<p>Is it? That is in EE?
Is it worth 2 more years of torture and the large expense and loss of salary of two year?
I pretty much hate school,always have, i aint an academic and my 3 years in univ have sucked.
so by y'all experiences are the benefits great enough for me to grit my teeth and go through another 2 years or just go to the work world. Some people tell me it is, but I am looking for more opinions and evidence.
Btw I am going into analog circuits in EE.... That may change the situation a lil....</p>
<p>Nope, not for you.</p>
<p>Thank you for input.</p>
<p>I am very interested in the material I am studying. Just don’t like school. Personally don’t know an engineer who enjoys school much. Probably exaggerated my original post, past sem. took a lot outta me.</p>
<p>Well, if you hate school and taking classes, an MS is definitely out of the question.</p>
<p>Married to an engineering major who had this attitude. Was burned out of school and wanted to just get out and work. As he entered his 30s and had no prospects of advancement, he began to regret his decision not to go to grad school. Baby boy came along, and now, no time. Now into his early 50s and finally making the money he should have been making 20 years ago. If you’re single, no kids, have the time and money, get your master’s. Of course, electrical engineering is in demand and commands a high salary, so I can sympathize with your desire to go right into the work force. Maybe wait a couple of years, but don’t wait too long. Chances are, once you’re married with a family, you’ll have to wait for the nest to be empty to go back to school. Of course, if you’re one of those lucky people who have parents who will watch your kids for you, you could probably go back to school whenever you want.</p>
<p>I agree. If you’re sick of it now, wait a while, but don’t wait until you have plenty of other commitments.</p>
<p>Yeah, I think that has what has happened to me. Last year I was pretty excited about my future classes, but now kind of dread em. And college itself (i think this may be a big part) has a whole has gotten tiring. The people and everything…I like being able to work and and take home a paycheck and feel like I am doing something and not be dependent.</p>
<p>I was also looking at it through an economic perspective. I did not realize a masters can be such a big difference. My current undergrad school for eg is about 41K a year just for tuition for grad school. 41k<em>2=82K. Also theres the two years of lost wages ~60k</em>2=120K. Leading to a net 200K loss. I was under the impression that a masters meant like maybe 10k-20k increase in starting salary, but looking at this calculation it does not seem worth it.
Does the masters degree play such a large role later on in career advancement? Because in a short term view (~10 years) it seems like it may hurt me in fact. </p>
<p>Thank you for all the responses so far. I appreciate it.</p>
<p>In the short term, anything but a BS is bad.
In the long term, grad school pays off. No need to rush it if you aren’t in a position to do well though.</p>
<p>When I graduated with my BS in biology, I found also that having a masters was only worth an extra 2K a year, so I felt it wasn’t worth it, either. Now, in my fifties, as I get together with friends who did pursue their graduate degrees and are now retired with nice pensions from the jobs they were able to get with their higher degrees, I am really regretting it. However, pursuing my education was not important at that point in my life, as I had fallen in love and gotten married. If you’re unencumbered, take the time and go for it. You won’t regret it.</p>
<p>It depends.</p>
<p>Factors like the industry, employer, etc. can determine whether getting a graduate degree is “worth it”. Also, whether the graduate degree is funded makes a big difference in the economic return.</p>
<p>Also, if you go for a graduate degree, you may not necessarily need to do it immediately after a bachelor’s degree. The economic or industry cycle may be a factor in this decision. Perhaps you have a choice between an unfunded graduate degree program and employment offers in a good job market. In this case, taking the job may be a better bet to save up money (and perhaps your employer may fund your graduate degree study later). But if there is an economic or industry downturn so that you get no employment offers, but you manage to get a funded graduate program admission, doing that is better than graduating into the unemployment line.</p>
<p>There are master’s programs that you can complete in 1 year, maybe look into those? Also, there are distance learning master’s degrees through reputable universities that you can do while your working. The one that comes to mind is USC ([Master</a> of Science in Electrical Engineering](<a href=“USC Viterbi Graduate and Professional Programs”>USC Viterbi Graduate and Professional Programs)), but I’m sure there are others.</p>
<p>I agree with the two posts above. </p>
<p>It doesnt have to be an either/or proposition. If you can get a good job after graduation, then work for a year or two and investigate your graduate school options. From my experience at least, most larger companies will pay for grad school. Itll take longer that way, but youll be earning money at the same time as youre working, and youll save a ton of money. Also, being in the workplace for a while may help you decide what aspects of engineering you like or dont like which may influence which particular grad program you go into.</p>
<p>My brother took this route with his engineering degrees, and grad school didnt cost him a dime. Its not for everyone because it takes longer, but if youre truly burned out right now, you may need a breather.</p>
<p>Doesn’t seem like something you want to.</p>
<p>If you only do things for money/prestige, you will being going through life doing a lot of things you hate. Is that a life worth living?</p>
<p>For me, grad school is less of a grind than undergrad. You take the classes that you truly want to and very relevant to what you are doing. You can also do master part time and most employers in this field will help pay for it. It will take a little longer but you won’t loose that 2 years salary. Full time grad is also nice and usually you get to be a lot more academic and doing research with your professors, but if that is not what you like, part time grad might be a good way to go. I believe that you should do it as soon as possible, the longer you wait, the less likely you will do it.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. It seems like the general consensus on here and the people around me is that it is worth it. I think my school has a 1 year program that I may look into. Would not even have to take the gre/ prof recs etc. A year investment does not seem as daunting as say 2 years.</p>