Oshin11

Ok so here is the deal. I just began my first year of graduate school last week in Materials Engineering at a top american school (along the ranks of MIT). I dont want to name the exact school just to remain anonymous. I also got a job offer to work as a Mechanical Engineer designing and working on car for Porsche AG. I got this job because I know a friend who knows someone who is high up there. I know that its hard to get a job at porsche and they are pretty selective so I dont know whether to keep chugging along in my education for my PhD or take a few years off to work for porsche. Anyone have some inside info on how hard it actually is to get a job there? I dont want this offer to expire and for me to be kicking myself in the *** in 5 years when I get my PhD and CANT get a job at porsche. What do you guys think?

Edgy01

Everyone I know (well, nearly) with a PhD is living below the national average, 50% in the teaching world, and the rest in engineering/business. I would recommend the move to Porsche because you can certainly get into grad school later. I have always felt that way too many grad students move directly into grad school from their undergrad schools without benefitting from practical, real-world experiences. Many grad schools would love to have someone entering grad school come in with some real life engineering under their caps. You will get that much more out of your grad school time this way.

Time to study your German!

Oshin11

hey edgy well its funny that youre from santa barbara because I did work as an optical engineer at Raytheon in santa barbara for 1.5 years full time DURING my undergrad education. And as far as I know from my physics background I am doing much better than the materials engineering in coursework. I am sure I could get in later on but its tough to drop out of a top 3 school (like MIT) when they are paying my entire tuition and 25,000 dollars on top of that each year. I have a lot to think about.

r911

P AG for sure

But first tell your Chair what's up and ask to have them support a leave of absence for you with the Dean. Faculty do this all the time. You may need to explain what P AG is...

then go P AG no matter what

bpoteat

Take the job. People work there whole lives for an opportunity like that and you'd be crazy to pass it up. You go to a school like MIT just to get a chance at a job like that.

I was in a very similar situation as yourself and took the job. I am not going to go into the details, but the job only lasted a couple of years and I still have no doubts that it was the best move.

quattrorunner

You can always go back to school.

Brett San Diego

I could be wrong, but my impression is that a Ph.D. in engineering overqualifies you for most engineering jobs. You're pretty much stuck teaching. If you're inclined to work an engineering job rather than teach/research, take the job now. I understand you only have a Bachelor's at this point. Master's would probably suit you better in the long run. Or did you do a Bachelor's/Master's program? My own field, chemistry, is different. Many positions in industry are Ph.D level, or you can teach.

If you like cars, and you like the company, sounds like a great opportunity. Make sure the whole package is really what you're looking for.

Brett

theiceman

Where are you ? you HAVE to be in Germany right ?

pl

damn, u can work for porsche as an engineer?
and u don't want to???
i don't know what u want man.
graduate school right after college? no good
phd without real working exp. even worse.
plus Materials Engineering is a very pratical science.

for the record:
i myself entered grad. school directly, never liked it

pl

that's why we stuck with RMS in the water world.

Oshin11

I only have a B.S. in Physics at this point. Getting a PhD doesnt overqualify you in industry but it is very tempting to go work for P AG. I am in the US right now at grad school and I would work in the US for a year and then transfer to Germany. It IS my dream job but on the other hand I dont want to start making money and not want to go back to get atleast a masters.

r911

P AG may very well pay your way to a school to get a MS - many premier companies will do this.

Oshin11

I dont need a company to pay my way, I have a full ride with fellowship. My tuition is already fully paid and i get paid 25000 dollars just to go to this top notch school. My concern was that I would lose this opportunity to work for Porsche since I am being hooked up by a friend of a friend who may not be able to hook me up later. Just wondering how hard it is to get into Porsche.

Edward

School is an option you can ALWAYS exercise at a later date. I'd do as was mentioned above: let your dept know what you've been offered, and see if they can accomodate you with a leave ...better than just "leaving." And if they won't/can't, then I'd persue the job anyway as practical experience, especially one as potentially fine as this one, trumps "head knowledge" anyday ...this from an educator himself

Edward

Oshin11

Well I just started the program last week so I cant really take a leave because I jsut started and I think that I can only defer my admission for 3 months. I still have to think about it though because Porsche has been my dream job for a long time. I hate decisions but I am thankful that I have to deal with such nice decisions. I am lucky to have such opportunities like "work for the best motor company EVER or go to a school like MIT". Thanks for all the help guys and keep the advice flowing.