Is a Master’s worthwhile? My path from the Abitur to the Master’s degree
A personal experience report and my answer to the question: Is a Master’s degree worth it?
A-levels, then what?
Like most young people, after leaving school I was faced with the question: What comes next? I knew early on that I wanted to study, but I didn’t know how, what or where. I quickly discarded my first thought of studying law and meticulously tried to find the right Bachelor’s degree. Given the wide range of products on offer, it wasn’t that easy. In my opinion, this has not changed, on the contrary. At some point, I had the idea of completing my Bachelor’s degree in a dual study program. Professional experience, academic training at a high level, learning in small groups and modern facilities sounded perfect to me. After a few applications to various companies, I was accepted, a great opportunity that I still don’t regret today.
Next stop: Bachelor
The Bachelor’s degree course flew by for me, 3 years of study and switching between academic and vocational training every 2 months was an ideal combination for me. I never got bored and the constant changes meant that I had a wide range of exciting topics to keep me occupied. Even though the course was very demanding in the short time available, very good organization, personal support and small study groups laid the foundations for a successful degree.
After 3 years, I had made it and had my Bachelor’s degree in my pocket and again the question arose: What now? I had several options: stay at my company and work full-time, change companies and look for a new challenge, start a full-time master’s program, or, or, or…
From Bachelor to Master
It quickly became clear to me that this could not be it. Despite having a solid foundation in business studies, I wanted to know more and learn even more and complete a full apprenticeship. But I also wanted to gain international experience. So my path led me to Canada, more precisely to Toronto, where I spent my time at a college and traveled the country. Back in Germany, I wanted to take up my plans and start a Master’s degree. Here, too, there is a huge range of products on the market and finding the right Master proved to be a major challenge. It was important to me that I could combine an international background with professional experience. The deciding factors were a university and, above all, an international Master’s degree and exciting content. Small study groups, personal support and the opportunity to gain professional experience were also important to me.
The time in the Master’s program also passed super quickly and I don’t regret my decision for a second. Despite an intensive and demanding time, the course was also very manageable alongside my job. The support during the time was personal and always friendly. In addition, cool networking events for young professionals took place around the course. A great opportunity to expand your own network and meet new people.
Is a Master’s worthwhile?
It was very important for me to do the Master’s degree in order to gain as much knowledge as possible for my job. I also see the Master’s as necessary in order to have no limits in my career, as I have fulfilled all the academic requirements. Of course, the financial aspect also played a role in my considerations. The opportunity to earn higher salaries and stand out on the job market are decisive advantages. The international aspect also prepared me for an international career and I was able to raise my English to a higher level. Would I therefore recommend a Master’s degree? Definitely, the Master’s was the best step for my development and has helped me enormously both personally and professionally! So I can confirm that a Master’s degree almost always pays off.
Are you interested in a future-oriented Master’s degree program? Find out more about the courses offered by GoVersity in Karlsruhe.
