TAKING UP MASTER'S DEGREE

[reighnyielle]

Our teacher in advertising and public relations when I was in college told us before that we should consider taking up master's degree daw when we get older tapos mag academe daw kami. It didn't hit me before and I'm now just starting to realize that she has a point pala. Siguro mga after 5 years try ko 

[melodymedley]

Incoming 2nd year grad student. Currently taking up Masters in International Studies in UP Diliman. Gusto ko kasi maging "global citizen".    Andaming readings (at hindi ko kaya intindihin lahat sila) pero andami kong natututunan every class. Most of my classmates are smart, kaya paglabas ko ng classroom, feeling ko tumalino na rin ako. I'm taking my cognate under Public Administration and that is another interesting course. If any of you are considering MPA, I say go for it!

Accountancy ang undergrad course ko, and accountant by profession. I already passed the Certified Internal Auditor exam years ago but I am not in auditing. Parang ayoko na ulitin ang mga business concepts, that's why I chose a field of personal interest instead of something related to my course or profession.

Some thoughts about taking up grad school:
-You go to grad school to learn and to network. Networking is actually important. Baka next officemate mo ang classmate mo. (especially in MBA)
-Groupwork is much harder to do when in grad school, especially when everyone is already working. Yung iba, may pamilya na rin. Unlike nung undergrad na todo oras sa lahat ng case studies.
-In my case, grad school was more demanding than I thought. I had to drop some hobbies to carve out study/reading time.
-If bored at mayaman ka lang at wala kang magawa kapag weeknights, think twice and again before doing grad school. Pwedeng maghanap ng ibang hobbies like sports, music and crafts. I often hear people taking up some masters "to do something productive aside from work". But I would advise na do something fun for yourself too. Ang sad din kasi makakita ng students stopping the program kasi they realize it is not for them (or naging demanding sa work or family).

But for whatever reason you are taking up your masters degree, I think it leads to a better version of yourself.

[05149S2]

I wanted to take my Master's degree soon. This is the reason why atat akong bumalik sa workforce. Gusto ko kasi may work ako while doing this para it can benefit both aspects of my life (school supplementing knowledge to my work and vice versa).

Question though, okay lang ba na hindi masyadong related sa Bachelor's Degree ko yung kukunin ko? I'm a CommArts graduate and I wanted to take something na more related to Marketing or Advertising.

[123abc]

How do you guys balance work and studies? 

[graezieylicious]

^honestly, its not a work in the park to begin with but if you have a dream and ambition to fulfill, you have to sacrifice a little because in the near future it would be all worth it.

[simang]

How do you guys balance work and studies? 

Siguro in my case it was easier to balance work and grad school, kasi took up MS in the same institution where I teach full time, so una, eliminated na ang hassle sa travel, since lilipat lang ng bldg for grad school classes. My boss was also very accommodating jn a way na i can request for schedule adjustment if may maging conflict sa grad school class. Also, my mindset was to really finish it asap kaya minaximize ko talaga yung mga course offerings. Mahirap pero i guess that's part of it eh.

[JuLiechristiellarena]

Medyo mahirap mapag iwanan ng pabahon kaya kelangan study study pa rin. Same as my undergrad ourse yung course ko s masteral ngayun. AB Economics. Same university rin.

[grace.kelly]

Incoming 2nd year grad student. Currently taking up Masters in International Studies in UP Diliman. Gusto ko kasi maging "global citizen".   

Sis, International Studies rin sana nag gusto ko na masters. I'm worried that my bachelor's degree is not related sa masters na kukunin ko. Alam ko kasi accounting di ba is okay naman for almost  any field you want to take sa masters.  What are the qualifications ba? If it's not too much to ask, paano ba naging proseso nang pagkuha mo? TIA 

[mooncake and leaves]

I've been thinking about taking my MA din. Confused lang ako saan lol. At the moment, only UP has the program that I want. I've been looking at universities here in the US din and sadly, especially here in CA, not only are there very few universities to choose from, the cost of attending is staggering.

So I have a few questions:

1.If there's anyone out there who pursued their master's in The Phils. then went abroad-- did you find it helpful in your job search? I keep getting negative feedback kasi from people around me, telling me that I need to just attend the unis here. The cost kasi of attending is too much and I feel like I'm in a position now where I can't afford to suddenly have a massive student debt. Mas mahirap na kasi to recover when you're older and gunning for other things in life (house, family, etc.).

