Claire:
Knowing what to do after graduation is a common problem for many college students, especially here at Stevens, where many students have the option to pursue an accelerated master’s degree. For most of college, I thought I would go straight into a master’s program, but I ended up deciding to start my career before thinking about more school. It’s a complicated decision to make, and it’s hard to know what’s going to be right for you. On one hand, master’s degrees have a lot of benefits and can expand job opportunities and salaries down the road. Participating in the accelerated master’s program (AMP) can save time and money, and it might be harder to go back to school if you decide to wait. At the same time, you need to consider if you can afford another year of school. It may be financially easier to work full-time and save up for grad school. It might even be possible to work full-time while getting a master’s, which opens up the possibility of your company partially or fully covering the cost of your education.
No matter what you think you want, you’ll never be able to predict the opportunities and challenges that might come up in your final months of college. I know people who planned to get a job but ended up finding research opportunities that made them want to continue school and people who wanted a master’s who got offered their dream job full time. So, no matter what, prepare for your plans to change and to go with the flow.
Ethan:
I wouldn’t trust myself to make this decision for you, but I would recommend running far and fast. When graduation comes, the best thing you can do is hit the ground running and not look back. It can be tempting to stick around and stay with the consistent life you have built for yourself here at college. But it is not meant to last forever, so when you have the opportunity, it is best to get as far removed from it as possible so you can finally start living like a real person. The last thing I wanted for myself was to be too tied to Stevens that I wouldn’t be able to leave when my time came. When it was finally time to consider pursuing AMP or something else that would keep me here a little longer, I was tempted. Ultimately, I put my foot down and decided it was time to move on and become a real adult with a real job and whatnot. Stevens makes staying incredibly enticing, by only needing one more year for another degree, you can continue to do all the things you’ve loved to do over the years and get another degree out of it as well. But even with this opportunity, it is best to remember that everything is a scam, and you need to run away for your own sanity. At the end of the day, do what you need to do or even want to do, but do not fall victim to the traps that will keep you stuck on campus indefinitely.
