what do to during spring before grad school?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>I just graduated with my BS degrees in physics and applied math in Dec 09. I applied and got accepted into my school's MSME program for the fall 2010 term, and my advisor said thats its possible to take 2 grad level courses this spring quarter and have them count towards the MS requirements. However, I can only really take 1 class since the others don't interest me even the slightest or they have prereqs that I haven't taken yet. I don't know what else I can do during the next few months other than take grad courses (I've already tried asking for research positions but the profs are unwilling to fund MS students) before I get a summer internship (If i even get an offer). </p>

<p>Since I'm not getting ANY interviews in industry for engineering positions or non-engineering positions at engineering companies, for months now, I'm strongly considering starting the MS program ASAP. So while I don't really want to start the MS program right away (since I prefer to find employment, then have the company reimburse me for the MS program), its really tempting.</p>

<p>Am i better off just starting the MS program ASAP? even if its for just ONE class and do nothing else?! or just spend all my time to keep trying to find engineering internships or full-time positions? Also, if I start the MS program but get an engineering job offer duing the MS program, is it possible that the company can provide tuition reimbursement DURING the MS program? or will they only provide after you've worked for them for awhile, and hence haven't YET started the MS program?</p>

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<p>Your company will be unlikely to reimburse classes that you started before you are hired. </p>

<p>I’d take a whole bunch of MS classes if you can afford it. It will give you something to do and allow you to get a chunk of your program out of the way at once. Since you’re not doing anything else right now, there is no reason not to (if you can afford it).</p>

<p>If money is a concern, can you be an grader this quarter and have your tuition waived?</p>

3

<p>they said i can only be a grader once the fall 2010 term starts. Also, they said i can only transfer 2 courses at max. However, out of all the undergrad and grad courses being offered next quarter, only 1 seems to be something i can take as the I haven’t taken the prereqs for the others and the rest of the course offerings are nowhere near my interests</p>

4

<p>ok, looks like I can take Finite Element analysis even though i haven’t met its prereqs, since the prof said some students in the past were able to do ok in it w/o the prereqs</p>

<p>I guess taking 2 classes, and then spending the rest of my time applying for jobs isn’t too bad…</p>

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<p>FEA is a good one. Your schoo likely requires a computational course and FEA will probably fulfill that.</p>

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<p>actually FEA is not a requirement, but it sounds interesting</p>