Reasons for doing engineering graduate school?

Graduate School
1

<p>I am currently finishing up my senior year in Electrical Engineering and considering doing a Master's in the field. However, I wouldn't particularly say I have a great passion for the subject and the idea of doing research and writing a thesis really seems like a downer to me. At the same time, I have heard that "everyone has a B.S." and that having an M.S. is almost a must these days. As of now, I personally have no interest in research or academia, I plan to enter the industry. </p>

<p>What do you guys feel? Is pursuing a Master's purely for the "safety" and honor it provides worth it? Can one even succeed going into a Master's program with this mentality?</p>

2

<p>It's possible to get through a master's while not really wanting to be there, but it seems like a pretty unhappy way to spend a year or two. </p>

<p>Why not apply for jobs and see what you can get? You can always go back to graduate school if you decide you want and need to, and often companies will pay for their employees to go back to school. Going to work for a while may provide you with some perspective on whether you'd like to go for a master's or not.</p>

3

<p>Are you required to do research and a thesis for a Master's in EE? I know some civil engineering programs that don't require a thesis, but I'm not sure if this is commonplace in other fields. Would you feel the same if you just had to take 10 more courses?</p>

4

<p>Appreciate the responses guys.</p>

<p>I would probably feel more inclined to go through with a Master's if it were just an extension on coursework. However, the university I got accepted to for graduate ECE does not have the non-thesis option. The main reason it is so difficult to make a choice is because they are offering a teaching assistantship as well as a tuition waiver. But again, I don't know if my lack of passion for the field would be able to carry me through research and writing the thesis. </p>

<p>I guess that I'm mainly trying to consider whether it would even be possible for me to endure the graduate life, and whether it is worth it in terms of furthering possibilities in life (I'm mainly concerned with working in industry now, never really had an interest in academia). At the same time, I can understand why it might look better on someone's resume to have a Master's even if they're just staying within the workforce.</p>

5

<p>Just do it. You won't regret. A year or two of school extra doesn't hurt anyone and will for certain increase your base salary as well as increase the height of the glass ceiling for promotion when you are in industry. I would not say the same for the PhD though.</p>

6

<p>So you would say that getting it's possible to just "get through" the thesis/research part? I always heard it's unwise to do so unless you're really "intellectually curious" and all that.</p>

7

<p>^Well, it's less true for a master's than for a PhD. I wouldn't advise anybody to grind through a PhD, but a master's requires less of an investment.</p>

<p>I've seen a fair number of non-invested master's students. The biggest problem is that not being invested in graduate school in general tends to make you uninvested in your thesis, when tends to increase time to degree, which just compounds the whole problem.</p>

<p>I still stick with my original advice -- if you don't want to do it, don't do it. Go to work for a few years and see if that makes you want to do it.</p>

8

<p>As an electrical engineer currently working in the engineering industry, I recommend that you find the job first. If you get a MSEE and have no experience in the industry, it'll be even harder to find an engineering job. A MSEE is only good if you already have 3 or more yrs of experience.</p>

9

<p>The requirements for master's theses in the US are typically pretty low compared to some other countries. In many cases, a master's thesis is actually no more than an extended research report.</p>

<p>A master's candidate is expected to show familiarity with his/her chosen field of study, but is not expected to make any significant novel contribution to knowledge in the field. I would say then that master's level research is not really a big deal compared to the required coursework you will also have to take for the M.S. degree.</p>

<p>PhD-level research is on the other hand a big deal. In fact, the required standards for a doctorate in the US are probably much higher than elsewhere in the world.</p>

10

<p>DCguy, you mentioned that an MSEE is not useful unless you have 3+ years of experience... is this because MSEE's are paid higher and thus the employers are expecting much more out of their backgrounds including experience? I would think that if anything an MSEE has at least equal opportunity as BSEE's in finding a job.</p>

<p>One thing that's really made me think twice about the Master's degree is the idea of having to be able to independently come up with and successfully research a thesis. For a Master's, is there typically a lot of guidance from advisors or is it all up to the student by themself?</p>

<p>Thanks for all the feedback guys</p>

11

<p>Since you don't have the passion right now, I'd hold off on the Master's until you have some idea what area you want to specialize in. A BS goes broad, whereas an MS goes deep. There is no point going deep in the wrong area. I just watched someone do that part-time paid for by our company and IMHO he's worse off for it because he later found passion in a different discipline and can't now go back and get another MS paid for in the area he likes. In a sense, his hard work was wasted. He is happy working in his new discipline though. </p>

<p>What kind of position would you like to have in an organization. With a BSEE, you can surely get an entry level job as an engineer. Once you have that entry job, there are often several different career paths in which you can go: technical, management or sales/marketing. I think the technical career path requires passion, fortitude and lifelong learning. After working a while, you may find a specialty that captures your interest. However, many find that they are more "people" people and management or sales and marketing is where they end up. While these require a technical background in order to have intelligent conversations, they are really somewhat different disciplines. </p>

<p>Figure out where your passions are and if you want an advanced degree, pursue it then - perhaps in a part-time program payed for by your employer. Otherwise, it's a lot of current salary to forgo for something you may not even want or need.</p>

12

<p>ClassicRockerDad,</p>

<p>Thanks for that response. I guess there is a certain area of EE (communications) that I am interested in and classes that I definitely find more interesting than others. However, I don't know if it falls under the category of "passionate". When I think of someone passionate about going to grad school, I imagine it is someone who loves the topic so much that they would actually look forward to and enjoy reading texts, and devote their free time to learning/researching by themselves. To be honest, I feel I chose engineering because it's one of those majors that can lead straight to a job (and my best subject was Science). Are you saying that the same amount of passion is necessary to do a technical job as there is in persuading graduate education?</p>

