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Grad School

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clrumivier4life
Posts: 2429 - Karma: 9
I never considered going until this year and now I'm set on it, but I'm not sure if I'm just going for my masters or a phd. I'd be going for electrical engineering. I love what I'm doing and I'm good at it so I figure why not. They pretty much pay you to go to school since they waive tuition and pay you a stipend on top of it for assistantships.

Anyone else been/going/want to go?
Mar 27 2009 9:59AM
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Delphi
Posts: 3748 - Karma: 36
I've been giving it soooo much thought but keep coming to the same conclusion..do I really want to dedicate that many years of my life to scholarship? I will mos def get my masters, but PH D, that could get incredibly heavy.
Mar 27 2009 10:13AM
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skithebert
Posts: 2163 - Karma: 16
im in a phd program for molecular biology.  can't really do much with a masters in biology.  but engineering you can make a butt ton of money with just a bachelors.  if you're getting a phd make sure grad school is what you want you want to do.

watch this simpsons clip.  It sums it up well enough although it's talking about literature grad students or whatever.  Course life is better as a science or engineering student but still.  read the comments section, its funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whBrTOzj0Kw


haha.  better than a fucking corporate desk job though!




Mar 27 2009 10:19AM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727

I can certainly say that I've been in your situation before.  There are a couple of things you should think about.  What are the benefits of having a Ph.D. in electrical engineering vs. a master's degree?  Are you going to get that much better of a job with a Ph.D. that would justify the additional time and expense?  Do you really want to postpone the start of your career for another 3 or 4 years?  Are you going to price yourself right out of the job market?  (Who wants to hire a kid with a phd and absolutely no experience - sounds expensive.)

I obviously can't tell you what you should do.  Just some stuff to think about when deciding on which avenue to take in grad school.  I ultimately came to the decision that a Ph.D. wasn't really going to be of any benefit to me unless I wanted to become a college profesor.  Sure it'd be nice to have those credentials, but the cost just didn't outweigh the benefits.

Mar 27 2009 11:24AM
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user098123
Posts: 6072 - Karma: 18
As an electrical engineer, I would definitely say go for a PhD. You need to do whatever you can to stay competitive in today's world and as an engineer. A masters is a viable option, but I would still recommend the PhD. If you are already going in to grad school for a masters, why not stay the extra 2 years and get a much better degree? Sure it will be a lot of work but it will be worth it in the long run.

I don't know how similar finding a job as an electrical engineer as it is in chemistry but I know that for me, a BS in chem will equal a mundane lab job that nets 30-40k a year where as with a PhD I would start as a lab head with a min salary of 100k. Big difference and the extra schooling is definitely worth it. If your scenario is similar to mine at all then I would say do it. You also have to consider your options of moving up the ladder if you get a corporate job. With a PhD you can move as high as you want pretty much, whereas with a bachelors that isn't the case.
Mar 27 2009 11:30AM
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skithebert
Posts: 2163 - Karma: 16
i think its a lot different as an engineer than it is for us as chemistry/biology people.  With a masters in chemistry/biology you're probably gonna be a lab tech the rest of your life.  A PHD is basically a must in this field.  In fact a masters is almost a sign that you are too pussy to commit to a PHD and dropped out or you're just willing to settle for less.  That is not the case in engineering.

I was in chemical engineering for a while in undergrad but switched out cause I didn't like it.  But i have friends who have gone on to grad school in various engineering programs.  One got a master's in mechanical at Carneige Mellon.  But his was weird and it was only one year and didn't involve any thesis or research.  He knew before he didn't want to do research.  Another friend is at MIT getting his PHD in aerospace engineering.  Another friend is going for a PhD in math or engineering soon I think.  And I have several friends here getting masters in geotech engineering.  none of them are going PHD.

 So I've seen people do it both ways for engineering.  It really comes down to if you want to do research.  If not then don't get a PhD, because in engineering you can get a good job without it.  A masters could still be for you, but I would honestly suggest getting a job first because oftentimes you can get your employer to pay for it.  Maybe not in these economic times but its possible.  Good luck.  Not an easy decision. 
Mar 27 2009 1:53PM
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kingsskier
Posts: 6212 - Karma: 2,100
Im studying electrical engineering now and law school is my next step. Double major in EECS and Accounting then to law school. I will be set for what ever job I pretty much desire!
Mar 27 2009 2:07PM
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kingsskier
Posts: 6212 - Karma: 2,100
and just curious, where are going to school now, and where are you thinking for grad school?
Mar 27 2009 2:13PM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
wait, so you're getting a bachelor's degree in accounting & electrical engineering, but you want to go on to law school?  how in the hell did you come up with this plan?  electrical engineering, accounting, and law aren't exactly related.  (aside from acct and law if you want to do estate planning)  just seems like an odd combination of studies.
Mar 27 2009 2:21PM
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Microcosm
Posts: 4765 - Karma: 153
along with being seemingly unrelated, it seems like a TON of work. I want to go into engineering next year, and I couldnt imagine having another major on top of that. I guess I'll see then though..
Mar 27 2009 3:14PM
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kingsskier
Posts: 6212 - Karma: 2,100

I will work for a firm or for myself as an engineering and business law expert. Say an engineering firm gets into some trouble with something they designed going bad. I will be concidered an expert in the field so they dont have to hire outside people to come in and say what they did was the correct processes and what not in court. I will also be more specialized in these fields so firms will be more likely to hire me on as a lawyer.

