<p>Keeping in mind the saying, it's not where you do your undergrad, it's where you do your grad, should one choose a graduate program where you are only admitted to the non thesis master's program, with no funding, but the school has strong ties to the industry and is a ranked school in your program, versus a school similar to your undergrad, not ranked, no ties to the industry, but full funding, lots of research opportunities, smaller school. Goal of the student is to go into industry, not stay in academia, and to stop schooling at the master's level. Money may be an issue, though no debt from undergrad, but wondering if employment opportunities are available later when you enter a program unfunded.</p>
<p>This feels like a false comparison - can you list the schools? I would say that if you cannot get a funded position somewhere that you should go immediately into industry and let THEM pay for the non-thesis masters. </p>
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In general yes, but all or nearly all of them will go preferentially to students who are in a research track, especially if there is a doctoral program. Non-thesis masters candidates are the bottom of the funding food chain.</p>
<p>There would likely be a lot fewer opportunities at that second program if it really has no ties to industry.</p>
<p>Your question is not one of comparing funded to unfunded or thesis to non-thesis. It’s about industry ties.</p>
<p>Since undergrad choice is so focused on fit, and financial aid, should one weigh post graduate employment connections over social fit and financial aid on the graduate level?</p>
<p>In most cases, yes. Don’t ignore personal fit, but definitely you must take the ultimate goal into account.</p>
<p>Once you accept admission to an unfunded nonthesis master’s, do you have to stay on that track, or can you move into a thesis masters, with the possibility of funding, should you prove yourself worthy and positions open up? </p>
<p>That depends on the school and the department. There is no general answer to that question.</p>
<p>I would be cautious accepting an unfunded non thesis Master’s with the idea of turning that into a funded thesis Masters. From what I’ve seen that does not happen. Many of my classmates came into the non thesis Masters program with the idea of transferring to a thesis Masters and getting funding. This didn’t happen and they are pretty bummed out. There are not that many slots for funded Masters students and the programs have a good idea of who is going to get funding early on. </p>
<p>That’s only true at some programs, not all. Although, I do get the feeling it’s more common.</p>
<p>I don’t think son is really interested in trying to move from one program to another. If that’s the only way he can go to this school, we’ll fund it. What I was wondering, though, is if he would be able to do research with professors that he’s interested in working with, even on a volunteer basis, so he can still have research experience. I guess I don’t understand the distinction between non funded non thesis masters beyond the obvious title description. The non thesis programs do list that some credits have to be taken that involve research and writing a lengthy report, so I’m assuming it goes beyond just showing up to class and taking tests. I think son would still like to have the personal relationship he has from doing research under a professor. I think he’s more worried that by accepting the offer from the non thesis school purely to have the geographical advantage of being near the industry, if he is only a number and has no opportunity to make connections, it wouldn’t be worth passing up the funded thesis program.</p>
<p>That’s true boneh3ad, I can only speak from my own experience in my graduate program at Texas A&M. It could be different else where.</p>
<p>A “non-thesis masters” in engineering is typically called a Masters of Engineering while a thesis Masters if known as a Masters of Science. At my program at Texas A&M, the class work in the Masters of Engineering is more focused on the application and not as much theory. For example, the Masters of Engineering students taking an Applications of Finite Elements while Masters of Science take Theory of Finite Elements. There is some cross over between the majors in some classes. The Masters of Engineering allows you to graduate faster and go into industry, while a Masters of Science is typically 2 years with the focus being on developing you research in that time. A major point that’s stressed in graduate school is communication. A Masters of Science student is tested on written communication by writing a thesis. Schools still want to test your ability to write clearly, so there is normally a lengthy report for the Masters of Engineering degree to test that ability. </p>
<p>I currently do research even though I’m not a Masters of Science student or even “funded”. I get paid an hourly wage to do my research and I love it. It really comes down to knowing the professors/researchers at the school and what they do. I had some experience as an undergraduate and just kept doing the same research in graduate school under my same boss.</p>
<p>On the other hand, even that can vary quite a bit between departments at a school. My department, also at Texas A&M, doesn’t offer a M.Eng. degree but offers both thesis and non-thesis M.S. degrees.</p>
<p>Honestly, I’d say if the OP’s son is really not interested in anything other than industry, then non-thesis may be perfectly acceptable for him. If he has interest in getting into the more research-heavy jobs in industry then it may be advantageous to try and find a thesis option somewhere else.</p>
<p>Son now has been accepted into another grad school which gives him a choice of non thesis masters or thesis masters. Neither is funded. It’s a pretty expensive private school, a reach he had no hopes of getting into. I am so proud of him being admitted! He has a week to reject or accept their admission, but he’s still leaning toward the non thesis masters in the location where the industry is. The new acceptance is also in the industry area, has an excellent reputation, but it will be such a culture shock from his deep south football school to something akin to an Ivy reputation according to people in our parts. The new admit school is also on the quarter system, so don’t know if that will play into his decision.</p>