ME masters-Thesis or NonThesis

BoelterHall
Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:25:52 +0000

2. ‘The other thing is that it isn’t unusual (in fact it is the norm) for MS students to start out unfunded and then get funding after a semester or two. If you really are interested in going to grad school, you should start looking at other professors. I guarantee other professors offer RAships, you just have to get to know them and know how to solicit them.’

Well what if I do my MS in engineering even though I got my BS in physics, and thus, I have to start the MS program by taking some undergrad engineering classes before I can take the grad-level courses? Will I still be likely to get funding after a semester or two?

M.S funding is very rare at my school. Most of the fellowships and RAships are given to PhD candidates. The only chance of M.S funding is a GSR, but then the only chance of getting one is having done extensive undergrad research at the same school or being a 4.0 student (mostly international students get that).

Also, it seems that the only way (at my school) to get funding is doing the thesis-option. If you are doing the 9 course option, the only funding you may get is doing TA or reader.