<p>Hello. I graduated with a bachelor of science in aeronautics and air traffic control from a private school with a 3.9 gpa. I haven't taken the GRE yet but recently found interest in getting a masters in aeronautical or mechanical engineering. For all you familiar with engineering graduate admissions...would it be possible for me to get admitted into a reputable masters in engineering program or should I not even bother? I'm looking at Purdue, U of Illinois, Embry-Riddle, and IIT. I'm sure I'd have to take a buttload of prereqs but I love school and I wouldn't mind that...I just want to be admitted!</p>
<p>Also, would that affect my job prospects? In other words could I find employment as a engineer with a masters rather than a four year bachelor's? </p>
<p>I appreciate every response. Thank you all in advance. :)</p>
Sure… depending on what that undergrad really entailed. You need to demonstrate three big things to get into grad school - a level of scholarship sufficient to handle graduate coursework, specific preparation adequate to start work in some professor’s lab, and a history of research work that indicates passion and dedication. You seem to have the scholarship (not knowing the school), the other two are less clear. Have you done any research work? Do you know what you want to research in grad school, and have you taken any advanced coursework in that area?</p>
<p>
Desire is all well and good, but many departments have program expectations or outright requirements that place limits on how much time can be spent on prereqs. Generally speaking, most professors want someone who need no more than a course or two of catchup, few will take someone who needs more than a semester’s worth, and anything beyond that they will probably want to admit you as a non-degree student until you are within firing range of expectations. They do not want to admit someone who is not going to meet the requirement of completing at least 4 relevant grad-level courses in the first year (as an example of a department requirement) and get automatically booted. So don’t go TOO far astray from what you have already studied.</p>
<p>
Absolutely. Most hiring is done on your most recent/most advanced degree. A masters would make you highly qualified in one narrow area of aeronautical or mechanical engineering, and the fact that you lack that lower level of qualification in the general field will not matter. Just bear in mind that you will not be very hirable outside your thesis area, so make sure it is a marketable one!</p>