Applications to graduate programs both at Boston University and across the nation have increased, in what students say is a reflection of the higher demand for graduate degrees among employers.
While many BU students said they think work experience will help them secure a job after graduation, employers are increasingly narrowing their searches to those with master’s degrees, according to a July 22 report in The New York Times.
In a wave of “credential inflation,” employers have raised their qualifications for certain entry-level positions, the Times reported. Jobs that previously only required an undergraduate education are now being advertised as “Master’s preferred.”
“I’m a firm believer that soon the Master’s degree will become the new standard when applying for jobs,” said Elise Kovi, a graduate student in the College of Communication. “I’ve been on several interviews for summer internships and employers have commented several times that they prefer graduate students.”
Kovi said she blames this preference on the poor economy and lack of job opportunities. Employers prefer the work experience graduate students bring and feel that they do not need as much guidance as undergraduate interns.
“Most students feel like when they graduate, they’ll be entitled to a job,” said Lindsay Beatty, a School of Education junior. “And employers need to see that specialization.”
College of Arts and Sciences alumnus Michael Hedges, who is studying at the University of Hawaii, said that he continued to graduate school because his prospective job as a physics research scientist requires a doctorate degree.
“A Master’s degree can certainly help a candidate distinguish themselves and stand out, but I don’t believe it is the only way,” Hedges said.
The National Center for Education Statistics reported that 687,000 people obtained Master’s degrees in 2010-11. That marks a roughly 46 percent increase from the 468,476 people in 2000-01.
BU’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences reported a smaller increase of applicants, said Rebekah Alexander, the GRS assistant director of admissions and financial aid. The number of GRS applicants has increased 28 percent over the last 10 years. While GRS has admitted more students every year, its overall acceptance rate has decreased from 27 percent to 23 percent.
Patti Cudney, the associate dean of graduate admissions at the School of Management, said applications for graduate programs have increased over the last 10 years, though the SMG statistics were not available.
“In my experience, both as an [Masters in Business Administration] degree-holder and having worked in MBA admissions at another university for seven years, I would say that the vast majority of people I know feel like their graduate studies did give them what they’re looking for and feel perfectly capable in the workplace with that degree,” Cudney said.
COM senior Shoshana Levine said that while she hopes to get a job after graduation, she may also pursue a master’s degree in a different area of study to help make her more “employable.”
She said BU’s reputation and her internship will give her an advantage, even in a competitive market.
The increasing demand for a Master’s degree may lead to a larger gap between those who can afford higher education and those who cannot, said Bob Giannino-Rancine, CEO of Boston’s Action Center for Education Services and Scholarships.
“It is certainly becoming a differentiator when you look at people these days,” Giannino-Rancine said. “I see that as a popular importance in moving forward, and then I think that’s where I worry … It could develop into a Haves versus the Have-nots.”
COM senior Megan Kenslea said she would be better off getting work experience out of college, instead of jumping into graduate school without knowing a specialization.
“A lot of people I know are going into grad school because they either don’t want to look for jobs or can’t find a job, but that’s not something I’m comfortable doing,” Kenslea wrote in an email interview. “If I change my mind about what I want to study, that’s an enormous financial loss.”
Kenslea added that she doubts not having a graduate degree would make obtaining a job more difficult.
“So many companies and programs have entry-level positions and entry-level programs designed for students directly out of college,” she said.
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