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I can finish my EE Masters in a year

J

Jassi

Diamond Member
I just got done with all my orientations and sat down to make a schedule. If I take 11 credits this Fall, 12 credits this winter and 3 credits in the spring/summer (probably a math class because EE classes are not offered in the spring/summer) and transfer in just 1 of my grad classes (of the 4 I took at my Alma Mater as part of my Bachelors), IM DONE! Thats 30 credits, all other requirements are fullfilled as well, except I won't have a directed study.

What do you guys think? Is it worth it? My degree will be in Microfabrication of MEMS and Integrated Microsystems. Other option is to have some classes spill over with the only restriction being that I have to be full time to keep my health insurance (Dad's employee benefits).
 
On a side note, I am 21 at the moment and I will be 22 in January 06. Also, my total student loans shouldn't exceed 20k.

Originally posted by: chuckywang
Non-thesis? If it is, it's kinda lame.
Click to expand...

Its rare for someone to do a Thesis Masters in EE at UMich from what I heard at orientation. Also, most of my classes heavily emphasize projects and research/ review papers so it may not be a thesis but all in all, its damn near close.
 
If you can do it in that timeframe without adversely affecting your grades and you want to do it, then do it. It makes sense financially.
 
Originally posted by: Jassi
On a side note, I am 21 at the moment and I will be 22 in January 06. Also, my total student loans shouldn't exceed 20k.

Originally posted by: chuckywang
Non-thesis? If it is, it's kinda lame.
Click to expand...

Its rare for someone to do a Thesis Masters in EE at UMich from what I heard at orientation. Also, most of my classes heavily emphasize projects and research/ review papers so it may not be a thesis but all in all, its damn near close.
Click to expand...

Well, if you're looking to go into industry, I don't know if a thesis would help you that much. I had a friend complete his Master's in the same time frame as you (one year and one summer term) at UIUC and he's now working at Motorola for some good coin. Good luck.
 
Originally posted by: Reel
If you can do it in that timeframe without adversely affecting your grades and you want to do it, then do it. It makes sense financially.
Click to expand...

Best part is, Umich lets you take up to 18 credits a semester while paying for only 8 🙂

That allows me to stretch every dollar and the money I save while working my butt off in classes is equivalent to what I would earn at a part time job.

Originally posted by: chuckywang

Well, if you're looking to go into industry, I don't know if a thesis would help you that much. I had a friend complete his Master's in the same time frame as you (one year and one summer term) at UIUC and he's now working at Motorola for some good coin. Good luck.
Click to expand...

Actually, even PhD students skip the Masters Thesis option and opt for the Directed study + report instead.
 
Originally posted by: chuckywang
Originally posted by: Jassi
On a side note, I am 21 at the moment and I will be 22 in January 06. Also, my total student loans shouldn't exceed 20k.

Originally posted by: chuckywang
Non-thesis? If it is, it's kinda lame.
Click to expand...

Its rare for someone to do a Thesis Masters in EE at UMich from what I heard at orientation. Also, most of my classes heavily emphasize projects and research/ review papers so it may not be a thesis but all in all, its damn near close.
Click to expand...

Well, if you're looking to go into industry, I don't know if a thesis would help you that much. I had a friend complete his Master's in the same time frame as you (one year and one summer term) at UIUC and he's now working at Motorola for some good coin. Good luck.
Click to expand...

I think that the majority of Masters-only students don't do a thesis (depends on the school). My sister is doing an extensive research project with Apple and it's considered a project.
 
It depends on the school. Obviously the school would like students to complete a thesis project (more research = more money for school = more prestige), and therefore the professors would want to lure you into their labs (not to mention it's free labor for some professors if that student has an RAship). I say if you're really interested in a professor's research areas, then go for the thesis. If you want to just get in and get out as quickly as you can so you can find a job, then graduate as fast as you can. I'm in the Master's program for ECE at UIUC currently, and I haven't decided which path I would like to take. There are some research areas I'm interested in, so I'm leaning towards the thesis option. However, that'll probably mean I need to stay for more than one year. And after the thesis, the professor would probably like me to take my quals and stay on for a Ph.D...
 
Originally posted by: CanOWorms
Originally posted by: chuckywang
Originally posted by: Jassi
On a side note, I am 21 at the moment and I will be 22 in January 06. Also, my total student loans shouldn't exceed 20k.

Originally posted by: chuckywang
Non-thesis? If it is, it's kinda lame.
Click to expand...

Its rare for someone to do a Thesis Masters in EE at UMich from what I heard at orientation. Also, most of my classes heavily emphasize projects and research/ review papers so it may not be a thesis but all in all, its damn near close.
Click to expand...

Well, if you're looking to go into industry, I don't know if a thesis would help you that much. I had a friend complete his Master's in the same time frame as you (one year and one summer term) at UIUC and he's now working at Motorola for some good coin. Good luck.
Click to expand...

I think that the majority of Masters-only students don't do a thesis (depends on the school). My sister is doing an extensive research project with Apple and it's considered a project.
Click to expand...

EDIT: taken off line
 
Originally posted by: chuckywang
It depends on the school. Obviously the school would like students to complete a thesis project (more research = more money for school = more prestige), and therefore the professors would want to lure you into their labs (not to mention it's free labor for some professors if that student has an RAship). I say if you're really interested in a professor's research areas, then go for the thesis. If you want to just get in and get out as quickly as you can so you can find a job, then graduate as fast as you can. I'm in the Master's program for ECE at UIUC currently, and I haven't decided which path I would like to take. There are some research areas I'm interested in, so I'm leaning towards the thesis option. However, that'll probably mean I need to stay for more than one year. And after the thesis, the professor would probably like me to take my quals and stay on for a Ph.D...
Click to expand...

You can still lure people into labs without doing a thesis. Like I said, my sister is doing an extensive project with Apple and it's a project, not a thesis. Her project is very complicated (it's more of a phd level project), has a large budget, has her own lab, etc. I did a project myself when I got my Masters but it was rather small. I've known other people that did a project which invovled an entire chip design for some laser system, etc. I've known people that did projects with waveguides, MEMS, etc. The school I went to had very few Masters thesis, most did projects.

I'm not sure whether you're confusing a graduate project with a thesis. I consider them to be different things.
 
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