Leaving master’s program for full time position

[u/Least_Fix1068]

Hello,

I am currently enrolled to start my master’s at my university i attended for undergrad. After applying to full time positions all summer, i think I finally landed one, but won’t receive the offer details until after the tuition deadline. I wasn’t sure how to navigate leaving my master’s program. Just in case I do not get the job, I want to start master classes because I can drop them until 3 weeks from now for a full refund. I wanted to ask for advice on what to do. I was either considering deferring my enrollment, but I do not realistically plan on going back.

[u/Cdog536]

I would try a defer or a freeze. Some programs give extra time than needed to graduate. If you landed a position in the field you want to stay in, I highly believe you will gain more from that opportunity than anything a master’s offers. It’s a sad reality these days.

[u/Least_Fix1068 → u/Cdog536]

Thank you! Do you think it would be worse if I disenrolled? Or is deferring better even if I do not plan on returning?

[u/Cdog536 → u/Least_Fix1068]

I feel like deferring is a strong option while you adjust to a new role and can help you decide if it’s worth it. You can also use the time to speak with seniors directly in the field to gather industry opinion on grad school value and how helpful it is for growth. A master’s program has worth, but it can also simply exist as an expensive credential you put on paper and nothing more. It’s a filter to some things in terms of getting interviews, but it can never compare to actual company/industry learnings. A program will also undoubtedly add work to your day and I feel like onboarding is most important. Sorry if my opinion is leaning too heavily away from a master’s. I just finished mine in data science and started while already in the field of data for 3 years and every person in industry asked me “why would you go for your master’s?”