<p>Ok so here is my story. Currently I am at Oregon State University in a MS in Industrial Engineering.</p>
<p>Major: Information Systems Engineering
Minor still undecided but thinking about either finances or CS</p>
<p>I am going to do a project on RFID which is my main interest and currently i am designing an application for data capture through wireless barcode readers.</p>
<p>Now the problem</p>
<p>I dont have any experience at all, and its not because i didnt want to work or anything. I recently moved to the USA from Mexico (I was studying there but i am a permanent resident here i.e. green card ).</p>
<p>And so I am here studying this MS program but i really feel so inferior and at disadvantage because all my classmates from here already have experience from their co-op programs, they are younger than me etc. </p>
<p>Every day i wonder if i shouldt just kill myself because it seems so hopeless. And when I asked about the co-op program they told me its just for bachelor level, and so I was like "hmm ok so a masters degree is not really useful"</p>
<p>With the MS degree you will be better educated than most of the country here in the US, and in Mexico. Just because some of the other students have a very small amount of experience, it is no reason to fret. In the big picture, a co-op or internship is insignificant, it is a few lousy months of experience usually pushing paperwork or some other undesirable function. While it might give them a leg up in hiring, it really is not the end of the world. Right now, the economy is in horrible position to be looking for full-time work. My advice is to concentrate on your MS program and try to do the best you can while prolonging grad school. It is not hopeless, if anything, you should have more hope than about 90% of the country.</p>
<p>Bah, tell 'em to stuff it then. You are doing well, don’t worry about anything. </p>
<p>Three things;
Get to know your professors as much as possible, and use their office hours. Most professors have industry ties and make for great letters of recommendations. Once you get to know a professor and are sure they like you ask them about your chances at finding a job, don’t ask straigh up if they know anyone who would give you one.
Minor in finance.
You speak Spanish and English I presume; that’s a huge leg up. Bilingual will take you places those kids without world experience will never get to.</p>