Hi Kai,

Bert wrote

That is absolutely true, and moreso than you can probably appreciate at the moment.

That said, I suggest you do a time value of money calculation comparing the salary you'll give up over the next two years compared to the (realistically) additional income an advanced degree will earn you two years from now. And remember, in two years, with an advanced degree, you'll still be starting at an entry level and salary.

Obviously I suspect that if you do an intellectually honest comparison (rejecting the blue-sky estimates of how much more you'll make), you'll discover that, if it's possible at all, to make up the lost wages and additional expense will take most of your working career.

So my advice is that if this is a financial decision, you'll probably fare better by getting to work making money now rather than sacrificing two years (plus expenses) for the hope a little more later. You'll probably find that you'd be making the extra (or very nearly) by then anyway. On the other hand, if the job you want to do requires the advanced degree the calculus changes. If it means the difference between doing what you want to do and settling for what you will be allowed to do, then obviously the advanced degree can easily be worth it. In time, with experience, you may be able to work your way into that dream position, but you'll have sacrificed years to get there.

Joe