Should I get an MBA first or start a family first and then try to go back to school?

Question

I have been debating this for a few months now. My family is pretty academic and I've always thought I would go on to get a Master's degree. My husband is supportive about it, but we also recently started talking about having kids. He is 6 years older than me and he's definitely ready for a family. Though I would love children, I'm not sure I'm ready to "end" my youth by being a parent. Has anyone tried to go back to school with children? Do you regret not doing it before having them? Is it impossibly difficult? And for those with Master's degrees, is the advanced degree worth waiting to have a family till later in life?

Answer 1

do what is best for YOU at this time in your life.

just because your husband is ready doesn't mean you are... and if you have a child just because someone else wants you to, you're being unfair to yourself, hon.

i don't have a master's degree because i had kids first, and thought i could go back to school... i can now, 25 years later because my kids are grown... but i don't think i'm going to.

it might do you and your husband good to talk about this. let him know how you feel and you could also tell him that while a family is important, so is your education.

i've found that people who wait a while before having children, are also more financially "set" and don't have the money worries. if you have a career, as well as your husband, then you wouldn't have to worry about a financial struggle either.

lots to consider. take care and i hope you get some good answers here.

Answer 2

Zamzam, although your husband's and your family's opinion matter, it is what is more important to you. Do you REALLY want a masters degree for your own personal satisfaction or is it simply because of the family academic background pressure?

There is much truth in the saying "when there is a will there is a way." I have a very close friend of mine who was married at the time she started her second masters degree, within the same time frame she also got pregnant. She somehow manged to be a full time employee, a loving attentive wife, a devoted student and gave birth to a wonderful baby girl. She actually managed to graduate top of her class.

Remember that most master degree students all have full time jobs and more than likely there will be a few who are married and a good bunch that have children yet they have a dream and have found a way to juggle their day to day life with school as well and still be very happy.

It is a matter of dedication and determination. Don't let anything and or anybody stand in the way of achieving what you want. Don't let outside pressure for X Y Z reason stand in the way of who you are and what your dreams are. After all, who loves you will be with you every step of the way and will give you their support.

I wish you all the best!

Answer 3

Zamzam,

Go for the MBA now, family can come later when you can devote time to it. I speak from experience because I was married right out of high school. I got a pretty good job but it was shift work and I started college part-time. After three years we had a daughter and there wasn't enought money for college for a few years. Six-years later I started back to college and got my degree in business (that took 12-years.) My daughter graduated high school and started college and my hopes of getting my masters degree dwendled but I managed to scrap together the money to go after it with some help from my employer. This past may, my daughter and I walked across the graduation stage together at Rice University in Houston. What an experience...but I would have much rather finished my education and received the pay from my employer a lot earlier. I feel like I had to balance my wants with my family's needs and that could have been avoided if I had just thought about things when I was younger like you.

Answer 4

I am a mother of five children and I went back to school after I had them .(When my youngest was 4) I really had a hard time studying after a full day of school then get home to continue my daily routine. The thing is that you will have to help the children with their homework and dinner ,house cleaning ,lunches for the next day and then sit down and review what you've done during that day at school. I was exhausted .
That was the negative part. I was able to do it and felt so proud of myself for sticking to it. You can do it too. I would definitely wait to have children .Get your education ,there is so much less stress to deal with. Are you running out of time? Do you hear the clock ticking?If so then I would not wait to have children because you can always go to school but you cannot always have the babies... I hope I helped you .You are a woman, you are strong and can do anything you put your mind to.Good Luck..

Answer 5

I would get my degree first. I had my daughter while i was still in high school and going back to school with children is hard. I'm trying to get my bachelors now with a six yr old ( not easy). Having children is a wonderful experience and i wouldn't change my life for anything but once you start you can't stop so be sure before you do it.

Answer 6

It is a lot easier to finish school without kids. I had 3 of them before completing my Doctorate. It was one of the most difficult things I ever did but totally worth it. Being a wife and mother actually made me work harder. My husband was totally behind me. I don't regret it because I was kind of wild before getting married and having kids and now my boys are school-aged so I was able to stay home with them while they were little and finish school. Now I can work while they are in class and still have enough time to spend with them. My kids gave me a reason to want to achieve all of my goals. That way I can show them by example that they can do anything they put their mind to. Of course I will advise them to pursue education first.

Answer 7

GO TO SCHOOL FIRST !! I regret that I never went on and finished my education. I love my children very much, but I would be able to provide so much more for them if I had finished. Women are having children at older ages now and science and medicine have come so far that it is alot safer than it use to be. GOOD LUCK

Answer 8

Education first, don't you think that with a good career, that you will be better prepared to provide for your children? Do you *want* to struggle, and do without, then resent your kids? Get your personal goals accomplished first, then "settle down"


Yes, the Master's is worth postponing having a family, you will be in a better position to do it right.

Answer 9

Get the education first. Kids are exactly like wearing an anchor around your neck. No joking. They require constant attention and your class and study time will be shot to hell. Plenty of time for kids...plenty of time. Get the degree first and while you're at it...have all the fun of working at having kids but without the consequenses.
Once you get the sheepskin...have your husband shed his sheepskin and start your family.
Good luck!

Answer 10

I think the chances of you finishing are much smaller once you've had a child. You have stated you aren't sure you are ready, so that's pretty much your answer! Why not plan for it just as you are finishing up? Best wishes whatever you decide! Congratulations on being smart enough to to to college! Sounds like you have a wonderful life ahead of you!