So, I’m really stressed out.  I’m working on my master’s degree (to be done this coming summer) and the doctorate program at UTC is currently accepting applications for the fall.  My husband is really pushing me to go for it, but I just don’t know.  I’m a teacher, so education is really the only way to up my salary.  So, I’m going to list my pros and cons and you can decide my future for me (purely for entertainment purposes…I actually can make decisions for myself…I think…what do you think?)

Pros:

More $$$

I will be able to make my husband refer to me as Dr.

More $$$

Obviously, the knowledge would be greatly beneficial.

Opens me up to a variety of administrative options

More $$$

I will be making doctorate pay by the time I am in my early thirties

Cons:

Costs $$$$ (I do get in-state tuition, even though I don’t live in Tennessee)

Time consuming

We are planning on adding #2 to the family and maybe #3 during the course of the program

I heard through the grapevine that if I am not in a leadership position, I won’t get the salary increase.

Opens me up to a variety of administrative options, but do I want them?

I’m afraid it will hurt me in getting a job if we end up moving some day (yes, I know, teaching is really weird like that…it’s all about the budget)

I don’t know…some days I’m all, “Yes!  I’m going to go for it!  However, most days, I’m like, “No, I don’t want to do this for the next 3-6 years.”  Ugh, so what would you do if you were me?

I took my poll down because I made a decision. I’m going to get my Ed.S. degree and I can use those credit hours toward a doctorate if I decide to get one (but I have to do it through the same school, but it’s no biggie). Yay for decision making!