<p>hi guys, I'm currently a junior majoring in mechanical engineering. There's a problem; I am still not sure specifically what I want to pursue in my career. The reason I am telling you is that I am planning to go to grad school. I hear from people that you should go to grad school only if you have something you want to do for your life in mind. However, the reason I want to go to grad school is because I am currently attending mediocre undergraduate college with ok gpa (greatly improving this semester). I want to attend the top program graduate school for better chance at landing a job.
Is this way of thinking wrong? Any advices would be greatful.</p>
<p>Yes. That is a horrible reason for going to graduate school. I’m a 3rd year ME major as well. I don’t know if you want a master’s or a PhD. Judging from your post, I’d say a PhD would NOT be a good choice. Even for a master’s degree, you should identify your interests. Your junior year is the best time to do that. You’ve taken/are taking upper level courses in your curriculum and should be able to identify an area that really catches your attention. </p>
<p>ME is very broad compared to other engineering majors. If you apply to any top grad schools with no specific interests, you’re going to be rejected. They want students who are going to enjoy what they’re proposing to do. Those that show genuine intersts. Those with valid and supportive credentials. They’re investing a lot of time and money in their graduate students. </p>
<p>To be blunt, if you have an “ok gpa,” with no real desire to go to graduate school except for its name, and presumably no research experience, what makes you think you deserve to go anywhere better than your current institution?</p>
<p>thank you very much for the reply, Right now, I’m trying to do what I can to see what my interest is. I decided to get some research experience to see if I can find something I can devote myself to and asked the professor for help.
He told me to choose a projet that I wanted to do and I decided to go along with analsysis of electric and hybrid automobiles". As it seems a little late now, I was told by the research advisor to do this project next fall (As I need to stay for 4.3 years, I believe it does not seem that late to do research at that semester) (I am not sure if it means I will be allowed to do this project yet as I need to write few paragraphs of specifically what I want to do; a proposal statement of sort).
And yes I am planning to go for master’s degree.</p>
<p>Does this seem like a good idea?</p>
<p>thank you</p>
<p>I think I remember posting in one of your threads in the engineering board regarding some proposal. </p>
<p>What is 4.3 years? </p>
<p>Have you considered going into industry right after graduation instead of grad school?</p>
<p>oh I’m sorry I meant 4.5 years (meaning, I’m going to stay for another fall semester after finishing my senior year).
Yes I have thought about getting into the industry but I am quite having trouble with getting internship right now and as I said before, I would like to broaden the opportunities by going to the grad school.</p>
<p>Even if you want to get a Masters degree only, it is best to work for a while as an engineer before getting the graduate degree. There are several very good reasons for this. The first, is just what @pyroknife has mentioned, that you need to have very specific motivations for entering a graduate program. It should not be a holding pattern. The second, is that a master of Engineering degree is nearly always taken to enhance one’s career by getting advanced training. This means that it is a good idea to actually have a start on your career before going for the Masters. </p>
<p>If your grades are good enough to get into a graduate program, then they should be good enough to get you some interviews for jobs. Keep looking for those internships and job opportunities. Build your professional network and use your university’s career center to help you prepare a strong resume and to get ready for interviews.</p>
<p>The thing is I’m getting the financial aid right now, so there’s a 6 month grace period (I’m not sure specifically, but if I attend the grad school right away, those debts will be on hold until I graduate from grad school?). So what do you mean by work as an engineer? You mean by working part-time or internship?</p>
<p>(I’m really grateful for all the responses, but it’s 2:13 am right now so I will be getting some sleep) (I would like to keep this post live continuously so that I can get more advices) (I will check for more responses in the morning)</p>
<p>thank you</p>
<p>I don’t know much about hybrid electric vehicles, but if you are interested in the automotive industry, you might consider applying for jobs at GM. I know quite a few senior students who are working on an automotive senior design project and all have found jobs relatively easy (most of which will be working for GM). </p>
<p>Do you have a career fair coming up? That is a good way to find an internship.</p>
<p>Also, if you are serious about going to graduate school and have interests in hybrids, you might consider applying for some summer research programs. One of my professors told me that Virginia Tech’s hosting an REU program in hybrids. Actually, I think the deadline for early decisions are tomorrow, but you might want to check it out anyways . I didn’t really look at it in too much detail so I’m not positive. </p>
<p>You’re gonna have a much harder time getting into a good school than finding a job (an engineering job, that is).</p>
<p>yes I do have career fair coming up (I actually went to the career fair last semester as well). Unfortunately, I do not see any automotive-related internships listed.
So right now I have 4 semesters left (including current one); my plan is to try to get an internship this coming summer (I am going to study for GRE as well). Get research experience during the fall and spring semester of senior year, get summer research or internship after finishing up my senior year, and for my final fall semester after my senior year, I will try to get another research experience.</p>
<p>Does this plan sound good?</p>
<p>I still need to check out indeed.com and craiglist (monster didn’t seem to help alot).</p>
<p>Don’t go more into debt for a Masters degree right away. My suggestion was to find a full time engineering job after graduation and then decide whether graduate school is the right thing for you later. Your employer might have a tuition remission program or you might wish to go part-time and keep your job. You might even decide that an MBA is better for your career.</p>