Hi Ladies ((RP/NBR))

*John&Nohea* · January 2011

I posted on thenest but it looks kinda dead there. So, I hope you don't mind.

I haven't been here for a LONG time, so long in fact, I don't think my bio exist anymore! LOL.

I'm trying to make a decision and wanted to ask the advice of some of the most knowledgeable women I know. I currently live on O'ahu (STILL with my in-laws) and I have a BA in Hawaiian Language. I want to try to get my masters in education on-line, but I was advised to look into an MBA instead.

The reason I'm looking for an on-line school is because DH and I might be going to Alabama ((yup, that's right, this island girl might be going to ALABAMA)) for schooling for about a year and a half.

So to get to my question: What do you ladies think would be a better move for me, Masters in Ed or Masters in Business?

I also want to know what some of you ladies do for a living and if you think it provides financially and emotionally...if you don't mind sharing. I want to have a job where I feel like I am doing some good.

*TIA* <--I remember some things.

vanilla15 · January 2011

I personally would go for your MBA just b/c it applies to a broader range than Masters in Ed.

I am a paralegal & while it is not unbelieveably exciting, it pays the bills. I work for the govt so it is a good family job (out the door at 5:00 with all of the fed holidays), but some law firms do want you to work much longer hours.

Hawaii to Alabama...that is definitely going to be an adjustment! What part of Alabama? Are you at least going to be close to the beach? The Gulf waters are sooooo much warmer than the Pacific, but Hawaii is definitely much more beautiful. I am in New Orleans and do love to make the drive to Gulf Shores, AL (though I haven't been in years...maybe this summer!)

*John&Nohea* · January 2011

That's the point the the lady I spoke with made!

I think it's around Enterprise, he would be stationed at Ft. Rucker. Eeek, I'm nervous but excited! This is the last school that he can go to (that's on the continent) according to me, so we can settle down.

I work for the Judiciary now as an Education Assistant and I have to say that I'm very grateful for all that I've learned. I knew almost nothing about the Judiciary, the branches of government etc... Sad.

Thank you very much!

Married2MrWright · January 2011

Aloha Nohea!

Welcome back! So glad to hear from you! Alabama...wow!

I've applied for and been accepted to an online MBA program...it's with Marylhurst University in Portland, Oregon (they have a brick and mortar campus and this online program). It was important to me that the school have an established physical campus, be accredited and affordable. It also helps that the MBA has a Non-profit Management option, which interested me and is accelerated, so you're done in 18 months! The program demands 20-25 hours a week, so I've planned to delay my matriculation until baby #2 is 1 year old (so probably around Summer 2013 I'll start...if everything goes accoridng to "the plan.")

I have been working in Education (I have a B.Mus and M.A. in Music) and honestly, I would say get the MBA. It will give you more options down the line...say if you decide someday not to stay in education. As for education...do you want to go into administration or actually teaching? If it's the latter, then the Education degree would be a better choice. But in this day and age tenured teaching positions are all but a distant memory for most professors. And that's where the money and security lies. I have SO many friends that cobble together an income as adjunct professors for 2 and 3 colleges. It's sad because they get no job security, no benefits, etc. Other than flexibility, I don't see what they do it. They're obviously highly educated and intelligent people who, if they went into another line of work, could be making big money with better benefits and perks.

If it's administration you have in mind, I cannot see how a MBA would hurt you. Like I've said, I've been working as the head of the education department (not currently for a school but for a non-profit association) and definitely think the MBA will afford me more career growth and earning potential than if I pursued an advanced education degree.

Currently, I manage the education for a large, international non-profit music association. It's satisfying work, although in my case the actual dynamics in my office are a huge challenge. I want to stay in non-profit/arts administration and education and eventually be an executive director (in 10 years or so). I have a passion for music and arts education and have been on both sides of the business (as an artist as well as an administrator...and well, actually, also as a student and patron as well). Like you, I need to feel that I am making a difference in the world and people's lives...striving to increase the bottom line just isn't enough for me.

Good luck! I am sure whatever you choose will be right for you and your situation!

Married2MrWright · January 2011

vanilla15:

love to make the drive to Gulf Shores, AL

We want to do this too...by way of NOLA...it's supposedly not so bad of a trip from our neck of the woods and I am dying to visit NOLA and dip my feet in the ocean and feel some white, sugary sand between my toes!

redshoegirl · January 2011

I don't have any advice, but...Nohea!!!!!!! Welcome back! Party!!!

lola808 · January 2011

Maybe an MBA gives you more options, but if you're interested in working in education, then that's what you should study. I have so many friends re-evaluating their careers because they're either not happy or not fulfilled by their current work, and most of them just wish they either had the opportunity or the credentials to follow their passions. I have graduate degrees in education and have always had good job opportunities. Now that I have a son, I'm especially glad that I love my work because it'd be SO hard to leave him otherwise. Good luck to you!

vanilla15 · January 2011

Married2MrWright:
vanilla15:

love to make the drive to Gulf Shores, AL

We want to do this too...by way of NOLA...it's supposedly not so bad of a trip from our neck of the woods and I am dying to visit NOLA and dip my feet in the ocean and feel some white, sugary sand between my toes!

do I hear bumpie get together??

