Advice for further education

As many of you know, I work for the police department. One of the perks of this job is that the job will provide tuition assistance or has programs in place for reduced cost tuition to schools.

Seeing as how I'm 26, will retire somewhere between 47 and 50, haven't yet started studying for promotional exams due to eligibility, I feel I should utilize this.

I know I can get a stipend for law school. I would probably go to CUNY law bc it's cheap and I'm not trying to work in a major, top 100 firm, so I just need the JD. I could try to work in the legal bureau of the department and practice upon retirement. OR I Could go to John Jay or Pace and get a masters, possibly pursue teaching after my career in the nypd.

I just don't know what is the wiser decision. Based on job markets or potential, I don't know which I should pursue.

There are programs like this out there: http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/730.php

What do you guys think?

Right now is the worst time to get an education "just because". A JD now, thats 'unused' means nothing when you are retiring from the force at 57. (You know its going up!)

Worst time, but the competition afterward is intense. So do it anyway while you can.

That's my biggest regret. I had the chance but was too much of a free spirit musician at the time, and forewent the opportunity for a paid Masters. It was a socialist regime in the UK, and back then you took that stuff for granted, since it was paid for if you qualified. I just wanted to graduate college come to the US and make music.

The higher ed creds help separate later on. Do it.

My advice go for quality. John Jay comes to mind in the CJ field, but Pace has some connex in the criminal investigation world too. What do other NYPDs tell you?

Right now is the worst time to get an education "just because". A JD now, thats 'unused' means nothing when you are retiring from the force at 57. (You know its going up!)

Not for me. My pension tier is what is. New guys coming in after me may have to do more years, but I won't.

I can get a 10k per year stipend from the job for law school. Get 12 credits free from John Jay and then perhaps either an NYPD scholarship or reduced fee for tuition. I just feel as if I should utilize these things while they're available, I'm still young and have the motivation.

Not for me. My pension tier is what is. New guys coming in after me may have to do more years, but I won't.

 

I can get a 10k per year stipend from the job for law school. Get 12 credits free from John Jay and then perhaps either an NYPD scholarship or reduced fee for tuition. I just feel as if I should utilize these things while they're available, I'm still young and have the motivation.

The value of an education is still unparalleled in this country. It's just becoming much more expensive. If you can get a high caliber education for low cost, do it.

To be frank, and I hope you don't mind, it doesn't sound like you know what you want to do. A few months ago, you were considering quitting the force. Now you're in it for the long haul and are looking to use their money to go to school? Not to mention you are trying to decide between getting into law or teaching after your career. Do you plan on teaching law? If so, then go ahead, kill two birds with one stone, and get a JD. If you don't plan on teaching law, and are unsure on what you want to do (as it seems to me), then don't get your JD or any other degree until you can figure it out.

I understand you wanting to get some more education while you're young and it's more possible. But don't rush it.

The value of an education is still unparalleled in this country. It's just becoming much more expensive. If you can get a high caliber education for low cost, do it.

Education has an inflated value in this country because it's so hard to get a good one, and it's so expensive because the idea is to keep people in debt so that they enter the workforce viably to pay it off. There are no more "career students". You don't think it's odd now that a Bachelor's gets you $30k/year to start and a Masters not all that much more? Want to get PAID out of school? Count on being there for 10 years starting undergrad, in a select few fields (finance is still a ridiculously overpaid field), and be in the top 2% of your class.

Keeping people in debt means keeping people working. The jobs that require a Bachelor's right now are almost laughable. Thank god I'm at a point where experience trumps education, or I couldn't even be working for shit benefits in Walmart.

Education has an inflated value in this country because it's so hard to get a good one, and it's so expensive because the idea is to keep people in debt so that they enter the workforce viably to pay it off. There are no more "career students". You don't think it's odd now that a Bachelor's gets you $30k/year to start and a Masters not all that much more? Want to get PAID out of school? Count on being there for 10 years starting undergrad, in a select few fields (finance is still a ridiculously overpaid field), and be in the top 2% of your class.

 

Keeping people in debt means keeping people working. The jobs that require a Bachelor's right now are almost laughable. Thank god I'm at a point where experience trumps education, or I couldn't even be working for shit benefits in Walmart.

If I could rep this a million times.... 33k base salary, masters in 2007 :-) Luckily, if I teach 4 college classes a year (the most I can teach by contract), I get an extra 11k a year. It will get better eventually as I gain more seniority, but man, entry level wages are looowwww

Not for me. My pension tier is what is. New guys coming in after me may have to do more years, but I won't.

 

I can get a 10k per year stipend from the job for law school. Get 12 credits free from John Jay and then perhaps either an NYPD scholarship or reduced fee for tuition. I just feel as if I should utilize these things while they're available, I'm still young and have the motivation.

I'm lost.

Can getting a JD help you now?

You really plan on going for the JD, lets say you get a degree in 5-10 years. You're low/mid 30s. Does it do anything for you?

I'm reading that you want to get this degree now, then eventually use it in 30 years after you retire.

Do you think I'd hire a lawyer that finished law school in 1982 who has worked as a prison guard the last 30 years?

The NYPD has a legal bureau. Meaning, you work for the department in their legal division as a member of the department, but don't suit up and fight crime. Still counts toward your years as a police officer/towards your pension etc.

Ultimately, I stay on the same path I am now, but I'm not getting my hands dirty at work and have better job prospects when I retire .

Also, if I get a masters or it'll be considered if I ever make captain and want the promotion to inspector or want to become a chief.

The NYPD has a legal bureau. Meaning, you work for the department in their legal division as a member of the department, but don't suit up and fight crime. Still counts toward your years as a police officer/towards your pension etc.

 

Ultimately, I stay on the same path I am now, but I'm not getting my hands dirty at work and have better job prospects when I retire .

 

 

Also, if I get a masters or it'll be considered if I ever make captain and want the promotion to inspector or want to become a chief.

And you cant do this until you get an additional degree?

5 years exp wont get you there?

Do most of your co-workers have 4yr degrees, now?