Educational Angst

[femkes_follies]

I'm sort of vaguely cranky today. Tired, headache, and too many silly people. Feeling conflicted about even trying to get a respite aide from the state for Anneliese. I'm tired, but pawning her off on someone else even for little periods sort of feels like cheating. Well, more like cheating her. I'd like to take a vacation in the land of not coping, but I'd probably better not.

So I'm soliciting opinions from the LJ hive mind....

For those of you not aware, my poor husband has been in job market for a LOOONGG time. Some of this, I have come to believe, was Divine Intervention. We didn't know for a long, long time that Anneliese would be PDD-NOS. She really NEEDED a parent. And John needs a job that will be able to allow us to afford some degree of daycare. His confidence has really taken a hit, however. Men are much more what they do than women, I've come to believe.

He's thinking about going back to school. I'm struggling a bit. His B.A. is in Political Science (do you want fries with that?). He's been debating between an MBA and a JD. Leaning toward the JD. There is a branch of Cooley Law School nearby. The MBA seems to be more of a "union card" than an education these days. And the JD suits his personality better. He's not so much interested in private practice, but would like to do something corporate. Cooley also waives varying percentages of tuition for increasing LSAT scores - up to 100%. (I could probably pull that off, as I've got a knack for standardized exams. Not sure he could. Pretty sure I can't teach the knack, either).

I want him to succeed. I want him to find a fulfilling career. Hell, I'd love to be a Kept Woman. On the other hand, he isn't 22 anymore, he has a family, small children, and it isn't all about him. There's no way we could swing full tuition. Have no idea what sorts of programs might be available. But that aside, I want him to keep his days available and keep at the job hunt. I'm just not up for putting off the pay-off 3-4 years or more, with no hope of better in the meantime. Where we are is not good enough. Health Insurance is on my "want" list, for starters. (No, I do not count on and do not want the silly-ass, uttlery unworkable socialized medicine plan currently being espoused by certain political candidates. 'Nuff said.)

So - bring to me your opinions on advanced degrees, what they're worth, and if just pursuing the degree might even improve his employability.

Comments

[carbonphoenix.livejournal.com]

If I understand the politician correctly, it is not socialized healthcare but rather insurance for everyone, thus keeping healthcare largely privatized with some exceptions

[jillwheezul.livejournal.com]

I did a stint in HR for about a year. The Director was a very savvy woman who has been in some of the highest degrees of state government.

When I talked about what to do for higher education, she advised me to get an MBA if I wanted to make money. With a degree in Poly Sci, he may find that he could make a comfortable living in state government with generally pretty good medical bennies and retirement pensions. I do know that top level admins making 150k+ a year had MBA's and the JD's made considerably less...

I know a grand total of 5 people with the JD to know what they feel about their education. 2 are professors here and are pursuing their dreams of righting wrongs - one with juveniles and the other with human trafficking. They are not getting rich. Three others are SCA friends, one working as a law clerk (!) because she so disliked the long hours, the second does something completely different, and the third, well, read his post from yesterday here:

http://rolandvonbern.livejournal.com/5268.html

I also seems that MBA programs are often designed for the working person, so that they can afford to pay for the tuition. In our state, agencies are allowed to pay for tuition/books after successful completion of the course if the education can be used by the agency in the future (as in a MBA or JD). The downside of a state job is that they are ranked and you start pretty low and move up the rank scale. It took 4 years (because of wage freezes) and negotiations with lateral moves, but I am now where I should be at the top of the scale. Meanwhile I have now earned 7.5% of my monthly salary as pension(increases 1.5% each year) and 12% employer paid contribution goes into a 401-k. I have fully paid family health ($5 copay) and dental. The bennies are pretty good because they have the state-wide purchasing power.

Anway, my .02

[femkederoas.livejournal.com]

Yeah.... And then there's Michigan. Whose unemployment fund just went dry, has a hiring freeze on, and has everybody else working 4 day weeks with accompanying drop in pay...

*sigh*

The law program is actually designed for working adults, as well. It has a weekend program, an afternoon program, and an evening program. I suspect that the value of the MBA is currently dropping, as the value of the BA in business did 15 years ago.

Just not sure.... *repeat sigh*

Thanks for the input, though!

[femkederoas.livejournal.com]

While I'm thinking about it...

As an ex-HR junkie -

Would you consider it detrimental for a job candidate to tell you they are currently pursuing a degree? Just due to possible lack of flexibility in working hours, or cost to the company for tuition reimbursement etc?

[jillwheezul.livejournal.com]

I think the conventional advice is to keep the focus on your interest in the company and your availability to provide an exceptional service for them. Of course, if there are schedule issues, it is probably best to bring that up in the offer phase. It's also okay to ask about the ability for growth in a position and if the company has training or educational benefits as part of the greater discussion of what the job has to offer.

For example, in our state agency, there was training benefit money, but you had to know to ask for it, and since it was somewhat discretionary by the supervisor, one had to create the favorable atmosphere for a positive acceptance by said supervisor - a little bit touchy-feely.

This downturn won't last forever (at least I hope so). Have you thought of moving to a less economically depressed part of the country - you have some great skills.

Can I ask a quick opinion? What's the best way to bandage a ferret that keeps up scratching up a scab on his shoulder? They're so slippery and insist on being nekkid. He'd just run around trying to take one of those t-shirts off.

[ablackram.livejournal.com]

youse know my opinion. Have MBA.

There are plans out there for reeducation supported by this and that. State of has some. And may be a good candidate cause you haven't sponged off for years.

I feel that if he wants to have a career he can respect and feel respected, still think the JD is worth going for. I'll ask Julie what she did for cash.

With so many losing jobs around here the re-education thing is getting a shot in the arm with government backed $.