7/13 Similar to the MBA post below, how useless is a MS in engineering?
If everyone has a HS degree and companies prefer HS or better, then
doesn't having a BS give you more advantage? By the same token,
if everyone has a BS degree (which is the case esp. in Silicon
Valley) and companies prefer BS or higher, then isn't it better
to have a MS degree? And by the same token, if MANY people in Silicon
Valley have a MS degree, isn't it better to have a PhD or at least
a MS degree?
\_ personally, I used MS degree as a way to change major, essentially.
Other than poor timing (i got my CS Masters at 2000 spring),
I actually think it's worth it, mainly because I like the subject.
For other who are thinking of getting a degree in the same subject
as your undergraduate, you really need to use your time wisely
during the 2 years in school. It is almost too short to get
much accomplished, and you kind of need to accomplish something
while you are in school to extract the most of the degree. This
means you need to be specific on what you want to do and work with
a professor in that subject beginning in the first semester.
\_ Depends on what you want to do and what your other skills are. If
you're trying to get by on a degree alone that won't cut it. You
*must* have many years of job experience today to get a decent job
no matter what academic paperwork you've got. Many places don't
care what you have as long as you have the minimum degree and then
they want lots of experience on top of it. More degree and less
experience isn't it most of the time. OTOH if you want to stay in
the ivory tower, you don't need any experience. Just keep racking
up theory classes and publish papers.
\_ companies don't prefer "BS or better". They want that as a prereq,
and then look at everything else. An MS might get edge you out over
someone else if you're close. Also, it might help you get a job that
they might not give to a BS at certain companies like Google or
Akamai.
\_ Google: be at One with the Net. Join the Google Cult today!
\_ Figure out how many other people in your field have MS and plan
accordingly. Be aware that if you're looking for entry-level
work (gods forbid), an MS may make you look overqualified.
work (gods forbid), an MS may make you look over qualified. |
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