Grad School or Work – What’s Best for Engineers?

Grad school or get a job… This is a question I get on a weekly basis from students who are graduating in 1-2 semesters.  This question pops up so many times because:

1. Most universities have fast track programs that give you an incentive to continue on to a graduate program at your current institution. This is one of the main reasons students at my school start thinking about grad school.
2. Many students worry that they won’t be able to find a good job after graduation or they’re just scared of the unknown
3. There is the common belief that a Bachelor’s degree just isn’t good enough
4. Lots of people feel that it’s easier to just get a grad degree out of the way before marriage, kids, and other life changing events happen

My experience

When students come to my office to talk about whether to go on a pursue a graduate degree or go out in industry, they pretty much already have in their head that grad school is the way to go.  When they leave my office, they leave with a different viewpoint.  Why you ask?

Well, I always tell them my true feelings on the matter; feelings that are based on my personal experience.  I was one of the students who went straight through from Bachelor’s to Master’s to PhD.  At the time, it seemed like a good idea since I loved my University (War Eagle!!) and I was married to a recent Air Force vet who was working on his degree, so I couldn’t really go anywhere.  Looking back this wasn’t a good idea and if I had to do it differently I would.

After getting a job, I found out quickly that sitting in a cubicle all day just wasn’t my thing.  Problem was, all the jobs in my very specialized field pretty much required cubicle work.  I had no way of knowing this before getting my grad degrees because I hadn’t worked in the aerospace industry before.  Had I tested the waters sooner I may have chosen a different degree or field.

My reasons

Going straight from a Bachelor’s to a Master’s isn’t ideal for most people.  It’s almost always better to go out into industry before starting a grad school program. Let me tell you why…

1. Are you in the right field? – Students graduating with a Bachelor’s typically have little to no experience in industry. What you do in the classroom and labs is completely different than the working world.  Once you get out into the real-world things change quickly.

Let’s say you’re a aerospace engineering major who is about to graduate.  You’re considering a master’s in Aerospace Engineering with a specialization in propulsion.  How will you know for sure that you’ll like working as a propulsion engineer unless you’ve worked as one or at least been exposed to that field?

Spending two years of time and money on a degree that may end up being in an area you don’t want to work in is not appealing!  Going out and working for awhile will let you explore things and figure out what you like and don’t like.

2. Student loans – Graduate degrees cost money. Many schools will provide financial assistance through teaching or research assistantships but that still probably won’t cover the cost of tuition and living expenses.  You know what that means…loans, loans and more loans!

A lot of students don’t realize that most engineering companies out there will pay for you to go back to school.  Why take out loans and pay for it yourself when you can get someone else to pay? It makes no sense financially. Now, it’s true that it may take you longer to complete the degree because you’ll only be able to be a part time student, but does that really matter in the grand scheme of things? A couple semesters isn’t going to kill you in the long run so getting a job and having the company pay is a great thing!  And, it just makes sense.

You’ll have a better idea of what you want to focus on in your studies, you’ll be gaining work experience, and the company will be getting a worker with more knowledge.  It’s a win-win situation for both sides.

3. Work experience – The general public has the misconception that advanced degrees have more value than work experience. This is completely false.  In fact, many employers would rather hire someone with quality, on the job training, than someone with a Master’s with no experience.

There are so many things to learn once you start working.  Things like software programs, processes, regulations, etc.  These useful skills aren’t taught on college campuses, you only get them by going into industry.  By staying in school after your undergrad degree, you’re missing out on 1-2 years of valuable experience.

Sure, you’ll learn additional things in your graduate classes.  But why not get the work experience and the academic experience at the same time?

4. Money, money, money! – Let’s compare two students. Student A gets a job making $60k right after getting his/her B.S. degree.  Student B goes straight into a 2-year graduate program.  In that 2 years, student A will make $120k assuming there was no raise in pay the second year.  After graduating, student B gets a job making $65k.

Student A has been performing well and is given a raise (up to $65k) and promotion after the second year.  Comparing these two students, student A is in better shape financially.  He/she earned a salary and didn’t have to take out student loans.  Now both students make about the same pay.

What people may not realize is that companies count a master’s degree as 1-2 years of experience.  So, when it comes to pay, you’re going to make the same amount as someone with a Bachelor’s degree with 2 years of experience.  I’ve seen this happen countless times.

It’s true that once you get a graduate degree you’ll probably be hired in at a slightly higher job title, but pay-wise, you’ll still be close to your peers who graduated with you and went right in to industry.

Is it for you?

Working full time while in school isn’t for everyone.  First, you have to be motivated to take on the extra time commitment and time management skills are a must.  Second, classes and assignments after work will definitely cause you to change your nighttime routine.  Gone will be the nights eating out, relaxing, watching Netflix or whatever else you enjoy.  So, if you don’t think you can handle the added stress and workload, this may not be a good option for you.

Once you start working it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be willing to give up your pay check to go back to school.  Therefore, if a graduate degree is something that you really want you probably need to seriously consider knocking it out right after your undergrad degree.  That way you’ll get it out of the way without having to worry about juggling schoolwork with a full time job.

Summary

Obviously these are just my opinions and you may not agree.  I have met with many students, both undergrad and grad, who agree with this assessment though.  You must decide for yourself which path is right for you.  Speaking with a graduate program advisor is a good way to help you figure out what’s best for you.

Be aware though that lots of students who talk to graduate counselors get advised that going straight through to a Master’s degree is the best path, hands down.  You have to remember that the job of these counselors is to sell you on their program.  They need students in their programs to keep them going.  Keep this is mind if it seems like you’re talking to a salesperson.

Always do your due diligence when making decisions about your future.  Ask former students, industry professionals, or faculty members you respect and trust and then make an informed decision. Consider the aspects of time, experience and money when making your choice.  It’s never easy to know for sure what’s best but if you thoroughly investigate your options, you’ll be more confident and comfortable with your decision.