Global Health Jobs - Grad School Vs. Work | Global Health

Global Health Jobs - Grad School Vs. Work

Published August 12, 2009 @ 10:16AM PT

(Would they be better off in grad school? Photo credit: Cam Vilay)

Question:

I am graduating in May 2010, and I know I want to go to graduate school. Should I work for a couple of years first, or should I start applying to grad schools? It seems foolish to waste time on a boring job when I know I want another degree.

Answer:

Get a job. You know you want a graduate degree now, but you could change your mind about what degree you want. You could change your mind about even wanting a degree. Give yourself some time to make sure it's what you really want. You're going to spend a whole lot of money on that graduate degree. Waiting a year before you start spending just makes sense. You may discover you really like not being in school. You may realize you don't want an MPH, you want an MBA or an MSW or a degree in medical anthropology. (I, for example, realized I wanted an MPH and not a PhD in political science.)

Waiting will also improve your chances of being accepted to graduate school. Even if you can't find a job that relates to global health, simply having been out there in the world improves your odds of getting in. It shows maturity and a range of experiences - not just schooling - that graduate schools like to see.

And the reason that grad schools like to see it is because working for a while does actually help you mature. Getting up, doing your boring (or fabulous) job every day takes a level of consistency and discipline that school doesn't ask of you. Acquiring that discipline makes grad school easier to handle once you get there.

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Comments (6)

What about those of us who are farther on in their careers?

I returned to finish my undergraduate degree after spending 10 years working with NGOs (not in global health) and a year working in the field with MSF. I went back for my degree specifically to help my chances of being hired here in the States in the global health sector. I know I want to _work_ as opposed to, say, do research. However, having finally wrapped my BA in Global Health I'm not sure if I should try to leverage it plus my work experience into a job now, or push on for my MPH. What are your thoughts for this slightly different context?

Thanks very much!

Posted by Taj M on 08/12/2009 @ 12:44PM PT
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I'm pretty much always going to vote for working first. In your case, definitely. Ma ybe you don't need an MPH and waiting a year to find out won't hurt you.

Posted by Alanna Shaikh on 08/12/2009 @ 11:28PM PT
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For me - work definitely required a lot less discipline than undergrad. My job was 9-5, whereas undergrad felt like 24/7. Plus, in my job, I definitely felt like I had less responsbility and accountablity. In school, I was doing everything for myself and out of my own interest, so I felt like I had more impetus to get things done and do well.

All that being said - I agree with what you say about work helping you mature, and figuring out your interests.

Posted by Lillian Gu on 08/12/2009 @ 11:16PM PT
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For me the maturity aspect of work was in not getting to put things off - having deadlines and having to do dull work to meet them. You can't pull a last minute all-nighter...

Posted by Alanna Shaikh on 08/12/2009 @ 11:31PM PT
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Have you heard of any good 2-4 week continuing education courses or seminars in global health for professionals? I know Oxford runs one in the summer and I'm sure there must be some others out there.

On a side note, I can't get over how expensive many of the best MPH programes are, particularly for international students. If you don't have a big scholarship or a benefactor, it's simply not financially feasable for a lot of people. There aren't many well paying jobs out there in global health until you get to the 5+ years of experience level.

Posted by Greg Paton on 08/13/2009 @ 03:14PM PT
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This was something I was contemplating recently. I've decided to gain work experience before pursuing a MPH or MPP. Glad to know someone whose been there advices it as well. Thanks !

Posted by Incia Zaffar on 08/19/2009 @ 10:44PM PT
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Author

Alanna Shaikh has spent the last ten years immersed in global health; she has worked for NGOs, companies, universities, and the US government on projects that ranged from preventing antibacterial resistance to improving maternal and child health.