<p>I will be graduating in a few days. I am currently enrolled a BS/MS program(Mechanical engineering). It is a non-thesis, course based Master's degree that will only take an extra year, given that I have already taken some grad level coursed during my senior year. I know this is a great opportunity, since it will give me an advantage over those with only a BS. However, I have recently received a couple of job opportunities with great benefits and great pay. I am not sure what to do, continue with the BS/MS program, or to accept the job offer and join the industry. Any advice?</p>
<p>Join the industry and goto grad school part-time and let employer pay for it…or even work a few years, then goto grad school. The years of actual experience will reduce that “needed GPA cutoff” at some schools.</p>
<p>Now I cannot be sure of the following statement because you are talking mechanical engineering, usually…</p>
<p>M.S. + experience = experience + M.S.</p>
<p>That is the way it is in software engineering but if it is different in ME…ME’s chime in.</p>
<p>I prefer this way:
bachelor degree ,work for about 3 years and then get your MS after you had some experience.</p>
<p>this is better than dual BS/MS ,according to me.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. From what I see, experience is just as important as an extra degree(to certain extent). However if I work first and then go back for my Master’s, it would take me 2 years instead of 1. Would it still be more reasonable to gain some experience first and then go back to school? Also would I be able to complete a Master’s degree in less than 2 years? (assuming industry experience helps)</p>
<p>Why would it take 2 years instead of 1 if you go back? It’s completely reasonable to complete a coursework-only MS in 2 semesters. I took 5 courses each semester to get mine.</p>
<p>Start working first, and then “go back” for your Master’s. If you’re doing a coursework MS, you could even do it online and continue working where you are, having your work pay for the credits, AND pay you a salary on top. </p>
<p>Doing it this way will allow you to see exactly how the real world works, and where your strengths, weaknesses, and career interests are. It’s foolish, IMO, to get an MS in a specific area without knowing what the jobs are like in that area… this is why people generally recommend working first to get your bearing, then going back for an MS if you so desire.</p>
<p>It’s really a tough call. Consider the following:</p>
<p>Scenario 1: Take a job at 60K with a BS. Get 3% increases for 6 years. Your salaries would be
Year 1: 60,000
Year 2: 61,800
Year 3: 63,654
Year 4: 65,564
Year 5: 67,531
Year 6: 69,556</p>
<p>After 6 years, you will have made $388,105</p>
<p>Now consider getting the MS and getting a starting salary of $75K with 3% raises
Year 1: 0 - getting MS
Year 2: 75000
Year 3: 77250
Year 4: 79568
Year 5: 81955
Year 6: 84413</p>
<p>After 6 years, you’ll have made $398,105. </p>
<p>Still my 50 year old gut tells me to take the job and get your MS part-time. You’ll likely get a promotion when you get your degree. </p>
<p>However, I’m wondering though in this environment of such low wage growth, if you’re not better off starting with the advanced degree and compounding on a significantly higher salary. Of course it all depends on the actual numbers that you use. </p>
<p>Also, it matters if you are PAYING for the degree. In that case Year 0 is -60K. , which is like -75K after-tax income. In that case the MS doesn’t catch up until 11 years later, whereas if you were only paying $20K, which is like $25K after tax income, the MS starts to win in Year 7. </p>
<p>So to summarize it’s a tough call.</p>
<p>I completed a bachelors and masters degree in five years in chemical engineering and then went to work in industry. On average I am making approximately $15,000 more a year than other new hires with only a bachelors degree. Also, I don’t have to worry about studying for classes while trying to juggle a full time job.</p>
<p>I did the 5 year BSEE,MSEE almost 30 years ago. Worked out best for me. You will be candidate for better jobs, more money. Also, once you start working, it’s real hard to go to school full time. Enjoy as much school while you can, it’s a lot better than working.</p>
<p>Are you out of your mind??? Of course do the extra 1 year and get the masters.
Going back to school later in life poses many obstacles. You could be married. Your employer might not pay for it. You might not feel like it!</p>
<p>Just get it over with now and you can work the rest of your life.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the answers. I am still a bit indecisive on this one though. I guess I would just have to analyze it very carefully. Although it makes perfect sense to gain some experience first and then get my Master’s(specially if the company pays for it). It is also true that the future is very uncertain and I might not be able to go back to school once I join the workforce, and it may be better to “just get it over with now”. </p>
<p>I have also thought on basing my decision on whether the company can pay for my Master’s or not. If they are willing to pay for it I might take the job, if not I will probably stay in school. What do you guys think? </p>
<p>I think my original concern emerged from the fear of letting an opportunity go, an opportunity I might not get later. Then again I could be giving up other opportunities by not staying in school.</p>
<p>A few things to think about:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>How good is the job in non-pay-related aspects, such as interesting work and learning opportunities?</p></li>
<li><p>Do you think job opportunities in the kinds of jobs you are looking at will be better or worse later if you do the master’s degree, based on industry cycles? (Granted, this is hard to predict in any situation other than a very poor job market or a very bubbly one.)</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Talk to the companies that you have the job offers with. Before you accept an offer, everything is negotiable, after not so much. See if one will let you work the summer then go back to school to get your MS (and offer to pay your tuition and books, the usual educational reimbursement). The worst they can say is no.</p>
<p>The downside to the plan above is that your salary would be starting at the BS level and raises are usually low enough to make it hard to get that bump up for getting the MS. You might want to negotiate upfront for a salary review after you obtain your MS. </p>
<p>Worth a try as you kind of get the best of both worlds.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to hijack this thread, but I was wondering a very similar question recently. Would it be better to do a 5-year co-op program with three integrated work experiences, or a 5-year BS-MS program. I asked my dad what he thought, and he said that a company would value practical work experience over another degree, but I try to take his advice on engineering careers with a grain of salt as he’s in a field where your degree doesn’t really matter (real estate). I also asked my uncle, who’s been an EE for 30+ years in big aerospace with only a BS, and he said if he could go back, he would have gotten his MS and that the work experiences can come later. So, what is your opinion? Any help would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Hyperion, it all depends. Why not do both? You are young, you have your whole life ahead of you, what’s the rush?</p>
<p>If you do well in undergrad, you can get into a good MS program that is supported (with an RA or TA position).</p>
<p>Some people have good coop experiences, others bad experiences. It all depends on your assignments and how it dovetails with your interests. I agree with your uncle.</p>