2. Speaking of age-- I now have huge gap from the time I graduated from college. I'm feeling intimidated. For those who went back to school after a long absence, how did you cope?

Thanks!

[airwaterfire]

Re: UP Open University MPM

Naguguluhan ako. Sa status ng online application ko approved. Pero wala pa akong natatanggap na email. Hindi pa sila nag reply sa email if totoo ba yon. Kinakabahan tuloy ako.

[melodymedley]

Sis, International Studies rin sana nag gusto ko na masters. I'm worried that my bachelor's degree is not related sa masters na kukunin ko. Alam ko kasi accounting di ba is okay naman for almost  any field you want to take sa masters.  What are the qualifications ba? If it's not too much to ask, paano ba naging proseso nang pagkuha mo? TIA 

Hello sis! My classmates come from various fields. As in VARIOUS. So I think okay lang naman na hindi related as long as you can justify your interest in the program.

From UP Polsci website, I took note of the requirements. You need a 1.9 GWA sa undergrad or equivalent. Then may exam (essay) and then interview. Wala namang dapat aralin sa exam basta dapat you have a reason why you want to pursue MIS (and your field of specialization) and basa basa ka ng current events.

Then be prepared to swim in readings. hehe!  Masaya naman so far. Madami lang talagang readings.

[airwaterfire]

Malapit na enrolment. Kinakabahan ako at the same time excited.
6 units ang kukunin ko(UPOU MPM-PPPA)

God bless me.

[aktib]

Hello mga sis. I want to take Masters in Information Technology sa UPOU. Kaso ang admission requirements ng GWA is 2.0, eh nung kinompute ko 2.2 ako , hindi rin ako grad ng UP.. May chance pa ba to or totally wala na? waste of time lang ba na mag apply pa? then 4 years software engineer nko sa singapore. Gusto ko lang talaga ma widen tsaka advance yung knowledge ko. Please help mga sis.

[airwaterfire]

^
Parang GWA sa grado mo na yan sa OU.
Subukan mo lang mag apply. Evaluate pa naman nila ang documents mo.

[marie05]

Malapit na enrolment. Kinakabahan ako at the same time excited.
6 units ang kukunin ko(UPOU MPM-PPPA)

God bless me.

Goodluck! And enjoy your stay in FMDS.

[lilsaintsm0m]

Sis mooncake and leaves . First of what are you planning to take up for your Masters?
It is a well known fact that education here in PI is far more cheaper than in the US.
You also have to know if that certain course you are planning to go into have the same accreditation and or equivalency here especially in regards with the units. This rule applies to my course kasi which is OT. Hindi sila match diyan sa US. In finding a job I don't think you'll have any problem because you're a citizen/immigrant already. I think it would be a smart choice for you.

Secondly I am still studying also not yet finished with my Bachelors I am ten years older than my classmates. It doesn't bother me much I'm just focusing on my studies. I am more worried of how I balance my time with family and school I have an 8 yr old. Matatanda na rin mga nag mamasters dito as old as 60. Just focus on reaching your goal

Also have you considered distance learning? I am going to take my doctorate online in the future.
Hope my inputs help.

[airwaterfire]

Goodluck! And enjoy your stay in FMDS.

@ marie

Thank you! FMDS karin ba?

[iyhan18]

Hello! Is it possible to start Master's in the middle of the year? Let's say, 2nd term na? In DLSU, kailangan ba talaga first term ka mag start? I'm planning to take Masters in Industrial Relations. Since late na ko for the first term, I'm thinking if pwede mag enrol on the 2nd term or wait ako until next year.

[mooncake and leaves]

lilsaintsm0m: thank you. your input helped a lot

planning to take women & gender studies. currently parang only UP offers this program. no problems naman, i think pasok naman ako sa grade requirements nila in case.

that's a relief, knowing na there are lots of older students hehe.

as for distance learning--  i've tried kasi attending online classes and i get distracted easily. somehow, while i find it convenient and helpful, i don't get to take it as seriously as i would a physical class.

[imyourangel]

^^Hello! I started taking my MA in UP in the 2nd semester. So I think it's perfectly okay. They will count the semesters anyway (fpr the maximum residency), not the beginning of the school year.