Re: School vs experience...

[Shannon Pierotti <swtieshan -at- comcast -dot- net>]

Hi all,

Boy, I didn't think my little question would stir up this many 
responses. Thank you all for your comments, and please know that I do 
appreciate hearing all the various views. As I mentioned in an off-list 
e-mail, I tried to make my initial question fairly general so hopefully 
it would help others as well, but let me elaborate on my specific 
situation to hopefully have more feedback, and so others understand the 
"whole picture" from where my question was stemming from..

Here's the run down of my current/near future qualifications:
8+ years in healthcare working in medical offices with 2+ years of 
department lead/supervisory experience
B.S. Degree in General Science with a Minor in Writing - graduating in 
12/2004
(Classes in biology, Human A&P, grant writing, technical editing, 
technical writing, biomedical ethics.)

I will hopefully complete a paid "internship" (still in the works to set 
in stone) by Dec allowing me to have direct experience writing/editing 
study protocols, data entry of site patient visits, etc, and have also 
already joined the American Medical Writer's Association and Society for 
Clinical Research Professionals.

If I were to take an extra year to complete a Master's in 
Professional/Technical writing I would be able to tailor my program to 
focus on additional biomedical eithics classes as a specialization, and 
gear electives towards scientific/technical writing. But, I'm really 
getting the sense that it is better at this point to find career 
employment directly after graduating in December with my B.S. and 
perhaps seek additional education "after the fact." Ultimately, either 
way works for me, I just want to ensure I will be "marketable" and 
employable after graduation (have to pay off all the student loans :-) 
), and am really looking forward to beginning my career path and writing.

Thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it!

Take care,
Shannon



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