. -- nm - znufrii Mar 11, 12:48 7
      - [deleted] 3
        
        this is true, but certain schools also act as status symbols and know they will attract a certain level of applicant they will tailor their fellowship - znufrii Mar 11, 12:59 2
        
        [deleted] 1
        
        I'm smart enough to know I wouldn't want to go to grad school. -- nm - znufrii Mar 11, 13:05
      - right right. but if your goal is "decent program for free"? you can totally do that. -- nm - the emerald city loves mandy lane Mar 11, 12:50 2
        
        Depends on the type of program I'd think, but as a general statement, you're probably correct. -- nm - znufrii Mar 11, 12:55 1
        
        I lived it. maybe it'll be more competitive now that more people are trying to go, but diversity initiatives at schools are huge. - the emerald city loves mandy lane Mar 11, 12:56
The person who said that does not know what they're talking about - con_carne Mar 11, 12:43 2
- You can get student loans from organizations other than Uncle Sam. In fact, it's common, and staggers the students long after they leave school. -- nm - Mop Mar 11, 12:51
- And even if your IM were true, it would be a piss poor reason not to do grad school -- nm - con_carne Mar 11, 12:45
Depends on what you want to do and what you can afford. - pmb Mar 11, 12:42
grad school enrollments and unemployment track each other quite strongly. -- (link) - Reagen Mar 11, 12:42
doing it to further your career prospects, good idea. doing it to avoid the economy, not so much. -- nm - znufrii Mar 11, 12:41 15
- I agree with this as well, but I still don't understand what's meant by "avoiding the economy." -- nm - JaxSean Mar 11, 12:45 10
  - spending a couple years in the soft-landing environment of grad school can be easier than trying to find a job in tough economic times. -- nm - Reagen Mar 11, 12:46
  - instead of looking for jobs, many want to continue school merely because it's a set way of life -- nm - Hotkiss Mar 11, 12:46 8
    - Ah. I still say go to school if they're able. -- nm - JaxSean Mar 11, 12:49 2
      - what if able means having to take out loans for the first time? -- nm - Hotkiss Mar 11, 12:49 1
        
        I don't see why not. - JaxSean Mar 11, 12:52
    - but this is different to avoiding the economy. this is avoiding real life. -- nm - the emerald city loves mandy lane Mar 11, 12:47 4
      - Well, because no one is hiring. -- nm - Hotkiss Mar 11, 12:48 3
        
        patently false. I posit that people are panicking, using panic as an excuse not to look. -- (link) - the emerald city loves mandy lane Mar 11, 12:52 2
        
        I don't really think this is false. 15% of our local companies are hiring, which...is not much. - Callisto Mar 11, 13:10
        
        Nice link, very helpfu -- nm - Hotkiss Mar 11, 12:54
- also, grad school and culinary school are two completely different animals. -- nm - znufrii Mar 11, 12:44 2
  - How are they completely different? -- nm - Hotkiss Mar 11, 12:50 1
    - culinary school is much more specialized vocational training, whereas having a graduate degree is more academic. -- nm - znufrii Mar 11, 12:54
- yeah, I agree with this. -- nm - Callisto Mar 11, 12:42
Grad school for what? -- nm - TaurusII Mar 11, 12:40 2
- War. -- nm - Loyola Mar 11, 12:45 1
  - Always worthwhile. :P -- nm - TaurusII Mar 11, 12:45
I agree with your friend and Jim below. -- nm - Dr.Vermin Mar 11, 12:39 4
- Expound please? I'm curious to hear some arguments -- nm - Hotkiss Mar 11, 12:40 3
  - I don't think increasing your debt is a good idea, especially for a grad school education that so many other STers find to be way overrated... - Dr.Vermin Mar 11, 12:45 2
    - it depends. For many things you might want to do, grad school is a neccesity. - Reagen Mar 11, 12:51 1
      - Obviously, I'm speaking generally. Of course grad school is right for some. - Dr.Vermin Mar 11, 12:55
waste of time. -- nm - Jim Mar 11, 12:38 12
- In particular, a friend wants to go to culinary school (CIA, etc) and open his own restaurant afterwards. Is culinary school a waste of time? -- nm - Hotkiss Mar 11, 12:39 11
  - google for the percentage of restaurants that fail within the first year. it's always very high. in this economy? far higher, I would bet. -- nm - the emerald city loves mandy lane Mar 11, 12:45 3
    - Agreed. But if they're good and that's their dream, shouldn't let "the economy" stand in their way. -- nm - JaxSean Mar 11, 12:47 2
      - by the time they're done, there will probably 85 cooking reality shows they can compete on, too. -- nm - Callisto Mar 11, 12:49 1
        
        by 2028, everyone will only eat meals prepared by celebrity chefs. -- nm - Reagen Mar 11, 12:54
  - Sounds awesome. And thinking about it makes me hungry -- nm - con_carne Mar 11, 12:44
  - Not a waste of time if that is your goal. But it's a tough time to open a restaurant, if the economy hasn't recovered by the time he's done. -- nm - TaurusII Mar 11, 12:42 3
    - Hmmmm, "your" = "his", sorry. -- nm - TaurusII Mar 11, 12:43
    - It's pretty much never an easy time to open a restaurant. -- nm - znufrii Mar 11, 12:42 1
      - Judging by the failure rate of restaurants around here, you may be right. - TaurusII Mar 11, 12:44
  - I know several people who have gone to CIA and all have well paying jobs at this point. -- nm - decline Mar 11, 12:42
  - Heh....I'm just goofing. I never think grad school is a waste of time. nm -- nm - Jim Mar 11, 12:41
Good idea. -- nm - Loyola Mar 11, 12:37
"avoiding?" I think now would be a good time to further your education, sure. -- nm - JaxSean Mar 11, 12:37

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This isn't me personally but what are some ST thoughts about avoiding the economy by enrolling in grad school?

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