<p>Does a person who has a bachelors degree in engineering need to work before he can actually enter grad school for his/her masters? or is the experience just a bonus in the application? Thanks</p>
<p>It's not necessary.</p>
<p>Even at top graduate schools like UC Berkeley?</p>
<p>Yes, it's not like an MBA program.</p>
<p>Depends on the program...</p>
<p>For the most part, work experience is not required and you would have a shot at almost all master's programs without work experience (unlike MBA's) but there are some programs where it would be wise to acquire some work experience before applying to. Check out Berkeley's MFE student bio's and you will see that most have post BS experience, but not all of them.</p>
<p>Alright, thanks for the info.</p>
<p>Unlike MBA programs that heavily favor those with work experience, colleges take a lot of recent grads for engineering masters programs. However, having some work experience certainly adds a helpful factor to your application.</p>
<p>It also depends on how you did during your undergrad. If you did very well, you could get into the top grad school right out of college. If you did less well (say you got a 2.7, 3.0 etc), a few years of experience to prove that you really DO know your stuff can help offset the grades.</p>
<p>Well, let's not forget that although people plan to work and then apply to grad school, it sometimes does not happen. A nice, steady paycheck is very tempting to leave behind.</p>
<p>Unless your company has tuition reimbursement, you can do your master's part-time for free.</p>
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Well, let's not forget that although people plan to work and then apply to grad school, it sometimes does not happen. A nice, steady paycheck is very tempting to leave behind.
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<p>Oh definitely, but it can sometimes be the only path for someone who didn't do so well in college (especially during the first couple years).</p>
<p>there are 3 primary routes to the MS in engineering:</p>
<h1>1) Apply to MS right after BS. You have good chance. At some places (ex MIT) it is easier to get into MS than BS! If you go to someplace like RPI and break 3.5 you are almost a shoe-in. Schools like people that pay for MS degrees.</h1>
<p>Positives: Finish the MS early, you can enhance the "reputation factor" of your resume
Negatives: You have to pay two more years tuition</p>
<h1>2) Apply to Ph.D. programs. Quit after two years. Some pay claim this to be "dishonest" but I know for a fact many people do it. Usually you work as a researcher or TA for a professor, and eventually (2 years) you can quit with the MS.</h1>
<p>Positives: Free MS! Some research experience perhaps. MS in 2 years.
Negatives: You will have to choose a "lesser quality" school. Ex MS at MIT is alot easier for admissions than PhD so you might have to go down the foodchain.</p>
<h1>3) Work at large company (ex GE), participate in tuition re-imbursement, get MS over time.</h1>
<p>Positives: Free MS. Earning salary in the meantime
Negatives: High stress/workload (career+school), will take a long time (4-5 years).</p>
<p>hope this helps.</p>
<p>Some programs are 1 year... in fact, all the ones I applied to are 1 year master's programs.</p>