Anyone going to grad school?

[RyanbabZ71]

Well today I kinda decided i am going to keep going to school

 

I graduatd in May with a BS in mech. engineering and currently have a job. I already have 3 credit hrs of grad classes and i only need 30 hrs to get a masters (27 to go which is only 9 classes). I plan on taking 2 this semester (2 days a wk mon and tues night and one is a tv course). I figure might as well keep going and learn as much as possible.

 

What do you all think? Anyone going to grad school and working fulltime? People suggested 2 classes because 1 didnt keep them focused

[scooter70]

I satarted working on my Masters in Product Development in January. My program is cohort based, so you stay with the same people for the whole program and don't have any choices in the classes that you can take. The best part is that it's over after only 2 years. The bad part is that we go year round. If you're single and don't have too many other priorities, two classes should be easy. I don't know how people with kids can do it. They must have very understanding spouses. My wife is pretty understanding when I have school work to do, but we have no kids at this point. The longer you wait, the more you'll have going on in your life and the harder it will be. Do it now while you can.

 

If you can get work to pay for it, then you can't go wrong. My work is even paying for books and misc fees! It's like getting $40k for free (and then they give you a raise after you graduate).

 

In this day and age (especially in engineering), I believe that you need a graduate degree to get ahead. It's up to you to decide if you want to stay in the technical realm or branch over to something more management related (MPD, MBA, etc). I like the MPD because it's still techincally focused, but I don't have to take any core techincal classes. Some of my friends are getting their Masters in ME and had to take math classes..... there's no way I could remember Diff Eq anymore.

 

HTH,

Matt

[LarryE]

I'm getting my bachelor's online right now while working

[bummed-n-Md]

Back in '93 to '95, I completed my MS in computers before I retired from the Marine Corps. Despite my full time 'day job' and all the required travel because of my function, I did it.

 

My wife and I both decided that it was the thing to do before I joined the 'civilian sector'. We both knew it would be time consuming and at the time our kids were still all under 10. After the kids went to bed, I did all my class work.

 

I took two classes per term, 3 terms a year. Finished in two years. It was way worth it.

 

My wife just finished her Masters in teaching last May doing the same routine, night classes, 2 per term doing her class work after the kids went to bed.

 

I am workng full time now as a programmer, technical advisor and project manager and still travel a lot,. However, yesterday I submitted my application to start a PhD program. (and yes, I just may be a glutton for punishment!). for me it is a now or never situation. If I don't start now, I will loose my remaining veterans education benefits.

 

If you are single, you can afford it, then DO IT. It will pay dividends in the long run. And as was implied earlier, leaning is still fresh in your mind. One thing I will have to overcome (again) is getting back into the swing of 'acadamia' and learning (a much different mental process than day-to-day work).

 

 

bummed.

[mjsmith1223]

Full time grad student here. If all goes as planned I will graduate in December with my MBA with an Accounting emphasis. Got my Bachelors in '92, worked for awhile, saw my job disappear in Sep. 2001 and the economy go Made a lot of sense for me to go back to school and now I'm almost done. It was well worth it. I enjoyed the graduate level classes much more than bachelors. Seemed to be more meat, less fluff.

 

If you can make the time and can find a way to pay for it, do it and do it as fast as you can stand it. Keeps you focused and disciplined.

 

Mike

Grand Haven, MI

[Elwood]

I graduate in May 04 with my Bachelor's. I'll be going to grad school, but I don't know if it will be imediately or if I'll take a semester off to just work. It depends on what job I get after I graduate I may need a little time to get used to the job before I start taking classes too. If I don't think I need that time then I'll start fall 04.

[watz]

I am studying for my GMAT now...at work lol shhhh!

 

Gotta remember market ability, 25% of America has at least a Bachelor...but only 10% has a graduate...even better only 3 have a PHD.....

 

Keep going, be elite, lay me off all you want people, you can't take my degree with you.

[Jersey Tahoe LT]

I am taking 2 classes per semester. Changed major so I have about maybe 4 5 years to finish at my rate. I have to finish my Mech Tech Assosiates then go to NJIT for the Mech Tech Bachlores degree. I kinda got lazy and stopped trying a while and have had to retake a lot of classes. Now I have a full time job as a Engineer Tech at a Civil engineering firm and they pay for school. And allow my time off for classes. It is a pretty Good deal. I haven't even thought of a masters. Or PHD. I was thinking of just getting my PE (Profesional Engineering license). That will be good enough for me.

 

Later,

Brandon

[RyanbabZ71]

thanks for the replies.

 

I figure itll take 2 - 2.5 yrs. My company will pay for tuition (not the fees but thats only like $35 or the books which many of the classes dont have books just notes printed by the teacher). Only bad thing is i have to stay with the company for 2 yrs after my last class i take or i have to pay it back which i think is fair. Also they wont pay for anything until i get a yr in (10 more months )

[tmf6902]

I was gonna go right after I graduated but, I wanted to wait so I could get the party bug out of me. I'll be going back in a couple of years once I have some real world experience under my belt. But my woman just waited a year after graduating and now she is a year from getting her masters in marine bio, so the moral of the story is do whatever you want....different people will tell you different thing. But always remember

 

BS-Bull Sh*t

MS-More Sh*t

PHD-Piled High and Deep

 

TMF

[deduncan]

I'm going to Phoenix right now, and will be attending Phoenix for my masters after I'm done. I have a full-time job, and 1 class at a time is sufficient. Phoenix's format is much different than a typical university; however, so its almost like apples and oranges.

[99silveradoz71]

Yes, get it done while you're still fresh. It's easier to stay in the routine and groove.

[Greg]

BTDT! I began my evening MBA at Michigan in 1990, 12 years after my BA in philosophy & sociology. I started out with two classes per term in fall and winter and 1 class in the spring half-term. With a divorce, re-marriage, my new wife's disabling accident, two job changes, and business travel 2-3 times a month there were some terms when I took only 1 class and some years that I only took a single class to stay in the program. I graduated in the maximum allowable time in 1999, with distinction. Go for it!

[sincityZ71]

I'd say go for it. I work with a few people who are doing theirs now after working for quite a few years after their bachlors, and they are stressed to no end and going nuts. Get it done while you can. Trust me, it could be worse, you could be like me with 15 credits to go on my bachlors and already thinking about going back and getting another bachlors in a completely different field...

[Bowtie_Beast]

Hey Mike from Grand Haven! I live in Zeeland, work in Allegan as an Assistant Controller.

I'm going to take my GMAT this semester and start in the winter for my Masters. I think I'm going to go for the Accounting emphasis also. Would you recommend it?

Where are you going? I've been semi-accepted at GVSU, just need my GMAT score.

Do you think two classes with a full-time job and wife and kid are too much? I'm thinking one class per semester.

Thanks

Troy