<p>Hello, I obtained an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering in 07 and have been working professionally since then. I have had two jobs with good companies so far, however, the technical work I have been doing has become rather boring and was considering going back to Grad school to get a Master's degree. I thought perhaps this might open up doors to more interesting work. However, I have to admit, my graduating GPA was not competitive and I fear I would have to settle for a school with a reputation much below that where I obtained my Undergrad. Would you think this would hurt or help my career?</p>
<p>A Masters degree generally helps your career and your salary whether it is a professional (coursework) Masters or a research-oriented degree.</p>
<p>Don’t sell yourself short, however. Even if your undergraduate GPA was not stellar, your work experience can be a plus in getting into a graduate program. Maturity and sense of purpose generally makes for a better student.</p>
<p>Look into the universities with Masters programs in your area, you might even be able to enroll part-time to ease back into classes and have your current employer support your education. If you want a professional degree, make sure that the university has the courses and specialization that you want and that the courses are offered often so you can complete the degree in a reasonable amount of time. if you are after a research degree, then take a look at the specialties of the faculty and decide if they fit you.</p>
<p>Good Luck</p>
<p>What kind of graduate program do you want?</p>
<p>I would likely want to do some research in an area that interests me however, ultimately my goal would to be to take my knowledge to the professional world, so I am still unsure which would suit me best. I am just weary of putting my career on hold at this point to pursue a master’s degree that will be timely and costly and perhaps not enhance my job opportunities all that much? I have upward mobility in my career as I am now, however, I feel limited in the technical difficulty of work I am qualified for due to my current level of education. Perhaps I am being a too wishful in thinking I will do something cutting edge in my professional career though as much of that is done in the academic world.</p>
<p>Check out the distance learning options for MEng programs. There are some well regarded schools that have an option to take most of the classes on-line. You could look into starting with that. Your current employer may even pay for it. Your manager will see that you are taking classes and may offer you more advanced work as you finish more classes toward the Master’s degree. They also may grant you a summer semester leave of absence to finish your degree i when you have exhausted all the distance courses. So check into the schools and what the benefits are at your company.</p>
<p>go longhorns</p>