13

<p>In the short run no, but in the long run, maybe. Things change over time and you have to be ready willing and able to keep up with the latest trends in your field. In order to seriously advance in a technical track, you have to develop some expertise, establish a track record of success, and be able to lead and mentor others. Even then, the field is constantly changing, and you have to be receptive to those changes. It requires lifelong learning.</p>

<p>I think if you get a job, you will get put on a team and work toward a common goal. You'll learn a lot, find things you're good at and like, and find other things that you don't like. The whole time earning a paycheck anyway. You'll hopefully figure out the kind of roles and level of abstraction you enjoy working at, be it hardcore technical, system engineering, or sales and marketing. In graduate school, you're working mostly by yourself, and often without any real perspective. I think getting a graduate degree is potentially a great idea, but it doesn't sound like you're ready for it mentally, and it's likely to be more beneficial to you once you know you want it.</p>

14

<p>I see many engineers with a MSEE, who graduated with no experience. They mostly end up working entry-level jobs, working under engineers with a BSEE. It is better to have a BSEE and 2 yr experience on your resume than a MSEE and 0 yr experience. You can do internship or co-op while going to grad school, but your first job is more important.</p>

15

<p>MSEE 0 yrs experience will eventually work and get experience. BSEE with 2 yrs experience will have a hard time readjusting to school life and poor college life. Remember that. Once you start working, you think about marriage, rent, cars, vacations,etc. I know plenty of MSEE from my school who came straight from undergrad and are making 90k+ (average is probably 80k~ base salary).</p>

16

<p>
[quote]
I know plenty of MSEE from my school who came straight from undergrad and are making 90k+ (average is probably 80k~ base salary).

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Really? May I ask which school is that?</p>

<p>The reason I ask is because the average salaries of master's degree EECS grads (either MEng or SM) from MIT in 2006 was about 84-86k, as can be seen on p. 17 of the following pdf. Granted, these salaries are from 2006, not 2007, but still, what you are saying is that your school's grads are nabbing salaries that are pretty darn close to what the MIT grads are getting. </p>

<p><a href="http://web.mit.edu/career/www/infostats/graduation06.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://web.mit.edu/career/www/infostats/graduation06.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

17

<p>
[quote]
Are you required to do research and a thesis for a Master's in EE?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This depends on the school. For example, at MIT, every master's degree student (with the notable exception of the MBA students) have to complete theses. However many master's degree programs at Harvard, including the engineering programs, do not require theses.</p>

18

<p>
[quote]
Really? May I ask which school is that?

[/quote]

Uh, well, there's such a thing as standard of living which varies by location. I did my undergrad at UCSB, most of them EEs move to the Silicon Valley. I have other friends at UC Davis and UCB who are closer to the Silicon Valley who wouldn't accept <75k. Literally, the base is 80k+. No joke. Living in NorCal >> Massachusetts</p>

<p>Cost of Living Indexes San Jose, CA; Boston, MA; United States
Overall 192.2;145.3; 100
Food 119.2; 110.3; 100
Housing 318.9; 200.7; 100
Utilities 128.4; 125.2; 100
Transportation 122.8; 113.4; 100
Health 155.1; 127.3; 100
Miscellaneous 109; 110; 100</p>

<p>MIT is special, but it ain't that special.</p>

19

<p>Hey guys, im currently a senior, electrical engineering major. In general i enjoy learning, studying, doing homework, and figuring things out. I am currently thinking about graduate school as well, for a masters. The thing is, i dont know what specific area of ee i would like to get into.</p>

<p>I have eliminated areas that i dont like, and im left with a few areas that i think could be cool, but dont exactly know. For example, communications, digital signal processing, and control systems.</p>

<p>As a senior i am taking classes in those three areas. However, they are just intro classes, so i am only getting a small taste of the area.</p>

<p>I think it would be wiser to go to graduate school immediately, and get my masters. Logically if i like learning, then graduate school should'nt be too bad right?</p>

<p>Any suggestions for what to do with graduate school admissions? Would mentioning a few areas that i think i have an interest in, be a good idea. Also should i be looking for graduate programs, that have these 3 areas, and seem to have decent professors in those areas?</p>

<p>One last question, what kind of schools could i apply to and potentially get aid, such as a teaching assistantship (as a masters student). What schools would potentially admit me, but no financial aid?</p>

<p>I have a 3.54ish gpa, got 590 verbal, 760 math, 4.5 writing, ive had 3 internships, 2 related to my major. Recommendations should be okay, but perhaps not stellar. (My undergrad is like top 25ish in engineering, if that matters)</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

20

<p>I'm also in a similar position in trying to decide if Grad School is right for me. Going through these threads have certainly helped me. One thing I can tell you, bres6486, is that go to Grad School (MSEE) if you like learning or love a specific field or if you are willing to invest two more years to (statistically) increase yr base salary.</p>

<p>BUT, go to a PhD program ONLY ONLY ONLY if you have a PASSION for a subject otherwise you'd b wasting time there.</p>

<p>My question:
Considering that EE is related and close to Computer Eng (CE) and computer science, What'd be the difference between taking a CE and a Computer Science? I still can't comprehend.
Thanks.</p>