Plus my dad has his accounting then law degree and he knows people who double majored business and engineering then went to law school and they a were all made partners in large firms at young ages because of the specialties. I know its an odd combination but it really is a great thing to have. Its a lot better to have specialties as a lawyer than just go through pre law then law.

Mar 27 2009 3:24PM
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clrumivier4life
Posts: 2429 - Karma: 9
Patent Law. That's where you'll make the big bucks.




I go to Michigan State Right now (I think GLRunner does as well?). I'm in my 3rd year and I'll be done next May.

As far as where I'd be going to grad school, I'm not sure. I would really like to stay here at MSU because I've developed a lot of good relations with students and faculty than have opened up so many doors for me. If I go somewhere else, then it would be like starting from square one. Yes other schools have better programs, but I've learned so much more through opportunities than in the classroom. I'm still considering going to U of M since they have a better program. I don't think I'd have a problem getting in since my grades are exceptional and I have work/extra curricular/TA experience to back me up, but I don't know if i really want to go there.

Getting a phd in electrical engineering puts you straight into research and development or academia. I'm doing research this summer, so we'll see how I like that aspect of it. I wouldn't mind teaching though. As far as a masters, they pretty much do design work, which I could also see myself doing. Getting a masters is pretty much necessary, otherwise you end up doing bitch work for the first however many years of your career. Getting a masters lets you skip all the bullshit.

Thanks for all the replies, they're very much appreciated.
Mar 28 2009 12:18PM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727

i certainly wouldn't argue that being a lawyer with specialties is worth its weight in gold.  lawyers are a dime a dozen.  you definitely need something to set you apart in today's day and age.

Mar 28 2009 1:12PM
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mmmmm...Pie
Posts: 673 - Karma: 15
Go to a different school for Grad school. You establish more connections in your field and it makes you a more diverse professional.

I'm still trying to figure out if I want to do grad school. I'm a CS + Applied Physics double major, so I could get a phd in CS, physics or pretty much any science. I'm only in my second year of undergrad though, so I've got a while to decide.
Mar 28 2009 5:19PM
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ATLskier
Posts: 8203 - Karma: 406
After Ugrad, Ill be going to get a double masters in architecture and city and regional planning with an concentration on urban design.
Mar 28 2009 6:09PM
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user098123
Posts: 6072 - Karma: 18
Ya they do say you should go check out other schools for grad school, but that is changing slightly these days. Some schools offer huge incentives for you to stay there for grad school, especially if you are a white student in math/science. I know it's kinda racist but schools can be pretty desperate for the diversity these days.

And ya I go to MSU too.
Mar 29 2009 7:19PM
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Thenowhereman42
Posts: 5682 - Karma: 65
I'm going to use grad school as a backup if I fail at being a writer.
Mar 29 2009 7:23PM
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clrumivier4life
Posts: 2429 - Karma: 9
Yeah, I know MSU favors domestic students over international, mainly because (at least for electrical engineering) out of 600 students that apply, only 50 are domestic. It would really come down to the incentives. Tuition must be waived (pretty much everywhere) and then it would depend on what kind of stipend I get on top of that. Either way, you pretty much get paid to go to school.

How about them spartans? FINAL FOUR BABY! (another reason I don't want to leave MSU?)
Mar 30 2009 10:24AM
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An10a_Eng
Posts: 2505 - Karma: 26
im doing my undergrad in electrical and computer right now and can get a masters in 5 total years, the question im tossing around now is should i continue after that. i got plenty of time to decide though
Mar 30 2009 11:18AM
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user098123
Posts: 6072 - Karma: 18
Ya it is one advantage of being domestic for grad school. I was lookin at the same thing for chemistry, I can basically go anywhere but ivy league with over a 3.0 and that will be with free tuition and a stipend on top of it. That would be pretty awesome, I'm not sure what I want to do yet.

And hell yes to the final four, we dominated Louisville, such a great game. I hope we can just play up to par again like that and I think we will have a chance to knock off uconn. Practically playing at home helps a bit too haha.
Mar 30 2009 11:20AM
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Commonwealth
Posts: 3729 - Karma: 11
Curse you. My bracket is ruined.


It was ruined way before that game, but that was just the nail in the coffin.
Mar 30 2009 11:25AM
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killa_cam
Posts: 13143 - Karma: 15
not much point is getting a master's in engineering, unless you're looking to get into some very specialized design work. other than that you could get a phd and be a prof, but for most careers in engineering there is not a big advantage to having a master's vs bachelor's degres
Mar 30 2009 11:26AM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
PhD wouldn't really be much of an advantage in your field.  Get a masters unless you want to teach and do research.
Mar 30 2009 11:31AM
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An10a_Eng
Posts: 2505 - Karma: 26
false. a masters will start you a lot higher in the company than a bachelors. these days most places start a bachelors in the 40-60k a year and a masters at 80+. if you want to start at the bottom of the company a bachelors is fine (not that its bad at all) but a masters will move you up a lot faster
Mar 30 2009 12:09PM
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*rkp*
Posts: 8198 - Karma: 257
word. I'll be going for my March as well.
Mar 30 2009 3:20PM
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