MauiWedding08 · January 2011

Hi Nohea!

lola808:
Maybe an MBA gives you more options, but if you're interested in working in education, then that's what you should study. I have so many friends re-evaluating their careers because they're either not happy or not fulfilled by their current work, and most of them just wish they either had the opportunity or the credentials to follow their passions. I have graduate degrees in education and have always had good job opportunities. Now that I have a son, I'm especially glad that I love my work because it'd be SO hard to leave him otherwise. Good luck to you!

I agree. I think rather than just picking a degree on a whim you should evaluate what type of job you really want and then figuring out what can help you achieve that goal. Sometimes that is an advanced degree and sometimes it isn't. And if and when you decide to pursue that degree I would do lots of research because the new piece of paper won't be very valuable to you if you still can't find the job you want. So figure out what they do to help their graduates, do they have a good alumni network and successful career center? How many of the recent graduates had job offers upon completion? (schools can skew with number quite a bit so try to get real examples of success stories that are most similar to you).

I don't mean to be a downer but I can't help but be worried by the number of schools that are churning out graduates at a higher rate than the job market can handle and are not honest with their students about their job prospects upon graduation. Schools (especially costly post grad and professional degrees) operate as "for profits" and more students means more money for them so they don't always paint a truthful picture.

That said, I DO have a professional degree. I am a gov't attorney. I love my job, it's in a very small niche area of the law. I always knew I wanted to do this so I made all my decisions based on this goal. I went to a school I didn't love because they had the best program for my field and offered a scholarship. Law schools are no different, there are way to many and they are graduating more lawyers than jobs available. I read about lots of people in classes after me that haven't had a steady job in the law field since graduation, AND have crushing debts b/c of student loans - that is probably why I'm such a skeptic.

inamra · January 2011

Hi and welcome

MauiWedding08:
lola808:
Maybe an MBA gives you more options, but if you're interested in working in education, then that's what you should study. I have so many friends re-evaluating their careers because they're either not happy or not fulfilled by their current work, and most of them just wish they either had the opportunity or the credentials to follow their passions. I have graduate degrees in education and have always had good job opportunities. Now that I have a son, I'm especially glad that I love my work because it'd be SO hard to leave him otherwise. Good luck to you!
I agree. I think rather than just picking a degree on a whim you should evaluate what type of job you really want and then figuring out what can help you achieve that goal. Sometimes that is an advanced degree and sometimes it isn't. And if and when you decide to pursue that degree I would do lots of research because the new piece of paper won't be very valuable to you if you still can't find the job you want. So figure out what they do to help their graduates, do they have a good alumni network and successful career center? How many of the recent graduates had job offers upon completion? (schools can skew with number quite a bit so try to get real examples of success stories that are most similar to you).

I agree with this.

I also have a graduate degree in my field (engineering) and like lola, my job also offers me lots of flexibility, which I really appreciate now that I have a baby as well. At the time, I was thinking about MBA vs my masters and opted for the masters because it was more tailored to the kind of job I wanted.

Either way, good luck with your decision!

mrspresley · January 2011

hey nohea!!! I have no advice on top of what has already been said, just wanted to say hi and it's nice to see you

Married2MrWright · January 2011

MauiWedding08:

I read about lots of people ... that haven't had a steady job...since graduation, AND have crushing debts b/c of student loans - that is probably why I'm such a skeptic.

This x1000000000000000 for music degrees. Seriously. So sad.

*John&Nohea* · January 2011

OMG, thank you all so much for all the responses! I want to become an Elementary school teacher. I've wanted to go back to school to accomplish this for a long time, but was worried about the cost of going back to school.

I'll ask the schools I've contacted more questions.

Thank you all again!

Married2MrWright · January 2011

*John&Nohea*:

OMG, thank you all so much for all the responses! I want to become an Elementary school teacher. I've wanted to go back to school to accomplish this for a long time, but was worried about the cost of going back to school.

I'll ask the schools I've contacted more questions.

Thank you all again!

Nohea, if you want to teach elementary school and already have a bachelors, I believe you only need to get your teaching credential, which in most states is another 9 months of schooling and the exam. At least that's what it was when I was in undergrad. Since your Bachelors is in Hawaiian Language and you're planning to leave the islands (at least for a while) you might have to take some additional, "general education" coursework, but I don't think that you even need a Masters Degree to teach elementary school (unless you want to be a school counselor and head administrator, I think). Definitely look into it...you may find you need to spend WAY less time and money to transition into that career path. GL!

redshoegirl · January 2011

Married2MrWright:
*John&Nohea*:

OMG, thank you all so much for all the responses! I want to become an Elementary school teacher. I've wanted to go back to school to accomplish this for a long time, but was worried about the cost of going back to school.

I'll ask the schools I've contacted more questions.

Thank you all again!

Nohea, if you want to teach elementary school and already have a bachelors, I believe you only need to get your teaching credential, which in most states is another 9 months of schooling and the exam. At least that's what it was when I was in undergrad. Since your Bachelors is in Hawaiian Language and you're planning to leave the islands (at least for a while) you might have to take some additional, "general education" coursework, but I don't think that you even need a Masters Degree to teach elementary school (unless you want to be a school counselor and head administrator, I think). Definitely look into it...you may find you need to spend WAY less time and money to transition into that career path. GL!

Yes It may depend on the state, but this is all my sister had to do to become an elementary school teacher. She already had her BA, and just had to get her credential (and she was allowed to work as a teacher before the credential was actually awarded as long as she demonstrated progress toward it, I presume with some limitations). Her BA is in music - and she is a music teacher - but I think she would be able to teach other elementary subjects as well. That was...hmm. 5 years ago, I think?

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