Type_LT

I'm in the process of deciding whether to accept a full time position as an electrical engineer when I graduate in 6mo. or continue get a masters or possible a ph d. I would really like to get a teaching assistantship so that my masters tuition would be waived. I'm looking at Purdue, Illinois University and will give MIT a shot. I've seen every campus except Purdue so if anyone has gone there give me a shout. I looking for any advice I can get on continuing school, ways to do it cheap, schools, etc...

SidViscous

Stay in school as long as possible.

It sucks out here.

Why do so many students have Porsche's I obviously am doing something wrong.

Skip

If you can, stay in school - it's harder than you think to give up a career mid-stream to go back. Most folks have had enough after 16+ years of it, but Masters programs are generally more fun, as you start to actually "do" something with your abilities. I am still going to school at 32 - one class at a time - by age 75 I hope to graduate with honors <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" /> Still working in my professional field, and sidelining, and a family-man with wench and 2 snot-factories, and I waitress at Denny's (old joke, having to do with miniskirts, don't ask-don't tell)

Skip (I talk too much)

2+2

The best option in my opinion is to work for an employer that will pick up the tuition tab for your masters.....you get both industry experience and MS but no $....It is a tough life though....forget working on your car...or laundry for that matter. The big 3 had such programs (dont know now) but usually required you be an employee for a year before. PhDs are really only useful if you want to teach imho...good luck...

SidViscous

If your good enough you can get a company to pay you to take your masters degree without working. But you usually have to invent something or the like to do that.

Did know a guy who did that though.

stefang

Are you implying you have a definite position lined up? If so, I'd probably take it. If not you might be best served staying in school considering the current job climate. In general IMHO you should only get a graduate degree for a specific purpose. I got a MS in Comp Sci to help me out with getting a green card. It did that, but I really don't believe that any of the courses I took in that period helped me at all in my jobs. And it's sure as hell not helping right now in finding a job - but I digress. PHD (Piled Higher and Deeper ) is only good for doing research or teching (mostly anyhow). Good luck with whatever you decide.

Stef

thomschoon

I agree with 2+2, take the job let your employer pick up the tab. I did my masters and doctorate on the company, they let me take many of the classes on company time. I also agree with what a Ph.D is worth, but working on it kept me from actually having to work 40 hours for 5 years. In the end my employer spent well over a $100k and only offered me a $3000 raise, being a *****, I left for an extra $30,000 from someone else and never looked back.

jim968

I'm in HUGE agreement with the "get the job, then let the employer pay for school" approach... The AAS Mech Tech program that I teach in has a _lot_ of guys doing just this... probably 1/3 of our day students, and 3/4+ of our night students, are getting tuition and books paid partially or in full by their employers.

FWIW, I also think it looks good in an interview if you inquire about tuition assistance as an employment benefit... makes the employer aware that you're already thinking about your future and improving yourself.

The downside is that you're likely to be working a 40 or more hour a week job and going to school part time for several years; you've got to make a commitment to finish it, then stick to it.

Some schools, especially in grad programs, will let you combine school & work for credit for some courses, depending on what your duties are at work. On-line courses may also offer some relief in terms of scheduling your time, but may be scarce at the grad school level.

Jim, suppertime!!!

M758

I graduated with Mechanical Engineering Degree from MIT in 1996. At that time the job market was good and I was lucky enough to get a job in my hometown (I was never an east-coast Guy). I had the opprotunity to go for a Masters Degree, but decided instead to go to work. It was the right choice. Around here gradudate degrees are nice, but not really required. Infact I have meet people with a phD and rarely are they better equipped than most. The only exceptions are those who went back latter on to get them since are much more targeted to something the can use.

That is the basic probelem. Until you work in industry it is hard know what you really need to know. Once you get to industry you find out that you only use about 20% of what you learned in school. The rest you learn along the way. There are graduate programs that can really help you target specific knowledge that you may want or need, but know what these are is hit or miss right now.

You said that you have job offer. This good. If you did not I would advise staying in school since it better than working at McDonalds, because you can't get a real EE job given todays market enviroment. Since you have an offer I say take it. (if it is job you want). If you need more skills most compaines will support you in gaining them if you have the basic employee charateristics they want.

83na944

Well, assuming that you had engineering economics, you could do an analysis of the financial situation. When you look at the two years salary you'll give up going to grad school and the realatively small premium you expect with an advanced degree, you'll probably decide that it will take 10 or 15 years to make up the lost salary. The salary of engineers with that much experience is probaly not dependent on education level.

On the other hand, the status of an advanced degree is nice and grad school can be a lot of fun. And there is a movement afoot to require an advanced degree for professional registration, although that's probably not important to a EE.

Actuallly, you can't go wrong either way.

PeteL

I am of the opinion that real world work experience will only enhance the experience of getting a Master's Degree. I left college with no intention of getting another degree.
After 4 or so years of work, I went back to school part time and got an MBA. Then I got another degree, both at the company's expense. (U.S. Navy). There are many programs that will permit you to work and go to school.

SidViscous

"you'll probably decide that it will take 10 or 15 years to make up the lost salary."

Tell that to the Mechanical Engineer I knew with a PHD who started at 100g's a year in an optical company, next to optical engineers with 6 years experience making 65K.

Of course that doesn't count the Optical engineer making 60k a year with a PHD.

Of course I know all of this because of the accountant with the Baccalaureate who couldn't firgure out that the spreadsheet with the slary information should not be on the shared drive of the network.

Point being it don't matter if you have a PHD, DDS, BS or GED. The workplace sucks and even a garrunteed job isn't right now.

I'll never forget 2 years ago when Cisco offered me a job at 10 bucks an hour.

"But the bonuses and stock options will be worth a mint!!!!!"

WEll I guess they're not as bad as SUN yet.

GOBOGIE

I agree with the individual who suggested that it is a good idea to get some real world experience prior to going to graduate school. I just happen to work in the field that will be receiving my master's degree in (when I'm done). I truelly believe that work experience is invaluable. I manage a department of individuals that have anywhere from A.S degrees to PhD's. I have definately found that a degree does not make a good employee. In fact most of my hardest working employees have A.S. degrees. Of course there're exeptions, but this is just my experience.

It definately looks good on your resume if you have work experience while having a master's degree also. When reviewing resumes for open positions, I actually prefer individuals that have worked while going to school to obtain a professional degree. I have found that these are the some of the most industrious/hard working individuals out there.

And by judging by what grad school is costing me/my company, try to find a company that will pay for it. Add up tuition and lost wages of not working = lot's of years paying back school loans. Again these are my personal experiences and others may vary (just stating the obvious).

Only you can make the right decision for you...

Skip

[quote]Originally posted by SidViscous:
<strong>WEll I guess they're not as bad as SUN yet.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Ouch! "Trained by SUN, sought by NONE!"

Skip [Solaris SA, Oracle DBA, RELIC HUNTER]

Brian Wilson

"Hey look at my new sun box with all proprietary cables, it's totally cool!" ...Yeah, you sun people suck.

I think it is sort of a running theme here to stay in school. If you can get someone to pick up the tab then you are obligated to them to do well, sort of an incentive program. If your company won't pay for it or is going to play it by ear kind of thing, then just stay in school. I've just started back to school and it is hard once you have left. I think my work ethic completely changed when i started working...

stupid computers!!!