Higher education does have merits as well as demerits for CSS attempt.

Merits: Our faculty of mind improves; we can see things in a broader perspective in other words a mature analysis can be done. During these 4 to 6 years one accumulates a list of experiences and various situational analyses. That helps a lot in attempting papers and ultimately facilitates in psychological test and in final interview. I have some experience of interviews where mostly interview panel is tilted towards your masters field and if you are from working class some questions are floated in that direction. That situation brings you edge over other candidates because most often you are well equipped in that field and probably you can convince panel very well. And of course, like dr.atifrana comments that some of disciplines are covered in optional papers which is an other favorable point. God forbid if you can't succeed in CSS you have varity of options opened for job market.


Demerits: Higher education consumes a greater portion of your time which is surely on the cost of your pure CSS preparation schedule. In this way one can't assign that much time, concentration and commitment to CSS preparation as compared to graduate / bachelors certificate holders. Finally masters degree holder is under time pressure as he is left with lesser time keeping in view his age constraint. Higher education hits your seniority position also. Graduate candidates attempt CSS in early age and if they succeed to achieve their target they become senior to those who attempt with delay due to completion of masters courses.