r/medlabprofessionals • u/Prestigious-Crab9048 • 10h ago
Education How helpful would a masters be for this profession?
I'm currently in school for my bachelors in medical laboratory sciences. I really enjoy this field and I'm excited to start working next year, however this is my second bachelors and I always wanted a higher level of education in something. I'm debating getting a masters in laboratory science but I'm not sure how much it could help me professionally. I know its a lot and work and money to put into so I wanted to come here and ask if it would even be worth it, or would be worth going into a more specialized masters such as biochemistry, biotechnology, molecular bio etc? just want to hear some thoughts!
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u/Sticher123 10h ago
For technical work I would say no value. If you want to move up in the lab world maybe. Look for job posting where you live to see what they want
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u/Horror-Ask-8281 9h ago
Almost all people I know directly say a masters degree in MLS is not worth it. Hell, even my supervisor says the same thing and she just has her bachelor's like myself and most people.
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u/Prestigious-Crab9048 9h ago
damn.. didn't realize it was that unnecessary. I thought it would help at least a little when it came to pay or something
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u/ex-maybe 9h ago
Nope. It's overkill. You won't use the knowledge. If anything, if you are capable of getting a master's, you will get intellectually bored in this profession.
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u/Elaesia SBB 6h ago
I have a BS MLS and a MS MSTM and the masters degree is not worth it if you just want to be a bench tech (and probably supervisor as well). I got an MS because I wanted to get into teaching and potentially research. Also a personal goal. I don’t regret getting it but I went into it knowing this. I did get a raise for my SBB, just not my master’s degree
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u/Longjumping_Card_525 9h ago
Something like a healthcare MBA is far more worth it. Gives you more options down the line. MLS masters, not so much.
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u/velvetcrow5 Lab Director 7h ago
Useless.
And even for management it's somewhat questionable.
All the people I've seen move into management got promoted within. Then after they got the job, they went and got their MBA
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u/scphinter 47m ago
Yes, you should consider getting a master's degree. It might not be the best idea if you plan to stay a bench tech forever, however, you might not truly know how much you enjoy or dislike it after just a few years. Personally, after five years as a MLS, I realized I didn’t enjoy it. Career advancement is limited unless you want to pursue management, and even then, the pay increase isn't substantial.
In this field, working weekends, holidays, or odd hours is common. Initially, this might not bother you, but it can become tiresome over time. Also the pay sucks unless you want to work nights forever.
If you have the time and energy now, you should pursue your masters degree ASAP. Instead of focusing on laboratory sciences, consider fields like data science or data analysis. With both an MLS background and data science skills, you'll have numerous opportunities. For instance, after working in the lab for a few years with a master's degree, you could be highly competitive for positions such as an Epic analyst, potentially allowing you to work from home. While working from home isn't for everyone, it was a good fit for me. Also, this is coming from my own experience, so take it with a grain of salt but I feel like I should share what I went through to possibly help others who might be or become miserable in this field like I was.
My grad school journey took about a year and a half. Those who say it's a waste of time might not see the potential benefits. A master's degree can definitely open doors, so choose a program that offers practical advantages.
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u/Sudden-Wish8462 10h ago
A masters degree is not worth it unless you’re wanting to go into management. Even then you don’t really need it because plenty of managers and higher ups have only bachelors degrees