<p>Other than some special cases (ex. PhD., architecture 4+2, etc.), why is Master's Degree needed? What and where is it used for?</p>
<p>I'll graduate from MIT in two years but my parents want me to pursue a Master's Degree.</p>
<p>Isn't a Bachelor's Degree enough to find a high-paying job?</p>
<p>Bcs a bachelors degree is so common now, it’s turned into the credentials equivalent of what a HS diploma used to be. </p>
<p>“Needed” is an overstatement. Pursue a master’s degree if you want to.</p>
<p>My advice for engineering majors is, in most cases, to hold off on the MS until you have worked a few years. </p>
<p>The classes required for a BS in engineering give you primarily the basics no matter what the field of engineering you go into. Most engineering jobs will have you focus on an area with the field of your BS. Go directly to your MS if you know EXACTLY what you want to specialize in. But for most, it is that work experience that will help you decide where to specialize. Getting an MS in a specialization that isn’t what you ultimately want to do is not as worthwhile as an MS in your ultimate specialty. Besides, most companies will pay for a large part (if not all) of your MS educational expenses (your living expenses would probably be on your dime).</p>
<p>Ultimately, an MS will help you go further in your career but it is usually not absolutely required. I found that 90 to 95% of the knowledge I used in my career I learned on the job, either thru experience or a lot thru further research on my own in pursuit of solving the problem at hand.</p>
<p>A Master’s in engineering fields at MIT is covered (or at least, can be if you want it to be and make it happen) through TAships or RAships. (And if it doesn’t happen you can take time off until it does.) So expenses should be zero anyway, plus you get a stipend. Just fyi.</p>