Is a masters in electrical engineering worth it reddit

It's worth noting that there are two different types of masters degrees you can obtain. They lead to different paths, which is something you should consider.

Option one is a Master of Science (M.S). This is typically what people think of when they think of a Masters degree. This involves full time coursework, research, and a thesis/defense. Funded students only take classwork and do research - they do not work outside jobs. If they aren't funded, they may work some hourly job, but they will not be employed full time. A M.S will take an average of 2 years, and will not be available through an online program. Typically, an M.S is more suited for those who wish to continue for a Ph.D, or pursue a career in research.

Option two is a Master of Engineering (M.Eng). This is most likely what your program offers through its online program. They are typically classwork only, and may possibly involve a paper at the end. These are far more common for people who are going back to school for a Masters for financial or promotion reasons. Typically, these students are not full time and will take courses online, or in the morning/evening around work. Typically, an M.Eng is about 1 year if you go full time.

So, with that in mind - which sounds more like what you're hoping to get from obtaining a Masters degree? Do you want to do this because it might put you in a better position for a promotion or pay scale down the road? Or are you looking to aim yourself towards a specific job track?

If money and career mobility are what is important to you, I would pursue the M.Eng. However - an M.Eng usually will not qualify you for many jobs that ask for a Masters degree or higher. A M.Eng is mainly a bargaining chip showing that you have advanced your education beyond that of your average engineer, and can get paid more as a result.

If you're more interested in R&D track jobs, the M.S is what you want to consider. This is a much tougher commitment, however, and I would strongly recommend against it unless you're positive that it's what you want. Typically, the pay increase from doing this is equivalent to had you been working the whole time anyway - so the main motivation should be the jobs, not the money.

I am really confused. Some say that start working and then come back to do a MBA, but I feel like I won't go back to school if I start working.

How much does MBA help? Can't you move into Manager position even if you did masters in Electrical Engineering?

Btw, I am an undergrad in EE with one more year to go. I really do like EE, but I don't know how much of my masters knowledge I am going to use in the real world. That's why I am wondering if MBA would be a good option.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

Edit: Here is my bit of thinking. After an MBA, I will do an Enginnering Job and then eventually down the wrote I will want to move into Manager position. Would a MBA degree help be then??

So, boys and girls, I finally did it. I made it to the top of the proverbial mountain, got my masters degree in EE and found a high paying job with great benefits. I’ve been thinking a lot of how I got here. I’ve become incredibly jaded with academia. Here’s the dirty little secret: it’s all bullshit. All of it. I debated making this post because I didn’t want to corrupt the bright eyed and bushy tailed young engineering students who think they are learning cool and awesome things that will help them in life. I came to this realization 3 weeks before I finished my masters degree. You learn all this math shit, Calc 3, diff equations, and physics shit like electromagnetism, and for what? Who gives a fuck if you can solve a surface integral or derive the Maxwell equations. That’s not gonna help you. What would help you is learning some practical applications of all this theory bullshit. But that’s up to you to teach yourself anything practical, or do an internship, or form a startup, not the institution I’m paying all this money to. My most useful courses were project courses like senior design, embedded system programming, and machine learning because I’m actually doing something practical.

My grad school education was the most horseshit of all. It’s basically twice the amount of bullshit theory. I’m also upset because I really liked all that bullshit theory. I fucking loved deriving the Maxwell equations. I found it cool and interesting, only to learn it’s all horseshit.

Also the job search is bullshit. I have a ton of experience in signal processing, PCB design, and audio hardware from working in a start up company and from my own personal projects, yet I was denied from every company I applied to related to it but hired by a fucking power engineering company. My power engineering experience is intro to AC circuits from 2nd year of college. I basically got the job because I have a masters degree and I sounded competent in my interview. It’s frustrating because I didn’t learn anything in grad school that would actually make me qualified for the job, but I have this piece of fucking paper that companies respect for some goddamn reason. Now, I can’t be too mad, I’m in a damn good situation, but I’m just frustrated because this isn’t what I expected it to be. I apologize for this post being all over the place.

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