<p>I'm not even in undergrad yet but as of right now I want to go into grad school eventually. 4 years down the road I might not even want a masters, I understand that perfectly. I'm going to change a lot in these next 5 years. But I got some questions on grad school.</p>
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<li><p>How long would a masters in nuclear engineering take?</p></li>
<li><p>Does getting a masters cost an awful lot? Is it similiar to undergrad or is it like a PHD where they might even pay you to go there? </p></li>
<li><p>From everything I've read it seems definitely worth it to get a msters in engineering(any any specialty)... correct?</p></li>
<li><p>If the overall plan is to get a masters in nuke would it be better for me to go undergrad in nuclear or mechanical? Mechanical would give me a broader base but nuclear would obviously give me experiance in the field specifically. Or should I double major for an extra year like penn state offers (so far, I've read the extra year for double majoring is better spent on a masters)?</p></li>
<li><p>I want to do study abroad and co-ops as frequently as I can. So how old would I be when I'm done with EVERYTHING, even grad school? I'm assuming the study abroads and co-ops would add a good year or two to the undergrad time right?</p></li>
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<p>I don’t know much but I’m pretty sure some of your decision depends on where you’re attending to get your Master’s degree. You said penn state in number 4 so I’m assuming that’s where you’ll be attending for undergrad? If you are, then where do you plan on going for grad school? If you plan on going to a different school that has a good nuke program then I think you’re better off doing mechanical in undergrad and then doing nuke in grad…but of course people who are actually pursuing this career would know better than I do. I just assume that there are few good nuke schools towards the middle west and west, and I don’t know which schools you plan on attending, neither do I know any good schools for nuke.</p>
<p>As for double majoring, you should ask people who are currently taking any of those courses and see if the workload is too much for you first.</p>
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<li><p>Masters of Science will usually take 1-2 years depending on whether you are writing a thesis or just taking courses. </p></li>
<li><p>Honestly, you shouldn’t be paying for your graduate education. If you do a thesis you’ll usually be appointed a GRA and therefore receive a stipend/tuition. If your grades are high you’ll also have a chance to get a stipend/scholarships, especially if you apply to fellowships from the NRC. If all else fails you can always be a TA.</p></li>
<li><p>A M. Eng is a terminal engineering degree designed for those who want to go into the industry. It usually takes a year or less to complete and is composed of coursework and a project–for this purposes they usually are NOT free. A MS is the precursor to a PhD but is also very-very suitable for industry entry. I’ll let other people give their own experience but from my experience a MS looks better than a M.Eng.</p></li>
<li><p>If you already PLAN to go to graduate school in Nuclear Engineering I think you should major UG in Mechanical since it’ll give you a broader base and technical skills. The masters will be much more specialized but will teach you all the skills you need to practice/research as a Nuclear engineering. I see no reason to double major in ME/NuclearE if you already plan on going to graduate school.</p></li>
<li><p>UG = 4 years, MS = 1-2 years. Look to see whether your school offers a 5 year combined BS/MS program which can save you some time. Studying abroad is fine, some programs will actually let you take courses that count towards your degree and thus you won’t really lose time. I highly recommend internships/research/co-ops to build up a network with other nuclear industry personal.</p></li>
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<p>Other tips:
Join ANS (American Nuclear Society)
Look into getting your ROL (Reactor Operating License)
Look into research opportunities at Los Alamos National Labs or Oak Ridge National Labs</p>
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<li>If you don’t want to graduate with a Nuclear Engineering undergrad but still get an MS/M.Eng in NucE I would recommend BS ChemE. It’s, by far, the most comparable to NucE.</li>
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<p>Right now nuclear engineers call the times a “Nuclear Renaissance” due to new interest within the field. </p>
<p>I urge you to look into the NRC undergraduate scholarship (among others) for opportunities for financial aid. Also, it is never too early to become involved in research–find a UG professor who works with nuclear related concepts and get some valuable experience. If your school has a reactor, work there and earn your ROL.</p>