Should I take a job or get a free masters degree?

• I'm graduating this semester with a license to teach secondary history. Help me decide whether to take a one-year teaching job or a fully-funded MA in history. I want to ultimately teach high school, but full tuition + a monthly stipend seems too good to pass up, and I can't do both. What should I do? The job market is really brutal for history teachers in my area, so I've been planning for awhile to ride out the bad economy in grad school. I've moved forward with all that paperwork up until this point. This job popped up suddenly and I applied to it on a whim, not at all thinking I'd get an interview and at least I could go to grad school knowing it was the best thing for me. But I did get an interview, and now I feel like I have a terrible dilemma. I've asked many people for advice about this already, but nobody really understands the extent of both opportunities so I feel I can't get clear advice. Here are the pertinent details about both opportunities: TEACHING JOB -The high school is perhaps the largest and best performing within a very competitive district. -This district is one I would like to work in in the long-term. -The posting says it's a one-year-only job, but my friends who are teachers or work in the district say that may not necessarily be true. -This school has a great program (let's say model UN), that I've coached since high school, and the coach said he would love my help if I'm hired. -If I take this job I can't sit on my parents' health insurance anymore, which will be a problem if I can't find a job next year. I have an illness that will make it difficult to get health insurance but also makes it absolutely necessary. -This job could help me get my foot in the door for other jobs within the district, but that's dependent on budget cuts next year. MA IN HISTORY -I've been offered a teaching assistant job that will cover my full tuition and give me a stipend of about $1,200 per month. -I believe I will be very successful in this program -- I know the professors very well, I love history, and have already done some graduate-level work. -I might be able to defer my acceptance a year, or simply reapply next year, but I believe this TA opportunity is one-time-only. If I don't take it now I will lose it. -I do genuinely want a masters in history and will get it at some point in the next 10 years. -Balancing that coursework + a full-time job later down the road seems hard, and it scares me a little. I could take a class or two next year while I teach for the first time, but that scares me even more. -I can stay on my parents' health insurance the whole way through this program. -I will continue to help with the model UN program at another high school while I get my MA so I can keep my contacts in teaching fresh. -A masters can only help my job prospects; it is difficult to get and stay hired in the districts in my area without one. I've spoken with principals about this recently so I know this won't change anytime soon. Which is the more valuable experience in this situation? I'm lured by the possibility of having a job right away, but it's a new and scary situation. Grad school seems like the safer option because I know I will do well and it's all paid for, but it seems silly to pass up a job in my profession in such a terrible economy. I don't know if I have the job yet, but I would like to know my answer ahead of time in case I do get it.

• Answer:

  I would definitely go with the funded MA program. That is a great opportunity, and you can leverage the MA for the rest of your career. The teaching gig is advertised as only one year, really is only of use for your next job (i.e., 30 years from now, no one will care that you taught for a year there; but your MA will ALWAYS be on your resume), and you will be in a great position to apply next year, MA in hand, when the position comes around again. Good luck!