<p>Graduating from Canadian engineering undergrad and can't really decide what to do. Didn't seriously apply for graduate studies but got accepted for this european program that is full scholarship for a course-based masters program - 1 semester thesis but I wonder how this would look since the reputation of the schools aren't the same as those in Canada/US and it would be harder to apply for PhD in Canada with it if I do go but great travel and life experience. </p>
<p>Also applied to work but not quite sure where to go - consulting might be nice but got into Microsoft, Google, and IBM. Lots of money here but I could probably still get into these positions after grad school. But unsure about the area for grad school and the location to take it. But it is hard to get through interviews also but after working you might be unattractive grad student and might not get a full scholarship again....</p>
<p>Any suggestions here would be nice.</p>
<p>Did you get offers of employment from these companies?</p>
<p>If you are not sure, take the job and make some $$. The job will lead you towards the future. Going to grad school may just prolong your indecision.</p>
<p>DS went to grad school (full scholarship) and did not even try for a job. As a CMU grad, dual degreed, 2006, he could had any job. However, after a year of grad school (Masters,Toronto) and a year of internships with Microsoft, by 2007-2008 there wasn’t a job anywhere. even MS, Goog, or IBM.</p>
<p>If you have an job offer, take it. </p>
<p>He found a job at a university as a staff support specialist after going thru is network. He works with a couple of grad candidates who had worked, then decided to go for an advanced degree. You may be a better candidate for an advance degree after gaining work experience.</p>
<p>Internship at IBM that is likely to lead to FT position since most of the ppl in the program got one. Have offers from elsewhere.</p>
<p>It is just that it is easier to say you could go to school now with nothing to worry about - no commitments. It might be harder to go back to school after making more money with a different lifestyle.</p>
<p>work for sure. </p>
<p>if you are considering a MS degree, you can do it part-time no problem. </p>
<p>if you are considering a phd, working will give you a better perspective on whether or not it is what you want to do (you will see phd’s working and see if u want their job roles). financially, the phd is seldom worth it so this is very important to do. </p>
<p>finally, if you are looking at professional schools (med/law/biz), work experience will only help your application.</p>
<p>MS part-time loses the whole school feel that I think I have missed out during undergrad… bonding with other students and making lifelong friends maybe? Being able to see Europe for two years expense paid for seems like a good chance to see the world while I am still young but what will happen afterwards?</p>
<p>PhD might be nice but it might get you stuck in a field that you aren’t interested in but it might not be difficult to get funding for it and you don’t have an employer who end goal is profit so maybe more independence as long as you’re able to produce results</p>
<p>Working sounds in part like it could be boring and moving out sounds scary. It is a different environment from school where there isn’t a couple of hundreds of other ppl in the same boat as you. You’re in an environment where there are ppl from different age groups that you might not click with and working might like to longer hours with no social life.</p>
<p>Not sure what I would like for grad studies - more engineering or move onto law/biz/med. Know a few friends going to all three that it just seems odd that we’re all at that crossroad where we’ll split up. </p>
<p>Biz world seems like it is too competitive and cutthroat but should have room for growth. </p>
<p>Heard that ppl who go into law don’t stick with it for long after they start working and move onto other areas of work.</p>
<p>Liked bio/chem in highschool but never really though of med but I know for sure my parents will be thrilled if I decide to go and get in - seems way too competitive to try for it in undergrad since a degree in health sciences might lead nowhere - a lot of my friends I knew who wanted med and went into health sciences are now taking nursing. The engineering students I know we wants med either want to Saba or is taking their masters before trying again.</p>
<p>MS in engineering is waste of time. Go work for 5 years and get your PE or get an MBA and do something better.</p>
<p>Not sure if right place to post this but what is the likelihood that an offer from Microsoft, Google, IBM to be rescinded? Especially if you don’t start until much later in the year.</p>