[amandaleigh]

I am somewhat perplexed as to what I should do. I just finished an MS in marketing and love doing basic marketing tasks - setting up promotions, tracking sales, identifying trends and stuff like that. Getting this degree has helped me to move up the career ladder and get a sizable salary increase ($10k more than I was making last year)! A few days ago, I came across a great program in Food Science - currently it is only a MA, but they will be adding in a PhD option in a few years. I really want to apply as this program hits all of my varied educational backgrounds and I would love the opportunity to engage in detailed research. I am just not sure if the money spent on it would pay off or if I really want to eventually leave a corporate career for the academic realm.

[MountainMomma]

That's a tough one. I guess it really just comes down to deciding exactly what you want to do with your education. If it helps you meet your end goal, then it's worth it. If not.... well, not really worth it, kwim?

I know that isn't really any help, but I do hope you are able to decide what you are going to do. Trying to decide can be so frustrating!

[amandaleigh]

I think that I have come to a tentative decision. After talking to the head of the program, I found that the offer for admission is good for one year. So I am going to apply and then take as much time as needed to decide whether or not to attend (assuming I am admitted). I did set up an appointment to talk to two current students about their experience with the program and what they are doing upon graduation. I also have a tour with the program director to look at their main research site.

[amandaleigh]

I put in my application! Now I just need to figure out who to ask for recommendations. It will probably need to be people that I have worked with since I didn't really get close to any of my professors. I guess that is one of the drawbacks of having online classes instead of face to face. and it has definitely been to long since graduation to ask any of my undergraduate professors (9 years!).

[Banned-jenny.burkholder]

If research is really want you want to do, you may want to intervew/shadow a researcher in the field to see what they actually do and if you're still interested in doing it. You may get someone who is open enough to share information about their pay and hours put in. When you're investing that much time and money in a career, you want to make sure it's right before you make the leap. You may find that an MA is all you need for what you really want to do.

[MountainMomma]

That is really good advice. I don't know that I would have thought to try to shadow someone!