<p>So I am a undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, as a Chemical Engineer student sophomore. I have this program that I am looking into, where I can get BSE/MSE in 5 years ( 1 year of grad school). One of the biggest opportunities is that if I do this program, not only is the time shorter, but I would only have to pay $4,000 for the 5th year, where my undergraduate costs are completely free. My only concerns are that, if I do this, if the starting salary will be higher (No MBA)? Also, this program is a special kind of program recognized by the school, but in general, would it affect me negatively for recruiters since I did my bachelor’s/master’s at the same school? </p>
<p>Also, is there a significant change in starting salary if I do this MSE?</p>
<p>Unless you’re good enough AND have a good reason to go to MIT/Stanford/etc, it’s an excellent deal.
Your undergrad becomes pretty much irrelevant after you have a Masters, especially if you want it to be.
Masters > BS for starting salary and MBAs are useless until you know what you’re getting one for.</p>
<p>Penn is ranked #26, meaning that its obviously no top engineering school, but it is part of the ivy league. Should I consider going to a better school to give me a better chance to recruiters, or is my school good enough? Excuse me if I am sounding obnoxious.</p>
<p>Yeah I think I made my question a little off, because I’m meaning to say where I should do my masters for Chemical eng in my school or another school, I’m obviously doing undergrad at Penn, but I’m asking about whether I should do my grad school degree at Penn for 1 year, or do it at a better school for 2 years.</p>
<p>26 is really good, you’ll have no trouble finding a job you like. Don’t worry about grad school yet. You still have time. I think undergrads worry too much about their future without knowing what they want to do. Study hard and do good now, then decide later what you want to do. </p>
<p>As far as your undergrad goes, hell yes 4 free years is worth it.</p>
<p>Although it is often encouraged to do PhD study at a different school from undergraduate (in order to see different points of view and the like), that is likely less applicable to master’s degree study.</p>
<p>Does the master’s guarantee research in a company? Or is that only PhD? Another concern is that if a master’s is worth losing a year of experience after a bachelor’s.</p>
<p>It likely depends on whether your bachelor’s degree graduation is in good economic times, or during a recession when you would be unemployed if you did not go to graduate school.</p>
<p>^In pursuing this degree, would it be good to have work experience, as in internships or non-research, or can I count research as my work experience on my resume. </p>
<p>Also, if I ever would want to do consulting or analyst; would an MBA be required for these kinds of jobs, along with my respective degrees.</p>
<p>I was in the same boat only at a different school. I ended up meeting with a professor and he pretty much told me unless I want to get a PhD and teach that a masters isn’t worth it. The average difference in starting salary between someone with a masters vs BS is only about 2K.</p>
<p>I think that difference in BS/MS really depends on your field. I know for mine (materials) at my school it was generally closer to $5k-$10k. Also I know an MS is often sometimes seen by companies as a way of moving further up the ladder than someone with a BS.</p>
<p>You should also look to see if you can do your BS/MS in 4-4.5 years instead of 5. I know if I had dropped my physics minor I could have finished in 4, but I knew I was going to grad school, so I instead finished in 3.5 and saved a good deal in loans. One of my good friends went the other route and finished hers in 4. She wound up going to grad school, too, (needed to stay close geographically to her future husband). It let her get out of a handful of classes at her grad school, though she still had to take a bunch to get her second MS/fulfill PhD requirements.</p>
I’d say that this isn’t really the full story simply because a masters gives you far more opportunity for career advancement in ChemE. A BS is almost always the best at the beginning, but in many fields, a graduate degree can give you many more career advancement opportunities.
Not to mention you’ll be much more insulated from unemployment. 1-2 years of economic hard times will more than pay for the loans+opportunity cost of a Masters.</p>
<p>Would it seem like I am limiting myself, if I were to stay at my school, with a similar grad school ranking, rather than going to a different masters school ranked higher in engineering?</p>
<p>I think you might just need to wait and see what sort of recruiters come on to campus for your career fairs to see how your degree might be viewed. I know Penn has a reputation for producing engineers that aren’t actually interested in engineering, but just another way of getting access to Wharton and demonstrating their technical abilities.</p>
<p>That’s my other concern, about if I ever wanted to go into consulting. I feel that I get less income/opportunities if I do become a consultant, and do I need an MBA for a consulting position?</p>