Higher education is absolutely essential in today's world. But, students always have this question regarding when to pursue MS. Are there any real benefits of working for a couple of years before doing MS? This article explains both these options in detail. Some students have job offers from big companies and it is very hard to not take the offer. Some students do not have the financial resources to pursue higher education and hence take up jobs before going after their dream of higher education.
MS immediately after engineering
Pursuing higher education immediately after engineering is an ideal choice for many students. Here are a few benefits of this option.
- You are in the academic frame of mind, already in the flow of studies and is a natural continuation of your learning in the field you have selected.
- You will find it much easier to prepare for exams compared to your classmates who have prior work experience as they have been used to a certain work culture and may find it difficult to go back to studying for long hours.
- If you are very sure about doing research or a PhD, you must go for an MS as soon as your engineering is over. Work experience will not help a lot for your research work.
- Once you start working, you might not leave the job and never pursue higher education. Leaving the job offer will ensure completion of your higher education.
- You will be completing MS early (by age 23 or 24).
- You performance during MS and your experience in US - internships and projects are much more useful than work experience in India when you are looking for a full-time job.
MS after job for 1 year or more
A job with experience of at least 1 year is necessary to have any significant benefit from it. Here are a few benefits you get after doing a job and getting some work experience.
- Work experience gives you a significant advantage over applicants not having any job experience if you are applying for management related degree programs or non-research based programs. If you wish to pursue MBA, MIS, M.Eng, MS without thesis/project option or other such courses where research is not expected, job experience gives you a definite advantage over others.
- For MS with thesis option or if you have research interests, the work experience might not help a lot. But it still looks good on your resume and you have that slight advantage over others not having any work experience.
- Any work experience helps for a part time job on campus, especially the technical jobs which require proficiency in certain technologies or software. For more details about on campus jobs, read this article: On campus jobs and internships during higher education in US
- You get an industry exposure after working for more than a year in some company. This helps improve your communication and other soft skills.
- You earn some money and can take care of the initial costs of US applications.
The above points should help you decide which option you wish to go for. The benefits of some job or going for higher education after your BE are mentioned to help you make a choice.
