Pre-grad school employment crossroads

Graduate School
1

<p>I previously posted about an Education grad program, and the importance of education-related experience. I am at a bit of a cross-roads and I want to make sure I do what’s best for my career/financial situation in the long run. I do plan on contacting the schools I intend to apply to for their thoughts on the experience question, but I’d like some other opinions first.</p>

<p>I currently work for a social services agency as a casemanager, and approx. 1/2 of my caseload is school aged children, so there is regular communication between myself/the agency, the child’s family, the school and other community programs. There is a good chance I may have the opportunity to make a lateral move into a different department, where my entire caseload would be at-risk school-aged kids and roughly 80% of my time would be dedicated to working much more closely with the education system. However, it is a lateral move, which means no increase in pay, and I barely make ends meet as it is.</p>

<p>I’m also going to be interviewed for a position with a state agency which, from the county government level, is a big promotion. This position brings with it a 10k/year salary increase, which would certainly allow me to pay off some current bills and save up to defray some of my grad school expenses. The problem is that in terms of working with schools, it would be a step backwards. (It’s a position at the welfare office). </p>

<p>I do plan on applying to a mixture of M.Ed. and M.A. programs, but I want my concentration to be on education and policy. It wouldn’t hurt me so much for the Sociology programs I intend to apply for since their programs are generally more broad, but I’m worried about how this may effect my chances at M.Ed. programs (which is the program I am applying for at my “top school”).</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Could you potentially find a school system based position? You may not end up with an increase in salary but many of them provide anywhere from 50-100% tuition remission or reimbursement for education related training.</p>

3

<p>The jobs available within schools within a reasonable driving distance of my home, and of one of the schools I intend to apply to, are incredibly politicized, and would actually be a serious paycut if I were to take one. This is on account of the fact that I do not have any undergrad education in education and I do not have any certification; it seriously limits what positions I can obtain.</p>

<p>The other school I want to apply for is out of state, and I checked the state’s education job bank and it did not offer me any better hope as of right now. </p>

<p>I don’t really want to get the M.Ed./M.A. for the purposes of teaching; I want to do education research and policy work.</p>

4

<p>I wasn’t suggesting for a teaching position. I know in my neck of the woods they have school based social workers in some schools. I was wondering if there was anything of that nature that you might be able to apply for. Godd luck with your situation!</p>