"If you're going to walk a long, lonesome highway, be sure you've chosen it for yourself."

Indeed. Doing the work for a M.A. or a Ph.D. that you don't actually "need" is not only a long lonely road but it is also a time-sucking, often frustrating, and hugely expensive undertaking as well. Myself, I dropped out of grad school after one semester. I've regretted this sometimes, but mostly not. Do I Have to Finish My Dissertation?