<p>I am just wondering how difficult it would be to get into a top grad school program (ChemE phd) 10-15 years after you complete your undergrad. Also, would your UG gpa count as heavily, or will it mostly be based on your work experience.</p>
<p>It'll be mostly based upon your work experience. I don't know how difficult it will be to get in, though. I've got a few friends here at grad school that worked for 2-5 years prior to going back to school, so it's certainly possible. Are you planning to go for a PhD or a MS?</p>
<p>I am not planning anything right now, just thinking about down the road and if it would be better to do grad school right after undergrad or after some work. I was mainly thinking phd</p>
<p>10-15 years down the road, are you going to be able to drop everything, possibly move, and live on a $20k stipend? This is tough if you have a family, expenses, etc.</p>
<p>no family, not crap, I am just wondering if the traditional and/or only path to grad school is right after undergrad, or if you do industry work first</p>
<p>its not the only way. I know people who of done each, although most continue to the phD right after undergrad</p>
<p>theoretically, if I get a 3.9 at UIUC/cornell/xyzect, would it I be more likely to be accepted to chemE phd program at MIT/UCB/UBERcollegeingermany right after undergrad, or after a few years in industry</p>
<p>There's a lot more (important) factors than your GPA in graduate school admissions. Usually it's people that have lower GPAs that tend to go back to school later, as their work experience can mitigate their less-than-stellar GPA. A few of my friends here that were in industry for a few years did well in undergrad too, though.</p>
<p>There's no reason not to apply your senior year of college. If you don't get in anywhere you want, reapply after another year or two once you've built up some work experience.</p>
<p>I know a few engineers who went back to school to get their PhD, after 10 or so years in the industry. One thing I want to emphasis is that they went after the PhD because they wanted to teach, not because it would increase their marketability. Another interesting point is that one of the engineers (who held a masters in PetroE) was able to blast through his PhD in one year. Since he had so much specialized experience, he didn't have to take classes. Also, his thesis was on a topic that he spent years studying in the industry and he funded it himself.</p>
<p>So yes it is entirely possible but typically it is a lot harder to come back to school after you leave.</p>
<p>yea, that was my idea, just like, get some exotic chemE jobs in AK for a few years, then international or something adventurous. then after like, 10 years or so, going back, get a phd, then teach at a uni somewhere</p>