Graduate Degree: completely flummoxed

[Donas64]

I need some ideas ladies & gents. Heres the deal. I got my undergrad in graphic design and my minor in Spanish in 2004. I'm thinking about starting my graduate degree but I have no clue what I want to pursue. My design skills are slight above average. I have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. I have great attention to detail. I love design, cars, writing the occasional article or story and such.

I am considering an MBA mainly for the job opportunities it would open up but I'm not to keen on it. I've also considered journalism and pursuing a career in automotive journalism or working in an auto mag design dept but thats a hard field to get into. What I'm leaning towards is something in the field of PR where I can use my people skills, attention to detail and incorporate the occasional design elements.

My wife is starting her masters and I hope to follow suit soon, but I don't want to waste time and money on something I'm not passionate about. Any advice, suggestions or tips would be appreciated.

The bottom line is while the financial awards are a nice consideration, I want a career I can sink my teeth into. I like my current job a lot but I'm looking towards the future.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Donas64]

Also I should mention, if anyone has pursued any of the above degrees or anything similar, how hard was it? What are some things I should do to prepare? I've been out of school for about 4 years so I'm nervous to get back in.

 

[SuperStretch18]

The thing I've found about graphic design as a profession; it's less about being proficient and more about being able to perform on que. I am a pretty accomplished artist, but I would never do graphic design as a career because I'm very bad at taking direction with my art.

This is going to sound really stupid, but; what do you want to do when you grow up? Your masters should help you work towards a goal. Without knowing your career aspirations, it's hard to say what you should choose...

 

[jam_asian85]

How about Marketing?

 

[Donas64]

The thing I've found about graphic design as a profession; it's less about being proficient and more about being able to perform on que. I am a pretty accomplished artist, but I would never do graphic design as a career because I'm very bad at taking direction with my art.

This is going to sound really stupid, but; what do you want to do when you grow up? Your masters should help you work towards a goal. Without knowing your career aspirations, it's hard to say what you should choose...

I get what you're saying about design. I see how that could lead to frustration. I really want to work in a promotional or PR field of some kind. Marketing products. Design, presentations, concepts etc.

How about Marketing?

Yeah, thats something I think I could be into combining things I think I do well in. How hard is it to break into that field?

 

[jam_asian85]

I have no clue, sorry. lol

I'm trying to finish up w/ a BA in Architecture, but what you've described so far, I think a MBA in Marketing will suit you well, esp w/ your design background it should give you an edge.

 

[katsmp3]

If you are unsure of what to do.. Marketing and Business are both good ideas. For the MBA to actually get you jobs though... it has to be a good school.. otherwise you are just wasting a couple years that thousands of other people are also wasting across the US.

 

[Donas64]

I have no clue, sorry. lol

I'm trying to finish up w/ a BA in Architecture, but what you've described so far, I think a MBA in Marketing will suit you well, esp w/ your design background it should give you an edge.

Architecture. Nice. Thats such a cool field.

If you are unsure of what to do.. Marketing and Business are both good ideas. For the MBA to actually get you jobs though... it has to be a good school.. otherwise you are just wasting a couple years that thousands of other people are also wasting across the US.

Yeah, understood. I'm limited to what school I can attend because I'm trying to get this degree without taking out any loans. I have the opportunity to earn my masters while only paying for books so I have see what my this institution offers and what fields they are strong in. I most certainly don't want to slog through getting an MBA what isn't worth the effort it took and won't open any doors for me.

Thanks for all the advice people. One last question: The automotive journalist thing, is that just a pipe dream or is that a viable career path. I want to say the latter but my heart tells me its the former. I love the automotive musings of Ezra Dyer (he works for automobile) and what he does would be one of my dream jobs. I just don't know how I'd break into that field.

 

[nazgul350r]

sounds like you need to do some soul searching and decide want you want to do when you grow up. or pick on finish it and do something else till you figure it out.

and nothing is a pipe dream if you go after 100%

 

[Rotary_Powered]

MBA programs tend to be around 55-60 credits so keep that in mind. They can be very hard at times, but also very rewarding. Have you taken the GMAT or GRE's yet?

