options after graduate school acceptances and rejections come out

Graduate School
1

<p>while getting really antsy about grad school decisions, i started thinking about what i might end up doing assuming i don’t get into any of the top-20 programs I applied too (minus Purdue). (reasons being, mainly, lack of relevant research experience and less than stellar grades last quarter). I applied to get my PhD in EE (Analog or communcations). the way i thought about it, i have these options:</p>

<li><p>Attend Purdue, assuming I get in - my school has some kind of deal with them and i don’t know anyone who’s ever gotten rejected. Not sure about funding but i’m fairly sure i wouldn’t have to pay tuition (plus I’m an Indiana resident, anyway - does that matter for grad work?). MS only, so I could either stay for PhD or go somewhere else after getting the masters. not that Purdue isn’t a great school and very well ranked for EE - i just kind of wanted to get out of indiana. and, if out of all the schools i applied to, if i only get into Purdue because of some special circumstances, wouldn’t it be better to maybe wait a while or at least get some work experience instead of just going through?</p></li>
<li><p>Work for a fairly reputable research lab (i think? it used to be anyway) for a while and come back to grad school, maybe funded by company, maybe not. field is close to what i want to do.</p></li>
<li><p>work in industry that may be close to what i want to do and get my masters part time from somewhere like UTAustin or UCSB, for example (assuming i can get in - i’d have a better chance getting in for Masters than PhD, right? and if someone else is paying…)</p></li>
<li><p>attend grad school with very low ranking (~80th, but they’re “moving up”) on a 2 year+ fellowship. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>thoughts? i’m not so much asking for advice as i’m curious about what some more experienced people think - i plan on asking my professors as i get closer to having to decide (and after i see a couple rejections). </p>

<p>related question - how much does my graduate program’s reputation/ranking matter if i plan on going into research in industry? i can see how it’d matter a lot for academia, but i wasn’t sure about industry.</p>

2

<p>First of all, this is all your decision and you should not be listening too closely to anyone. Assuming that, I would advise against option 4. I don't see the point of going to a grad school with a very low ranking. Doesn't it defeat the purpose of grad school, which is higher education? Unless your advisor is very well-known or competent or something like that. The rest sounds okay though, at least for me.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Just strive for the best- meaning whichever option you think will work out for the best at the end if you want to get in top programs.</p>