Post Grad Advice

aurthurg

Well heres the story, about to graduate in June from Civil Engineering hopefully a 1.1 definately a high 2.1 and looking for some advice on what to do next because I dont have a clue to be honest. See my options as follows:

1. MSc in Trinity or Imperial College both 12 months taught not sure how highly their regarded and if there rewarded in industry, any opinions.

2. Looking at and provisionally offered some phd's and research masters although am not sure if I do one that I will be pigeon holed in industry and if i try to diversify then what was the point in the phd as i cant see my future in acedemia. Also i ve been advised that companys dont like Dr's because they will just tell you 10 ways how not to do something

3. Start work (probably my least favoured option) even though I'l be quite young (just gone 21) and try and get chartered asap

Any wisdom appreciated

Cheers

Wow, I could have written most the post below.

The answer I've come to settle on is "what's the rush"? Why do you feel the need to become chartered ASAP? It would take 4 years minimum. If you go to do a 4 year PhD straight after college with little or no experience of professional engineering, I think that would make you a weaker engineer in the medium term (assuming you’d return to the private sector). Of course, it depends where you end up.

So, I think you need to answer the following (to yourself or otherwise):

Why do you want to do a masters/PhD? I’m not advising against it, I’m just curious since when I (finally) finished my course I was (and am) fairly happy to give myself at least sometime outside the academic world, and the chance to enjoy my evenings again!

Why do you want to do a Masters/PhD immediately after your Bachelors?

Why don’t you want to go into the working world?

If you go the PhD route, your career path would probably edge differently to going the working route. As you pointed out, you’d be heavily specialised in one area which might be good or bad career wise, depending on what you want to do. Personally, I’d do a few years of work and then consider heading back to do further study.

If you’re 21 (I’ve just gone 23 and graduated last June) there’s loads upon loads of time. Remember, you’ve just got 44 years ‘til retirement left

aurthurg

Cheers for the reply

Want do a masters/phd because i think thats were the standard in the profession is headed in my opinion. I dont want to be left behind. I know if I start work ( I have been offered a consultancy job) that going back to being a student again after "hopefully" earning 30,000+ a year might be difficult and also I think acedemics is something you get used to and can fall out of very easily.

I know there is the option of part time learning while working but I think that would be extremely difficult to give your attention to both am open to correction and opinions on that though.

Regards getting my chartership asap i think am pretty focussed on my career path and thats one of the targets

judas101

i'm in almost the exact same boat as the OP and have to say that Myths' post helped me out immensely.

thanks a mil!

godtabh

I wouldnt recommend doing the MSc in Trinity. I'm doing it part time at the moment and it is the most badly run thing I've ever seen my life. The idiots couldnt run a piss up in a brewery

folan

its good advice! Personally, I did far worse than i expected, and than im sure you will do, im in my first year of a pt taught masters in electronics and am working. its rough, but in the end itll be worth it. Fortunately, unlike keansr's course, mine is well run and id talked to the head of the dept and of the course before deciding on it.

At the moment, my electronics is definately my weak point, which is why i decided to do the masters.

I work for a large company, i wont name them, but theyre a huge company, and ive learned loads while here, and its helped me decide on what areas i want to go on to in the future and maybe what ill try if and when i decide to go back to college for a phd.

Basically, id like to say i have the best of both worlds, but in ways i have the worst of both worlds too, so its something to think about.

Also, think about the cash!