Anyone done their Masters at UCT recently?

[PotatoGuardian]

So I'm thinking about doing my Masters next year in IS which is possibly a crazy idea since I still have to work full time. I'm not unhappy in my current job but maybe I'm looking for something more down the line.

Pro's

• Can go into academia which pays a lot
• Awesome if I want to emigrate one day (not the plan but opens the door wider)
• I suppose I could go into a management position one day

Cons

• I will have no time to live I guess
• Worried I won't fit gym in (yes it is life)
• What if I lose the drive to do it?

I don't think these are real pro's and con's. I dunno, I just wanted to hear some thoughts from people who have done it

 

[cguy]

On the Pro's side, going into academia is very hard to do - you will likely have to do a PhD as well, and then it takes a long time to move up the ranks (yes, Prof's, can get R1m+ at UCT, but it can take 20 years to get there, and many never get there even after 40 years). Also, not all institutions pay as well as UCT - industry is likely comparable to most. Also, academic positions are scarce. TL;DR: I wouldn't do it for the money.

I also don't think a further degree helps nearly as much as having relevant in-industry in-company experience when it comes to obtaining management positions.

One of the pros that you left out though is that further qualifications and rarer/more-specialized skills obtained there-in may mean that you get to do more interesting work than you are doing now.

 

[saturnz]

do you have an area of research you wish to pursue? Academia does require you to produce research.

I graduated 10 years ago and it was a complete nightmare for myself simply because I didn't have an area of research I was interested in. The only reason I finished my studies was because they threatened to throw me out if I didn't submit my thesis.

On the plus it does open doors as stated above, I was head hunted and ended up doing research at an institution without me having any real working experience.

 

[MickeyD]

@Chris

 

[PotatoGuardian]

Thanks for the replies guys.

All valid points, I think I was just having a moment where I was not feeling my job and was thinking of other avenues.


but yes you're right cguy, I should work on getting more xp because it definitely counts for more.