Grad School - GRE question

[cookderosa]

He felt that a distance program only equips me with "book learning" but does not help with some "real life" issues. The grad program is a highly respected program in the Cincinnati metro area and is concentrated in employee and labor relations, which is the area that they wish to develop me in.

Now, I have been told that I am a finalist for another position in another state. The local job is 2/3 the salary, but offers tremendous professional growth and a higher future earnings. And, I will have to relocate which means selling a house in our current market. (will lose all equity and take a beating). The initial difference in salary is $2500 per month and it is a very good job, with great people. But moving 7 people is challenging. Oh the dilemna.

THANKS for everyones great wishes. At least I have options!

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Congrats on your dilemma. It's a good one to be pondering
I have no advice on the GRE. I only have a tiny bit of experience to share on the employer part. My husband's company is paying $18,000 of the $24,000 for his degree. (the rest is covered through a pell grant) They didn't choose the college, but they had veto power over his choices. That said, at any point in time, if my husband is fired- we owe back the money. If he quits- we owe back the money. He can't exceed 6 credits in a semester, and he must pass every class with a C or higher. He will have to work a full 24 months in his current position AFTER earning his degree before he can cut the strings and own his degree free and clear. In our case, he likes his job, we like where we live, and are happy to have the AMAZING benefit of their contribution. (without it, this would have been fully financed by loans). Now, should any of those situations happen, we could easily (but grudgingly) come up with the money. That wouldn't have been the case 10 years ago. So, I feel like we have a safety net, and so we are accepting the risk as appropriate for the reward.

My two cents would be to consider the worst case scenarios, and protect yourself. What if your boss gets promoted? What if your company relocates you? Will your credits transfer? What if you get fired? What if your husband gets relocated? What if your promise of long term earnings never happens? Is anything in writing? What if you don't pass one of your classes? What if you get pregnant and leave your studies for a year? What if you don't like the program and want to transfer? What if your company cuts the budget that is funding this local college? What is stopping your company from changing the rules on a whim? What if what if what if?

It really all comes down to how much control you are willing to give them, and where your comfort zone is with letting someone else decide this part of your future for you. I am probably a bit more conservative in this area, but I couldn't help myself from throwing in a bit of paranoid skepticism.