<p>This has been a very interesting topic for me.</p>
<p>See for a while now, I have been planning to go straigh to grad work right after i finish my undergrad work (ill be enrolling next fall for undergrad).</p>
<p>However, today in AP Macro, my teacher said, in his opnion, that if u wanted to get a grad degree, to first put in some years working beforehand. Pretty much meaning: do ur undergrad, once finished, get a job, then, after 5 or so years, go back to grad work.</p>
<p>His reasoning was this. See he used the example of an MBA. He compared someone that just got in from undergrad to someone that did undergrad, has some work expreriance, and is now doing his grad work for his/her MBA. The main difference being that the one with work experiance can apply more from what he has done in the field.</p>
<p>What are your thoughts on the matter?</p>
<p>thanks again</p>
<p>gpowsang</p>
<p>PS: forgive my typos, I like to keep it simple in forums...</p>
<p>Say you're MechE and you go for your masters right out of undergrad. You do a ton of grad work on industrial magnets or some such. You get out with an MS, get a decent job that pays not much more than you would get with a BS because initial salaries are based on experience in engineering. You then find out that you're interest lies more in heavy equipment design and you know nothing about that (or next to nothing).</p>
<p>Now, say you get your undergrad degree and then a similar job as the one above, pay may be a little less. You find out, hey, I hate magents and am interested in heavy machine design or waffer manufacturing. Drats, you know nothing about, but you can get a masters with it as your focus! Then get a better paying job that will pay for the right masters and the experience!</p>
<p>That may not make sense before hand, but it makes sense in hindsight and it's how hiring managers see it. You may argue that you know what you want to do so it shouldn't matter, but it does... you would be wrong.</p>
<p>MBA is more sensitive to post-undergrad experience than technical masters are, and they should be.</p>
<p>It depends on what your goals are. If you are looking for a PhD, I would recommend applying straight out of college. It takes so long to get, and many students after experiencing the work world are not willing to go back to the full time school stress and lower income level (or large outgo!). However, if you are looking for a Masters as your final destination the classes may take on a new perspective after working in the industry first. And maybe you can get your employer to pay for it! Though there are many with the plan to return to school that never do.</p>
<p>I completely agree with EngrMom's post. If you want a PhD the best time to do it is straight out of undergrad. All of your coursework is fresh in your mind, you're used to living like a poor student, and you'll still be young. If you want a MS or MBA then there's no real issue in waiting, since those degrees only take a year or two, and there's a decent possibility of having your employer pay for them.</p>
<p>I think the biggest determining factor on if you should get a MS straight out of college or not is if you think you're the kind of person that will be able to handle taking night/online classes for a few years (and losing a lot of free time), or would be willing to leave your job to go back to school full time (and pay a decent chunk of money).</p>
<p>I'd also agree with the two previous posters. If your goal is a PhD you are probably better off going straight through school. </p>
<p>For most engineers I would suggest entering the workforce upon getting a bachelors. Work for a few years and decide if you want a masters. If so your employer will most likely pay for it.</p>
<p>An MBA is not a very good example to use for engineering because an MBA is a professional management degree while a masters in engineering will be geared more towards theory.</p>
<p>Usually, most students who go and start work straight after undergrad with the intentions of comming back to school are those that are not sure what they want to do but want to keep their options open. Working in industry is a good way to find out exactly what you want to be doing for the rest of your life. Perhaps that is in another engineering discipline, or perhaps its in your own discipline.</p>
<p>But if you know what you want to do, and which degree you want (i.e MS, PHD) there is nothing wrong with going straight through. I myself personally would not want to go back to school after 5 years of building a life. When I start working, I want to be done with school - period.</p>
<p>Also, dont worry about it too much now. Concentrate on one degree at a time - and in your senoir year of college you can figure out your next moves.</p>