The position you get 30 years ago as an undergrad, needs a postgrad today

First, pay off student loans and then head to grad school.

more often than not, its not worth it. :/

One criticism. Most jobs you can get without a grad-school degree, especially in the social and natural sciences, don't have many rungs you can move ahead. Often times, in order to actually get on the ladder, you need the degree first.

Thank god, I live in Australia.

sometimes your job will pay for your grad school so i mean that's a thing too

It depends on your field....I think it's worth it specially in engineering courses, ideally if you have a big company backing up your thesis and project of research. Else your just learning and or discovering something nobody wants to hire you for

I say with anything you do in life you will always need a before and after plan. when you pick a major, make sure it's something that can benefit you in the long-term

Dear AJ+, I really like your videos, which are usually very informative, progressive and also entertaining videos. I have been a subscriber for a few months and I haven't found a video that I didn't like up until today when I saw this video... I believe that going to Grad School can serve many different purposes and goals in life, which are not always related to increasing your salary. Maybe if you're only talking about professional degrees like a JD, this argument might hold up, but if you're talking about academic degrees, then it's another story. I think that most people that are pursuing an academic graduate degree, such as a MA and a PhD, are studying to learn how to do research and their purpose cannot be reduced to only an increase in salary. Lots of people pursuing these graduate degrees are motivated by their thirst for knowledge through research and teaching and find the academic setting to be engaging, dynamic and full of opportunities to learn and explore your curiosity.

Or get scholarships, go outside the country, or if it's your career and you're valued by your company to move up the chain; they will sometimes pay too.

Wow, one of the more rational videos AJ+ actually posts.

Going to grad school should also be a question of "do you want to"! This video entirely ignores the value of education as character-building and an enjoyable pursuit for knowledge. Higher education shouldn't only be a means of employment but an intellectually fulfilling time in one's life.

Thank god I live in the UK

so pretty much the answer is no because of the amount of debt and stuff you have to payoff PLUS the chances are you aren't getting hired.

Free college wont mean no debt at all, you still have to pay for rent and such. But it would seriously decrease the amount of debt.

studying is not always just for money, have you considered that? that's why less people are going into academic fields everyone's thinking about money money money

Meanwhile in UK

For once a balanced video on the subject

Alternative - do everything to get Bernie in office

+Janet Yuen ... They are not putting forth any moral values here... They are providing a rational framework of decision making for those who are looking for grad school as a means of advancing their careers... Calm down there, Janet, and don't take everything so personally.

I only finish 3rd grade and i get paid 12 an hour its not much but i didnt had any studies and people who graduate from high school go to jobs that get paid 9 or 10 an hour

Is becoming a teacher still worth it today in America?

What's the difference between grad school and college in the US

as if you'll get any sleep at all

Go into a STEM program that pays for it

Well.This didn't help at all.

Its worth it depending on the degree. If its in arts or some stupid shit then dont. But business, accounting, finance engineering and medicine is always a yes

BTW, in Brazil we have "free" grad programs that will ship you to USA, Europe, etc... For 2 or 4 years and they pay you for everything!

this completely ignores the fact that there are jobs that REQUIRE graduate degrees like teaching in some states

Don't be less educated because it's going to cost you money, you only live once. That's what the banks and corporations want, a less educated people living on bare minimum.

School is not worth it.

What about studying in Austria, Denmark,Sweden,Finland and Norway where university is free. What about Germany,France ,Italy ,Belgium,Spain or the Netherlands where tuitition gets rarely over $3,000 . Just saying ....

i got a king and i'm just 18 lol

That's a good way to demotivate yourself. I think 15% is not enough to deter me if I really want to go to grad school. You can do a little more than just work in the field with a graduate degree. It's not one of those degrees. Besides American is not the only place on the planet to get a job. Sometimes that's an option worth thinking of.

I need to show this to all the people at work who keep asking me why I'm not going back to school. New salary - extra student loan debt = no more money for me.

this feels more than discouraging than anything i will do it so i can be the first in my family despite the debt ect

Try to ask this at Latin America. Hundreds of thousands of students don't even know if they will end high school studies.

I don't give a shit, I'll get my PhDs, even if it cost millions, lol! The system is setup for people without enormous wealth to fail, regardless.

Don't shoot the messenger! Yes, the U.S. higher education system is screwed up but it is a cold, hard reality that Americans must learn to accept. Unless of course they are motivated to actually get off the couch and VOTE for people who will change that.

This video is a disgusting representation of U.S. public higher education - something students SHOULD NOT even be paying for; meanwhile, students in Europe/Scandinavia don't pay a dime for higher education, grad school OR professional school. The fact that AJ+ values economic benefit from higher Ed MORE THAN enlightenment and fulfillment from going to school is DISGUSTING...

Education is always worth it...