To go or to defer....

[jalison]

I was accepted to a masters program that I really want to go to! But they give me the option to defer my acceptance for a year which is kind of intriguing.

I would be going to school directly out of undergrad - so when I graduate I would have no "real life" work experience (except for summer jobs at restaurants). I'm worried that when I graduate even though I have a masters degree I will be less-than-employable due to my lack of experience. I wonder if I should defer and try to get an internship for a year (although I can't guarantee that I would even GET an internship because I don't have one lined up) or whether I should just go for it and deal with my lack of experience on the other side - and hope that the school I am going to can try to help me out in finding a job.

 

I have a week to decide. What would you do?

[iphi]

I would just go unless you already have a great job lined up. Yes, you may need more experience later, but why don't you just cross that bridge when (or if) you come to it? Plus the connections you make in grad school could help your job prospects. You can also get experience during your degree even if it's just volunteering.

[rising_star]

Did the master's program offer you funding? If it did, I would go and then try to gain experience through a summer internship or part-time job while you're in the program. If it didn't offer you funding, then definitely defer and try to do something else before going.

[Texan_Air]

Well the good thing is that you recognize a known problem that some people ignore till it is to late. It wouldn't hurt to talk to your undergrad program's career adviser about this. I agree that you should pursue your masters. I say this because in my opinion you are in a major that is known to need a masters degree to be competitive. But I am in a different field so get other opinions as well.

 

Plus you always have the ability to get an internship for Summer 2015 and also while during your masters program as well. And if you graduate program offers co-ops then you always have another option. From what I seen in my field is that the job market is starting to recognize more students going for their masters by now offering jobs saying "bachelor or Masters" under the qualifying field for entry jobs.

[jalison]

Thanks for your replies! I think I agree with the general consensus and I'm just going to go for it and deal with that little "employment" issue when I get to it - hopefully my career advisors/connections/higher qualifications can help me out!