<p>So I've been talking to a lot of engineers/scientists in academia and the workforce recently, and I'm getting a lot of conflicting advice. My main issue is that I'm not exactly sure what branch(of Mechanical Engineering) I want to get into yet. Some people advise me to go work a couple years to figure out where I want to go, come back and get my Master's. Others say get a Master's in some field first, or else there's no point coming back for one. Supposedly, by then your work experience will trump your degree, unless you come back for a Ph.D. </p>
<p>To compound matters I'm still 50/50 on going after a Ph.D. at some point(although I'm certain it won't be because I want to be a professor), and I'd rather not dole out money for a Master's if I don't have to. Does anyone have any thoughts or experience on this subject?</p>
<p>If you are willing, you could have your cake and eat it. </p>
<p>I went through the exact same thought process when I was about to graduate. I ended up going to industry (mainly for financial reasons) and then worked on a master, partially funded by my employer, on the side. </p>
<p>I think this is the best route for many people. The reduced financial burden is definitely a plus. More importantly as I have found, my works during the day often put a technical subject under study in some real world context. So I felt like getting a much richer educational experience than sitting in class room wondering if why the professor was teaching all these stuffs. </p>
<p>Many top engineering schools, including Stanford, Illinois, Purdue, Columbia etc, now offer part time programs, on campus or distance, so you don't really have to sacrifice quality (assuming you could get in).</p>
<p>The real downside is little or no social life for a few years as reputable programs will likely demand a LOT of hard work.</p>
<p>One more thing, if PhD is in your future, go to those thesis-based programs especially if you don't any research or publication under your belt.</p>
<p>How long were you working before you started doing your Master's? My real indecision isn't really whether to go for master's but rather what to study for my master's. I don't terribly mind stopping work for a year or possibly two to go back to grad school. I just don't want to do that if it's a waste. </p>
<p>I'll have done more than 2 years of research by the time I graduate, and hopefully have co-authorship on 2 pubs. Does a thesis-based MS speed up your subsequent PhD, or is it just to get research credits?</p>
<p>Thanks for the response.</p>
<p>re: I just don't want to do that if it's a waste
Right now, most programs/curriculum may just seem like classes to you. Trust me, you will tell if a program is a waste or ill-suited once you gain some professional experience and focus.</p>
<p>re: I don't terribly mind stopping work for a year or possibly two to go back to grad school
It is easy to say that when there is no opportunity cost. Wait until your life depends on those paychecks... car, nice apartment/house, dine out ... :) </p>
<p>Unless you pursue the PhD at the same department that grants you a master, the master probably won't help that much in the term of time. So, if you really want to do a PhD, you try applying directly. Also, ask for those recommendation letters from professors now. They will help refreshing the <em>old</em> memories when you apply later.</p>
<p>What's the typical MS engineering cost?</p>
<p>I agree with dallas that the best approach is to try integrate your work experience with a part-time masters that is complementary to your area of work. As dallas mentions, many firms will pick all or part of the associated costs and the fact that you are working means that you are drawing income in addition to building experience. For most jobs, I think a B.S. degree is sufficient and master's is not really required. </p>
<p>Of course, people take master's degrees for a variety of reasons. If you are trying to switch from one area to another, a master's can accelerate that transition.</p>