 

[Donas64]

Have not taken the GRE's. My wife took them and passed so we have all the books and study materials though.

 

[kickniteasy]

I actually just found out yesterday that I passed my comprehensive exam and will be receiving my grad degree in Secondary English Education Theory in December. Honestly, you need to know what you want before you try and start a program. I can't speak for other schools, but here at FSU in any program you have to prove your passion/dedication before they accept you, it's not just apply and you're in. Most grad classes tend to be 10-12 people in the big programs (english, marketing) while my classes tended to be in the 4-5 range. What I would do is go see a counselor at a local campus, usually there's a general graduate level counselor not unlike undergrad counselors, and talk to them about it and see what's available and look at your options. You can also e-mail other schools to see if they have something the college near you doesn't. Like you said, it's a big commitment in both time and money, grad classes are a whole new beast than undergrad.

*edit* I'd also take your GREs because that could limit your options for you. The way they do it here is you have to get 1000 just to be in any graduate program at FSU, then each program has it's own requirements (mine was 1100)

 

[kipper88]

A BA in architecture won't get you very far. You need a master's to get your license. Plus even if you have your license the hours suck and the pay isn't on scale for all the schooling you need to go through.

 

[VermZ06]

Autojournalism from what i understand is very difficult to get into especially on the large scale such as car and driver, motor trend, automobile and the like. You'll most likely have to move out to cali if you're not already there. I've also heard stories that you need an engineering degree to even be considered an automotive journalist...whatever.

On the MBA front it's probably a good move, but make sure you're getting good work experience along with it so you can actually apply what you learn. Even though more than half of what you learn will never be applied in your work lifetime. In terms of what school you go to...yes it can affect the type of job/pay, but don't blow your money because it's a top name school. If you don't do anything with that degree what's the point right? Remember a grad degree is still a grad degree and some employers don't even give a damn where you went to school as long as you're a good fit. (From my experience at least) Go to the school that's going to give you the most money, rock it, then find the company/career of your dreams and enjoy yourself.

 

[Nomad]

to get into journalism you need to write, and write and write.
To get into automotive journalism you need to write articles you think people want to read, and then shop them out to mags, websites etc. Do some research. Most freelance writers have to write a good intro/example of their article (if not the whole thing) and then fill out specific forms and summaries of their article explaining why people will want to read them. This is all submitted to the mag/website and then the editors look it ovver and see if it is something they want to pay you for. You then flesh it out with deeper research etc.

Once people really like your stuff then you'll get more calls on it and you bug enough people you may get a job.

Start a blogsite, advertise it, write a lot of articulate/detailed/professional quality automotive articles on it and it'll serve as a book of work etc. People may start to see you.

As for the marketing career path, a dime a dozen with short lifespans in my experience. Many marketing people are hired on a yearly contract to see if you are the next wonder-kid. If you're not they roll you over or the next new grad they don't have to pay as much for.

Really look at different career paths, see if you can stick with it when it's not fun anymore. See how recession proof they are. See if the whole industry is growing or shrinking. Sport compact market boom is over if you didn't know. All the mags are getting smaller and aftermarket companies are downsizing from the boom of the good-economy-surge of the FNF 1998-2006 days.

Most of all, call companies, talk with managers or presidents etc. Do it under the guise of a research student or something and ask what they look for, the growth etc. IF they are even looking for Masters degrees. Find out what you want to do and then develop a plan and execute it.

 

[Bu11dogg2]

Marketing, Engineering or managment

 

[Donas64]

Wow. Thanks for the plethora of advice guys. An engineering degree for auto journalism seems a bit much. Yeesh!

I've also been considering a master degree in human services management. That sounds like it could be right up my ally also. I think I've narrowed it down between that and marketing.

Man I should not have waited so long after graduating to start a masters but I got a good job and I saw no real need. But if the masters is free, I'd feel like a fool not to get it while I can.

 

[kickniteasy]

that's why I did my degrees back to back....it was rough, but I felt like if I didn't do it right off the bat I'd get too caught up in life to think about school again.