Graduate school is often a whole new world compared to
undergraduate education. While undergraduate programs often include many
courses outside of your major, graduate programs tend to dive deeply into one
field. Graduate programs also usually emphasize research more and an even
greater application of theories into practice.
As such, preparing for graduate study takes a slightly
different approach compared to what you might have experienced entering
undergraduate school. We learned some great insights recently from Kim
Lawrence, one of the first graduates of Peirce's
Master of Science in Organizational Leadership & Management degree program
(MSOLM). She also told us about what it was like to get her graduate degree at
Peirce and several other takeaways to help adult learners who are considering
going back to school.
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Why did you choose to
return to school?
I went to Peirce as an adult learner to earn my bachelor’s
degree in Business
Administration. I
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| Kim Lawrence |
What was your
experience like at Peirce in the graduate program?
I think I thought it would be very similar to earning my
undergraduate degree, but it was actually very different. In my master’s
classes, there was a big focus on applying what I learned as an undergrad to
real-world situations. I came up with a lot of my own original ideas and
perspectives on how to solve business problems and learned how to trust my
instincts.
What do you think are
some of the biggest lessons you learned in your master’s degree program?
Don’t undermine your capabilities. Don’t be scared to be a
leader.
How are you planning
to use your degree to help you in your career path?
I’m in a supervisor role now, and I want to keep growing. The
good thing about having a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership &
Management is that I’ll be able to apply it in lots of different areas within
business.
Do you have any
advice for students who are considering going back to school for their
master’s degree?
Make sure you know what your learning style is. Do you like
online or on-campus classes, or a combination of both? And find a support
network. If it wasn’t for my husband, I would not have made it. He was constant encouragement. If you’re on
the fence, going back to school is definitely worth it. It’s an investment in
your security, career-wise. It’s also a huge confidence boost. My first year of
graduate school was also my first year working as a supervisor, so I was able
to directly apply lessons I was learning in the classroom to how I managed my
employees.
***
Great insights, Kim, and congratulations on earning your
master’s degree!
