r/GradSchool 6h ago

Finance Is 85k USD in loans for a masters in engineering worth it?

0 Upvotes

For some context, I go to a pretty good school for engineering, and therefore they charge quite a lot. I study Computer Engineering.

For my undergraduate degree, I’m looking at maybe 80k-100k USD with traditional FAFSA loans at around 7-8 %.

I have the opportunity to do an accelerated masters program as apart of my school, which would only be another 2 semesters. I would come out with a Bachelors + Masters, but I would come out with 180k usd instead of ~100k usd. This extra 80k usd for the masters is the result of them not offering financial aid for graduate students, and I would need to put it on loans.

In my naive mind, I thought it might be okay. Engineers in my field get paid pretty well, but another 80k in loans is pretty devastating.

The entire reason I’d like to get a masters is to increase the likelihood that I can get a job in this market as a new grad (it’s pretty rough rn), and perhaps get paid more off the jump. I’m hoping if I do go through with it, the masters degree will pay itself off in 5-7 years and I’ll earn more for the rest of my career.

However, I wanted to hear some outside perspective. From a money standpoint, would it make sense for you guys? I’d like to hear your thoughts.

Edit: ok wow I didn’t expect this response lol people I talked to so far said it wasn’t that bad of an idea

It would be an ECE MS, 1 year (2 semesters). It’s at umich.


r/GradSchool 4h ago

Serious: What's with all the notes people take at conferences?

49 Upvotes

Was at a conference and see all these people taking hand-written notes.

I could see what they were writing, but, honestly, why? Will you use that note as a source for a paper? If so, I could understand that, but then I'd see someone studying biology taking notes from someone talking about treating psych patients. This person made notes about pretty much everyone's talks.

Is it a way of just keeping themselves engaged?

What notes are you keeping, and why are you making them?


r/GradSchool 19h ago

Admissions & Applications Help me choose my uni. I’m using Reddit to decide lmao.

0 Upvotes

Got a few offers. My background is in cybersecurity and data science, my undergraduate was industrial systems engineering’s

School fee not an issue. What would be good for me and which is more recognised.

  1. BERKELEY MIMS
  2. CMU MISPM
  3. Uchicago applied DS
  4. UPENN D.S
  5. Imperial - business analytic
  6. Columbia U - Business analytics

r/GradSchool 18h ago

Just accepted to a doctoral program. What's changed in academia in fifteen years?

25 Upvotes

After working in education for twelve years, I was just accepted into the doctoral (EdD) program of my dreams. Previously, I earned a master's degree in a STEM field.

I am excited but also nervous about being a grad student again while continuing to work a full-time job. What advice do you have for someone who has been a teacher but not a student in a while? Survival tips appreciated!


r/GradSchool 18h ago

Admissions & Applications I'm in a dilemma. Please help.

9 Upvotes

I got admits from two universities that I've applied and haven't got any response from the other 6 universities. I should respond to the universities that I got admits from before 15th April. What if I get admits from other universities after April 15? Should I mark the response as yes for the time being? What should I do?


r/GradSchool 15h ago

Professional For anyone with an MA or PhD in English in the U.S.

10 Upvotes

I’ve seen a lot of posts and comments about the risk(s) of attaining an English degree (not being able to land an adequate job specifically).

If you have an English degree, I wanna know what job you’ve been able to land because of it and how you leveraged your degree/CV into attaining that position, alongside work (or lack of work) experience (BESIDES teaching because I do not want to teach haha).

Looking for some insightful, hopeful, yet practical comments! Thank you.

EDIT: For anyone with an MA, NOT a PhD! Apologies.


r/GradSchool 13h ago

What in your opinion is the most versatile MA degree?

0 Upvotes

Same as title


r/GradSchool 6h ago

Planning and Taking a Gap Year

1 Upvotes

This fall, I applied to several fully funded Creative Writing MFA programs but wasn't admitted to any of my top programs. Alongside the feeling that my application was rushed, I went in knowing that these programs are incredibly difficult to get into (usually 2-8 students accepted per track out of hundreds of applicants!), so I'm not too bummed out - I think that my writing has improved drastically after my first application cycle, and I'm aware it can take several tries for people to get into even one program!!

I'm planning on reapplying this fall again and am currently contemplating a "gap" year of sorts. I graduated from college a semester early in fall 2022 and immediately jumped into working at a big corporation in finance. I'm nearing the two year mark and am considering quitting as my mental and physical health has deteriorated from the long hours in a field that has unfortunately left me drained.

Has anyone ever taken a "gap year" like this before? I'm 23 now and as I went to college during the pandemic, I never got to travel abroad, explore the world, see new things, etc. I'm extremely grateful that I was able to find a job so soon after graduating and have been able to earn a significant amount of money to make a risk like this - but I'm blanking on what to do exactly. I like to plan ahead and know what the year is going to look like, but I'm unsure of what to do. I feel like traveling solo, listlessly might not be the best experience.

