Well that is, no doubt, a benefit by having it paid for you plus getting the hands on experience.

Depending on the company, you might have to work full time AND go to school. Not to mention, because your only going to school part time it'll take you a good amount of time more to complete your extra degree (whatever that might be).

Does having a advanced degree price you out of the market? No, almost all the companies I've been looking at WANT atleast a masters in whatever engineering field your in. If anything, an advanced degree puts you into the market.

 

If you want to do grad school, I'd look when you graduate and try to find a big company with a very liberal policy about funding education. If it takes 3 years instead of 2, you have 3 years work experience plus a degree, and you've probably made $160k over the term instead of paid out $20k for tuition while working for a professor.

There are arguments for either way, but I'd look to get it funded if I were looking to get a degree right away. I currently plan to do an MBA after I've been working for a few years (I'm at year 1 right now) and then manage projects, but right now I'm just sick of school. My wife is currently in her third year of medical school, so it's also nice for us to have an income until she starts to earn a bit of money as an intern/resident.

 

No reason really. i'm just not clear to whats more valuable: higher edu, or years of experience.

but i have heard that once you get out of school, chances are, you won't go back later and pursue that higher degree.

What are you planning to do?

 

Missing out on one year of experience is nothing compared to the advantage a masters of engineering gets you.

 

i really think that depends on the person and family. i know a lot of engineers that have done their grad work after the fact, but i also know lots that never made it back. i'll go back to school because i won't be satisfied with the tasks after a few years, as on a resume i'll have good experience, but "just" a BSME. i want to be able to advance technology, and soon enough, the BS may become a limiting factor for me on my resume.

but my wife is a professional too, so i can actually stop and do school for a year or two without it impacting our lifestyle too much, provided i time it well. not everybody cares to go back, and some people lose the option, especially if they're the sole income earner for the family. i'll agree readily that it is easiest to just knock it all out in one fell swoop, but i personally would prefer to work a bit before i get my MS.

 

One year to get a masters? That's pushing it. A thesis will take at least six months, usually more like a year, unless you're spending 12 hours a day to get your physical research done quickly.

 

I don't know how it is over there but over here, most employers value work experience over whether you have a masters degree or not.

I'm currently trying to get my masters but I've been job hunting like crazy in the time being. A lot of my friends who've had more work experience/internships than I have already landed jobs quickly. A few others and myself without as much work experience in the industry are having a tougher time securing jobs. There are plenty of jobs in my field, but almost everyone wants a minimum of 2-3yrs of experience.

Don't get me wrong, a masters is valuable in the long run since everyone seems to have a B.S. degree nowadays, but I don't agree that going to grad school right away is the best option if you want a jumpstart on your career.

 

Here at Rutgers you can do 24 credits WITH research or 30 credits without research for a masters in engineering. Either way, both are easily completable in 2 semesters (possibly add in a summer semester if your research is taking a while).

 

So you don't have to write a thesis if you do the 30 hour program? Or you can write a purely theoretical thesis without any research to remotely validate it?

I've never heard of being able to do a masters like that, without physical research of some sort.

 

Some schools don't require a thesis, mine didn't...you can fast track it if you want.

I graduated with BSME almost 4 years ago and went straight in to working at an aerospace company. 6 months after I started, I began taking grad classes. They paid for my MSME, so last year I had 3 years experience and a Masters.

My advice is to determine a specific kind of engineering you want to do: design, analysis, manufacturing, materials, etc. and look for a job in that field or with a company that will let you do that. If you can't find the right job, get your Masters in a field related your specific interest and then you should have an easier time in getting the job you want.

It really comes down to what you want to do. If you don't know yet, go get a job and get a feel for it and what other jobs are like out there. Nothing helps you decide better than hands on work. A good company will let you move around within it to a job you're happy with. So if you see another job within your company that you like, tell your manager.