Engineers: does the name of the grad school you went to matter, or just the fact that you have a masters?
My situation: Going to be a senior Electrical Engineering major at #14 EE school (Texas A&M) graduating in May (with what I think as a pretty strong resume, good GPA, extracurriculurs, work experience) - been dating my girlfriend for over a year
But I'm not sure what I should do next..within the next few years, I want to get an MBA (from a top-20 school, preferably, cause those seem to be the only ones that are worth something)...maybe eventually start my own company.
Before this summer began, I had little interest in a EE masters, I don't really enjoy electrical engineering (its ok, but not great) and the strain of studying was starting to get to me..but having worked this summer, almost all of the people in my group have masters in EE, and my boss has advised me to get one (10-15K more salary) - I'm now considering it- I know that if I don't get one immediately afterwards, I will never want to go back to school to get it
About my relationship: My girlfriend is great, she has everything that I think I want for the future..it has been on the whole a really easy relationship..but we have never been in the same city..from the beginning up until May we saw each other pretty much every weekend..she had finished grad school in December and had been looking for a job, finally found something in the field she wanted..a two year internship at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln
After much discussion we decided to give it a shot - big reason for me that I said ok is because I know how hard she worked trying to find jobs near where I go to school (or in the cities nearby) - I know that she cares about me a lot.. we will probably get to see each other about a month..but I've begun to think about next year, after I graduate
From the way i see it, I have a few options:
Get a job in May:
Pros:
-get some real money comin in (although because I have no student loans, I could postpone it for a year without a problem)
-work experience, can get into the high quality MBA programs sooner (or can I?)
-probably can land a position with a good company (if not the company I interned with, another good one)
Cons:
-going to be at the very bottom of the food chain
-less salary than if I got the masters
Grad school in EE - I want to go to a place where I could finish quickly (1 year, or at the latest 1.5 years) - I don't think I could move up in the rankings and get the funding and stuff desired
Texas A&M:
Pros:
-continue where I am without moving hassle, plus I know I can take grad courses my senior year for 'double-dipping' for both, insuring that I could finish within fall-spring-summer term
-good ranking in EE
-existing friends
Cons:
-kinda getting tired of College Station, maybe ready for something different
-far from girlfriend for another year
-not sure about funding situation (although I think that they would take care of me)
Nebraska:
Pros:
-if chosen as an RA, they pay for all tuition plus a $1250 stipend (wouldn't go if they weren't paying) - free masters degree
-would finally get to try out what it would be like to live in the same city as my girlfriend - the ultimate test
-because its not so strong, might be willing to work with me to finish quickly
Cons:
-engineering school isn't nearly as strong as Texas A&M
-Nebraska??? WTH am i doing there? BRRRR (I've lived in TX all my life, hehe)
So tear me a new one, give me some advice
Cliffs:
1. Grad school vs. work?
2. Move for a girl?
My situation: Going to be a senior Electrical Engineering major at #14 EE school (Texas A&M) graduating in May (with what I think as a pretty strong resume, good GPA, extracurriculurs, work experience) - been dating my girlfriend for over a year
But I'm not sure what I should do next..within the next few years, I want to get an MBA (from a top-20 school, preferably, cause those seem to be the only ones that are worth something)...maybe eventually start my own company.
Before this summer began, I had little interest in a EE masters, I don't really enjoy electrical engineering (its ok, but not great) and the strain of studying was starting to get to me..but having worked this summer, almost all of the people in my group have masters in EE, and my boss has advised me to get one (10-15K more salary) - I'm now considering it- I know that if I don't get one immediately afterwards, I will never want to go back to school to get it
About my relationship: My girlfriend is great, she has everything that I think I want for the future..it has been on the whole a really easy relationship..but we have never been in the same city..from the beginning up until May we saw each other pretty much every weekend..she had finished grad school in December and had been looking for a job, finally found something in the field she wanted..a two year internship at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln
After much discussion we decided to give it a shot - big reason for me that I said ok is because I know how hard she worked trying to find jobs near where I go to school (or in the cities nearby) - I know that she cares about me a lot.. we will probably get to see each other about a month..but I've begun to think about next year, after I graduate
From the way i see it, I have a few options:
Get a job in May:
Pros:
-get some real money comin in (although because I have no student loans, I could postpone it for a year without a problem)
-work experience, can get into the high quality MBA programs sooner (or can I?)
-probably can land a position with a good company (if not the company I interned with, another good one)
Cons:
-going to be at the very bottom of the food chain
-less salary than if I got the masters
Grad school in EE - I want to go to a place where I could finish quickly (1 year, or at the latest 1.5 years) - I don't think I could move up in the rankings and get the funding and stuff desired
Texas A&M:
Pros:
-continue where I am without moving hassle, plus I know I can take grad courses my senior year for 'double-dipping' for both, insuring that I could finish within fall-spring-summer term
-good ranking in EE
-existing friends
Cons:
-kinda getting tired of College Station, maybe ready for something different
-far from girlfriend for another year
-not sure about funding situation (although I think that they would take care of me)
Nebraska:
Pros:
-if chosen as an RA, they pay for all tuition plus a $1250 stipend (wouldn't go if they weren't paying) - free masters degree
-would finally get to try out what it would be like to live in the same city as my girlfriend - the ultimate test
-because its not so strong, might be willing to work with me to finish quickly
Cons:
-engineering school isn't nearly as strong as Texas A&M
-Nebraska??? WTH am i doing there? BRRRR (I've lived in TX all my life, hehe)
So tear me a new one, give me some advice
Cliffs:
1. Grad school vs. work?
2. Move for a girl?