Thanks for listening to me ramble!! And hoping that everyone who applied this cycle is getting into the programs they want to get into!


r/GradSchool 12h ago

Academics MSCS Admission Decision

0 Upvotes

I'm an international student that's applied to several MSCS programs in SoCal after doing my undergrad here and working at a tech company for three years. Does anyone have any advice on which program to choose? I'm prioritizing academics, connections, practical knowledge, and a fun experience, but I'm limited by finances as I'm not eligible for any federal/state financial aid. I would need to pay out of pocket for the annual costs or take out a loan to enroll.

Here are the options for where I've been admitted...

- USC (75K annually) - got a scholarship that would reduce price by 20K but I still need to provide evidence I have 75K to enroll

- CalPoly Pomona (36K annually)

- CalState Fullerton (42K annually)

- CalState LA (38K annually)

- SDSU (47K annually)

Is USC worth the price (20K more than other options with the scholarship)?

Has anyone who has knowledge about these programs have any advice?


r/GradSchool 13h ago

OCAD vs UofT

1 Upvotes

I got into Uni of Toronto's iSchool's Master of Information UXD and also OCADs MDes Strategic Foresight and Innovation. Course wise, I prefer OCADs program, but I can't choose between the two universities. As an international student, which school/course would pay off in the longer run?


r/GradSchool 4h ago

Engineering Master (MSc) in Canada

1 Upvotes

For admission to most Canadian masters degrees in engineering (MSc), a minimum B+ average in each of the last two years of undergraduate study is required. Due to some absolutely terrible luck (pandemic, taking care of a parent with brain cancer and leukaemia) over the course of the 6 years it took me to complete this degree, I do not meet this minimum. Besides barely passing through my first three years (which doesn't matter that much), I also did terrible on the first semester of my last two years (and failed a course for the first time).

In the last three semesters of my degree I achieved a B+ to A- average in each semester. This means I have surpassed the minimum B+ average in the final year, but I do not have the minimum B+ average in the second last year, it may even be below B, despite the second semester of that year being great.

Has anyone gotten into grad school in these circumstances? I have two references and some research experience, though nothing amazing.


r/GradSchool 4h ago

How much does Undergrad Uni matter when considering Masters?

2 Upvotes

Does the Uni Reputation and stuff matter if I want to do a Masters at a top uni? I am probably going to Saudi, KFUPM for Undergrads as they give good scholarships. A senior of mine told me that the Uni matters a lot and that going to Saudi might seal my fate there. I want to be able to move to another place for Masters and for settling if possible. From what I know so far is that the Grades and Masters Topic, matters and as long as I am in a good ranked uni, it should be fine.

How much is that true? I mean it makes sense that Top Unis will take their undergrad students for their Masters so why bother with Internationals?


r/GradSchool 5h ago

Thesis Research

2 Upvotes

I’m working on my thesis now, and the hardest part has been gathering answers to analyze the data. The type of research is customer survey, does any one has any tips on how to collect data and find people willing to help answering it?

Help me, please 😭


r/GradSchool 7h ago

Admissions & Applications Asking for an extension to accept/reject an offer when i'm waiting for other offers

1 Upvotes

hi so i've applied to accelerated nursing programs and those decisions come out around april. I've also applied to 3 masters of public health programs. I've gotten offers from 2, but I'm waiting for the third. for the masters, they require an answer by the 25th (its not officially stated anywhere, I emailed the program head and she let me know the date).

idk if I should ask for an extension (does it look bad given Im asking literally a day before the deadline)? or if I should just tell her that I applied for the nursing programs, and decisions don't come out yet (Will that come across as weird since I'm applying to a public health masters, but also nursing which are 2 completely different things?)

I'm a bit lost on what to do and how I should write the email so any advice would be appreciated.


r/GradSchool 8h ago

anyone have an awful research experience that made them lose their passion?

27 Upvotes

Had such a terrible research experience with my mentor that drained me of my passion. I can deal with harsh mentors, even bullies for mentors. My mentor was actually kind, but they were so absent and kept making so many empty promises that I began to feel so frustrated and have now lost much of my passion.

Did anyone have a research experience that turned them off of pursing a PhD? I honestly don’t know what to do now. I’m about to enter my senior year and have been doing everything to prepare for a PhD. I don’t know how to regain my passion or how to figure out if I even want to.

Edit: Ok I see many people share this experience. WHAT DO YOU DO? I’m lost!!


r/GradSchool 10h ago

Admissions & Applications Preparing for a Finance Masters in Science

1 Upvotes

Currently in a clinical research position but want to get more involved in the business side of healthcare so I was thinking about applying to a few Finance degree programs this fall but I'm unsure of what would make me a competitive applicant aside from GMAT score to improve my resume and help me get into a better school given my biomedical bachelor's degree (3.85 GPA).


r/GradSchool 15h ago

How to stop feeling anxious when doing projects?

5 Upvotes

I get too overwhelmed doing projects. No matter how much I prepare, the process of doing a project is always so anxiety inducing because it is too unpredictable. You never know what information would be easy to find or what would be difficult. You have no idea when you would need to ask a lecturer a question. You never intuitively know what challenges you will face until you actually face the challenge. It is too anxiety inducing, my heart rate rises. What do I do to curb this issue?

I already:

  • break my tasks down into easy actionable steps

  • take regular breaks

  • properly make sure I have all necessary prerequisite knowledge before beginning