Five Year Masters: Good or bad idea?

[Deacon Blues]

Specifically, http://www.umbc.edu/economics/grad_bama.html

Yeah. I totally want a Masters, and this way I'd get it sooner and my parents would pay for it instead of just a Bachelors. Then again, I assume the schedule would be harder compared to the average course load. But yeah. Opinions?

[Bill_Hancoc]

Im going to do it ext year when i go to college, assuming that my college offers it. The course load isnt as hard as you may expect from what understand since some courses are double counted

[Stephen Kowski]

I was seriously considering that for a long period of time, but I decided against it since I was not sure if I could afford another year in USF (I don't want anymore debt, it is evil). I could very easily afford it if I got the degree at that moment and then took a little bit more time to get the masters. I had more money concerns though than you apparently do, so if it is what you want, go for it. The only downside to those is you normally don't do a thesis if you were interested in that, it is usually a reduced load (by counting some classes for both grad and undergrad), course work only degree and I can't comment on how companies view it.

After taking your age into account I would suggest focusing in on the bachelors for the moment because you normally do not start those type of programs until you are in your senior year of your bachelor's degree. I personally thought I'd be in a much different mindset by the end of my time in college, but I have found myself considering an abundance of different options here towards the end of my degree.

Good Luck

[lynca]

Many universities are supporting the Five Year Masters/BS program. As a student in graduate school, I think the Five Year MS/BS is a great system that will reduce your college experience by one year instead of the typical 2 year masters and 4 years for the BS.