Masters degree in PR--Is it worth it?

[JMarsh]

I'm currently a 4th year undergrad in journalism, and I'm planning on going into the PR field when I graduate. But, I'm wondering if I should get a Master's degree in it. Some people have said that in the long run it would be good, but others have said it won't really make a difference. I'm in a PR/communications internship right now, so I know it's what I want to do--I don't think grad school would help there. Plus I really don't want to get student loan debt. But would it help me at all, long-term or short term? Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Joffrey]

I'd say work in the field first. Figure out how you like and where exactly you want to go with it and then consider grad school.

 

[Kai]

I occasionally work with PR firms. Looking at the resumes of the one I'm working with now, none of the 4 senior people I deal with have graduate degrees. They all have bachelors degrees and a lot of work experience. No idea what the qualifications are of the junior people.

 

[Ebichuman]



I'd say work in the field first. Figure out how you like and where exactly you want to go with it and then consider grad school.

this - no point in going straight to grad school WHATSOEVER

 

[Claghorn]

My fiance works at one of the four largest worldwide PR firms. With a single exception, none of her seniors at the Korean office has a graduate degree (and that degree is in journalism).

 

[imschatz]



this - no point in going straight to grad school WHATSOEVER

depends .. I found going straight to grad school really helped my career so far. I had trouble finding meaningful employment straight out of undergrad - my internships were in Government and government owned/run companies (good ol' Commie Canada) - and they were cutting jobs when I finished school.

So I had no direct "in's". When I finished my Econ MA, I got hired with 3 other people, ALL of which graduated at the same time I did. They sat around working PT **** jobs, while I got my MA and we all got meaningful employment at the same time.

Not to mention .. my MA only cost me $10,000 in tuition and students in my class got $20k in funding - I didn't get funding but that's because I applied late more then anything.

If you've got decent job prospects out of school .. then I'd say ya there's no point in passing up a job for more schooling.

 

[Ebichuman]

I was commenting on OP's particular dilemma not making a blank statement about graduate schools; circumstances differ so others may be better off doing grad school right after undergrad but it's rare and I don't believe it applies in this case

 

[Matt]

I run a PR firm. No point. Get a job.

 

[Claghorn]

I run a PR firm. No point. Get a job.

JMarsh, I've chatted about PR with Matt before. He knows his stuff. He knows it very, very well.

 

[Manton]

None whatsoever.

 

[Blackhood]

The PR industry is sink or swim, no one cares how many books you've read when your feet hit the water.

 

[pnutpug]

Not only would I skip grad school as others have said, but I would not major in journalism, either. And I'm a journalist. Much, much better off studying history or English or political science or philosophy or some other field of study that teaches critical thinking rather than listen to washed-up former journalists turned professors tell war stories. Too late for you, of course, but if you want to work in the field, get a job working in the field.

 

[Reigningchamp]

I've always been told to get a job in PR first.

 

[Stu]

I have worked in PR, at the agency level, on the client side and in the media. I think it could be beneficial because it would expose you to al the new techniques in social media. That has really changed the landscape in the field. I was accepted into the strategic communications master's program at George Washington. I ended up not doing it because I got a job in the financial markets and would not have needed it. But I was impeessed by the curriculum. I think the value would not be so much in impressing a guy like Matt, who runs a PR firm, enough to hire you, rather in the skills you would acquire. That said though, why not get entry level job first to get some experience.

 

[Connemara]

With a few exceptions masters degrees are pretty worthless.