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Subject:RE: School vs experience... From:Michael Strickland <Mstrickland -at- entriq -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 25 Aug 2004 11:18:42 -0700
Shannon,
Keep in mind that if you put the Master's on hold and get a job as a tech
writer with the right company, that company might pay for your tuition to go
back for your Master's (or at least a portion of it), if the degree is
directly related to your work. My company has such a program in place, for
example, as did a former employer. Just something to keep in mind.
Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: Shannon Pierotti [mailto:swtieshan -at- comcast -dot- net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 7:12 PM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Re: School vs experience...
Hi all,
Boy, I didn't think my little question would stir up this many
responses. Thank you all for your comments, and please know that I do
appreciate hearing all the various views. As I mentioned in an off-list
e-mail, I tried to make my initial question fairly general so hopefully
it would help others as well, but let me elaborate on my specific
situation to hopefully have more feedback, and so others understand the
"whole picture" from where my question was stemming from..
Here's the run down of my current/near future qualifications:
8+ years in healthcare working in medical offices with 2+ years of
department lead/supervisory experience
B.S. Degree in General Science with a Minor in Writing - graduating in
12/2004
(Classes in biology, Human A&P, grant writing, technical editing,
technical writing, biomedical ethics.)
I will hopefully complete a paid "internship" (still in the works to set
in stone) by Dec allowing me to have direct experience writing/editing
study protocols, data entry of site patient visits, etc, and have also
already joined the American Medical Writer's Association and Society for
Clinical Research Professionals.
If I were to take an extra year to complete a Master's in
Professional/Technical writing I would be able to tailor my program to
focus on additional biomedical eithics classes as a specialization, and
gear electives towards scientific/technical writing. But, I'm really
getting the sense that it is better at this point to find career
employment directly after graduating in December with my B.S. and
perhaps seek additional education "after the fact." Ultimately, either
way works for me, I just want to ensure I will be "marketable" and
employable after graduation (have to pay off all the student loans :-)
), and am really looking forward to beginning my career path and writing.
Thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it!
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