B.S., M.S., or Ph.D.?

Actually, the question of which degree to pursue is not as simple as the title of this article implies. The decision as to any degree beyond high school depends on what the individual wants to do and his or her personal interests, as well as the requirements for the starting position in the new career and for future growth opportunities. It should be noted that there are literally hundreds of thousands of jobs available today with a large number not requiring a degree of any kind. In some cases, a high school education may be the only requirement, while in others, some type of specialized training is necessary. In most of the latter cases, the schooling is limited to a one- or two-year program. It should also be noted that the following comments are more applicable to the educational system in the United States and may vary considerably in non-U.S. educational systems. Given that, what then might drive an individual to pursue a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral program?