Why going for Msc immediately after Bsc is a Bad Idea.

I was just about 8 yrs old when I decided I wanted to be a Mechanical Engineer. Thanks to my late uncle, Engineer Gboyega Odekunle. He came to our house for the first time then in Ibadan; he had this fine Peugeot salon car, brand new! I was stunned, it was my first time seeing a beautiful car; the one my dad had was “Datsun 180” I can be sure many don’t know what the Datsun car brand is. It was one rugged

car like that, anyways it served us, and at least I didn’t have to take a taxi to school every day. *rolls eyes* But I saw this car and I was like how did this man get this beautiful car? My dad said, “my brother is a Mechanical Engineer”. There and then I decided that I was going to become an Engineer. I wanted to have a fine car, to be rich. So I did everything to be a Mechanical Engineer, no other profession came to my mind. I love Mathematics which gave me a cue that I was meant to be an engineer *in my innocent mind*. I did Technical Drawing even when all my friends ran away from it to do Agricultural Science. I told myself “I must be an engineer oo”. This was not passion to change the world at all, or to change the face of engineering…it was just the prestige of being called an Engineer and have money. Simple! Through all these, I had innate abilities and skills; I had been writing since primary school, I was drawing and designing stuff, I was making paper cards before I graduated to using card boards for love and birthday cards. I really don’t give the regular gifts to people; I make customized designs for my friends. All my close girlfriends can testify to this. I am badh like that *winks*.

My story gives a perspective to how many of us chose our field of studies, some are not even as lucky as I am who actually got what I wanted to study; they were offered what they studied. They had no choice; they had to just leave the house to do something so they can be called undergraduates. Yeah, it was necessary that time. I think we shouldn’t make the same mistake doing what we really don’t like or love as a second degree just because it’s the simile normal thing to do after you are done with NYSC. Yeah, the system pushes us but then are we meant to be pushed wasting our lives?

it isn’t the wisest choice to go for a master’s degree right after your BSc

In my opinion, it isn’t the wisest choice to go for a master’s degree right after your BSc. Many of us upon finishing undergraduate, we just realize that what we went to school to study isn’t as clear as what we intended to get. I thought that after finishing school, I would just understand almost everything about engineering that would automatically launch me to the engineering world but then, it was just another round of cycle solving imaginary calculus, and “unpracticalized” fluid flow calculations. So imagine going through that round of cycle again just to graduate and employers offering you peanut because you have a degree and no experience. Just imagine spending a lot financially, mentally, emotionally (yes emotionally, I remembered I cried my eyes out when I saw I had F in one of my courses, I was devastated ) and graduating to hustle for job with experienced Bsc graduates who actually loves the job because they have experienced hands-on knowledge about the job.

Advanced degrees are supposed to place you and your career at a higher level. Hands-on experience is more important. How many of us had careers figured out at convocation day? (Like I even had convocation day sef) I know I didn’t. Many have jumped from immigration advisory to sales and then to marketing, trying to get which fits well. I know many people who studied “English Language” in school and even did a second degree but cannot write a short article, poem or be a copywriter. It’s not their fault, they were ‘pushed continuing studying hoping’ one day a job would surface. Yes it a good idea, but see how much you have invested.

Right now, I am not close to being an Engineer. I actually call myself a “Brand Engineer”; I love everything branding from strategy, innovation, designs, processes, research but then I am a graduate of Mechanical Engineering, so it was only smart to call myself a BRAND ENGINEER… *Winks*. I had to sit down, analyze my life and purpose in this world. What am I passionate about? What can I enjoy doing even if I am failing at it? What do I want to change about this world? What actual value can I add to my society? All these thoughts were not just an hour or a day thought; they were thoughts that sometimes take years to get answers but pending the time you figure out what you want to actually do- get a real-life job experience!

No shades but how many Global Business masters grads from Coventry know what to do with their certificates? The names are fancy but are probably not a good fit for you. So you’re here, angry that you have a masters and nobody is acknowledging it. But you don’t realize that you went in too early. What’s worse is that you’re forcing yourself to be in Business Development, Business Analysis etc when you belong somewhere else. The thought of starting on an entirely different path is scary, you don’t want to disappoint. Your master’s degree cost you 10 million. Work is depressing because failure is all you see in front of you. You’re not dumb but you’re not excelling.

We see a lot of Biochemistry graduates who would’ve taken up Epidemiology at master’s level and later do ACCA or ICAN because he or she needs it for career growth. At some companies, the CFO is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering. You won’t even know because he lives and breathes Finance. Many successful people don’t even have a first degree not to talk of a second degree- Dangote, Adenuga, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve jobs, etc. And if you notice, only about 5% of PhD holders and professors are actually great.

African Billionaires

All has been said and heard; the “Koko” of the matter is; before you go for your master’s degree, you have to be sure

1. You will be in demand after
2. Your earnings will at least double (not at entry level)
3. You’re sure of what you want to do with the rest of your career.

If you’re not trying to be an Academic, IN MY OPINION, don’t hurriedly go back to school. Please note, I am not saying doing a Master’s degree is a bad idea, all I am saying is that “The name ‘master’ in my opinion ought to mean after you have worked and then identified area you desire specialty”

Potential Question to be asked
In a situation where one really wants to work & gain experience but none is forthcoming, would it be a bad idea getting MSc instead of being idle jumping from one interview to another?

I will write about this in my next post concerning this topic; however, if you have any other question, kindly drop at the comment section.
Thanks, great people.

Special appreciation to @Phoonke for inspiring this article. kindly follow her on twitter, she writes awesome CVs for potential employees.