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Trying to decide which graduate degree to pursue

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polarmystery

polarmystery

Diamond Member
I have an electrical engineering degree. Currently I work as a Logistics Systems Engineer for Northrop Grumman. Ultimately I want to get into the field of robotics and live out the rest of my life doing that. However, I also enjoy working one on one with people on a care giving level (I like helping people). I can't decide whether I want to get an advanced degree in Biomedical Engineering (robotics studies developing artificial parts for humans to live) or Systems Engineering (robotics and control systems theory for automation with industrial grade devices).

Anybody got any suggestions? My current job will pay for my degree (not sure if they'll pay for Biomed but I'm 100% sure they'll pay for the systems one, books too) but it's possible. I'm single, 27, and have no S.O. My current job doesn't let me interact with many people and I get satisfaction helping people live with something I help them with but I also enjoy automation and robotic stuff just the same (A.I. all that jazz). What say you?
😕

 
I flipped a coin and took Romance Languages. I currently work at McDonalds. C'est la vie
 
I would say go for the one your job will pay for. Both of those grad degrees make me see $$ in my eyes, so having it done for free would be a sweet bonus.

I too love to interact with people and help them whenever possible, and I went to school for sociology and psych, however I'm now working for a Bank. I love my job, but it isn't quite as personal as i had imagined myself working.

The happy medium - i volunteer. This way i can do what is fiscally sound, and still get some fulfillment out of life. If i were you, i would go for the systems degree, as long as your happy doing that work, and find yourself a nice volunteer group that allows you to interact with and help people
 
I agree with Bu B3ar...if you can get your job to pay for one of them, sure....get the free education when possible.

On the other hand, I would also consider not only which one pays more, but which one is more transferrable. If you get a job that only allows you to work in 4-5 locations in the US and a few overseas, you're going to be stuck if you want to stay in your same town if the company ever goes under. With tech companies, it happens all the time when they get bought out or merge....

I recommend taking a good hard look at both fields and remember that a degree in something ultimately doesn't mean you have to do that. I'm sure you could get a degree in either and flip between fields. It just helps you get in the door easier when you have the paper in your hand.

Be sure to consider which schools have connections with companies too. If you can graduate from a school that has a lot of internship options, you might be able to get your foot in the door somewhere easier even though you'd likely take a paycut to do so... It would just help you go from your current career to a new one.
 
Originally posted by: Bu B3ar
I would say go for the one your job will pay for. Both of those grad degrees make me see $$ in my eyes, so having it done for free would be a sweet bonus.

I too love to interact with people and help them whenever possible, and I went to school for sociology and psych, however I'm now working for a Bank. I love my job, but it isn't quite as personal as i had imagined myself working.

The happy medium - i volunteer. This way i can do what is fiscally sound, and still get some fulfillment out of life. If i were you, i would go for the systems degree, as long as your happy doing that work, and find yourself a nice volunteer group that allows you to interact with and help people
Click to expand...


I like to interact with people, help them whenever possible, and get paid. Now I have my fill of lunatics in my office everyday and pray for quiet days so I can catch up on my work.
 
I like to interact with people, help them whenever possible, and get paid. Now I have my fill of lunatics in my office everyday and pray for quiet days so I can catch up on my work.


That would be optimal, but rarely do we get everything we want....

....Unless i've been getting screwed 🙁
 
Carnegie-Mellon has an attached program called the Robotics Institute. One of the best places to study robotics, they do things ranging from robotic HMMVs to tiny little robots. I'm sure they've got some medical applications as well.

If you want to go south, I know a couple professors at Rice U. in the mech department that do robotics for things like physical therapy.

I plan to do robotics for a career and I've applied to Cornell mech, the Robotics Institute, Stanford, and UIUC. In with funding at Cornell and UIUC. Waiting on the other two.

We'll see where I wind up.
 
Originally posted by: Bu B3ar
I like to interact with people, help them whenever possible, and get paid. Now I have my fill of lunatics in my office everyday and pray for quiet days so I can catch up on my work.


That would be optimal, but rarely do we get everything we want....

....Unless i've been getting screwed 🙁
Click to expand...


If I ever bought a lottery ticket, and if I won millions; I would still keep working. I may work for myself, but I would still stay in the same line of work. (I consider myself a scratch-off lottery card anyway).

 
How about mechanical since you want to head towards robotics? Combine mechanical and electrical degrees and you can build just about anything.
 
I can generally tell a persons interest by the usernames they select. Since you like working with people might I suggest pole dancing?
 
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