I speak to many prospective students who are contemplating the decision to go back and get an M-Level degree: MID, MBA, or MS of...something. Most have been away from education for 5-15 years. Many have families. But everyone has a calendar filled with social, work, family, kids, religious, and personal commitments. And you ask yourself: "What else can I throw on my plate? How about a Master's Degree!"
From the conversations I have had with prospective students, admits, and graduates; these are the top 3 elements you need to navigate to be successful and earn that degree:
- TIME: Any degree worth your time should have some rigor, expectations, and results. Whichever degree you are contemplating on applying for, you need to understand the expectations of the program for your time. You then need to mirror that to what you are willing to do, sacrifice, and deliver. Your time capacity to meet those expectations is not the same as your capability to meet those expectations.
- PRIORITY and SUPPORT: One of my MID graduates retired from the Marine Corps, had twins, moved his family across state lines, sourced a civilian career path, and successfully navigated through the Master of Industrial Distribution Program to earn his MID Degree, on time. I asked him how did he do it. His answer was beautifully simple: "You have to prioritize your goals and have a supportive structure around you." If your work, friends, and family are on board with your choice, there is nothing you can't overcome. BTW, it is very important to celebrate the milestones together as they will be supporting your efforts. Your "W" is as much their "W."
- Understand how the degree you select works with #1 and #2 above, and not against it: I can best illustrate this in an example and a couple of questions. If you have selected an online program because of the convenience, are you required to have specific blocks of time you have to be in attendance, or is it a build-around your schedule model? So you saved some windshield time and gas money, but might as well be face-to-face. If it is a face-to-face program, what events will you sacrifice to meet your goal: birthdays, anniversaries, or work events? Do you learn better in long semesters to have the time to digest and dive deep or do you work best in short intense semesters?
The cold hard truth is that you are not going back to earn an M-level degree because you are bored, and need something to do. There is something you are looking for: Skill set development, leverage for the next interview, checking off an item on your bucket list, being part of a specific university community, getting your first job, or a needed item to get into the C-suite. Regardless, all those drivers are impacted by your capacity, capability, priority, and support. I hope this write-up helps you choose a program that enables you to succeed.
If you have questions about the online Master of Industrial Distribution degree for working professionals or about this short write-up, please reach out to me.
