u/Local_Swordfish_6530

sometimes reading this sub makes me nervous about pursuing an msw…

i graduated with a ba in sociology in 2023 and have been working at a nonprofit in los angeles county for the past 3 years making about $50k. i recently got accepted into a 2-year msw program starting fall 2026, and i’m really trying to figure out if it’s the right move.

my biggest concern is the cost vs. payoff. the program is ~$20k, and i’m not sure how much my salary would realistically increase after graduating. i already feel a bit overworked and underpaid in nonprofit work, so i don’t want to end up in the same position but with debt. important to note that my fiancé is an engineer that makes enough to cover our bills while i would be in school, we just would lose my income.

i’m also thinking about timing. i want to have kids by around 28. I’ll turn 25 at the start of the program and would finish the msw in 2028 at 26, so it feels like everything is kind of stacked close together (school, career growth, starting a family).

i’m also wondering if it would make more sense to wait and do my msw after having kids instead.

for those who have an msw or are currently in a program:

* do you feel like it was worth the cost?

* what did your salary look like before vs after?

* did it actually open up better opportunities?

* how intense was the program + internship balance?

* if you have kids, when did you do your msw and would you recommend that timing?

* would you do it again?

i’m trying to be realistic and make a smart long-term decision, so i’d really appreciate honest input.

hi everyone!

i was recently accepted to a few schools for an msw starting fall 2026, and i'm also planning a small wedding (around 50 people) for april 2027. our venue is mostly all-inclusive except for invitations and flowers, and we'll have a coordinator helping us throughout the process.

i'm starting to worry about balancing school and wedding planning, and whether the workload will feel overwhelming or take away from actually enjoying the experience.

has anyone planned a wedding during grad school? how manageable was it, and is there anything you'd recommend doing (or avoiding)? also, would you recommend planning the wedding around spring break, then honeymoon in the summer?

thank you in advance!!!

EDIT: my little sister is currently getting her MA in art history, and she's so overwhelmed with school that all she does is think about it and do school work, so she is slightly discouraging me from doing it. hearing that makes me nervous that planning a wedding while in grad school might be really hard.

hi everyone!

i was recently accepted to a few schools for an msw starting fall 2026, and i’m also planning a small wedding (around 50 people) for april 2027. our venue is mostly all-inclusive except for invitations and flowers, and we’ll have a coordinator helping us throughout the process.

i’m starting to worry about balancing school and wedding planning, and whether the workload will feel overwhelming or take away from actually enjoying the experience.

has anyone planned a wedding during grad school? how manageable was it, and is there anything you’d recommend doing (or avoiding)? also, would you recommend planning the wedding around spring break, then honeymoon in the summer?

thank you in advance!!!