This post is intended to describe some considerations for deciding when to go on for postgraduate education, facing two options:

(a) immediately after a bachelor’s

(b) working for some time, then going back for a master’s

In some countries or fields of study, the option to defer postgraduate education really isn’t applicable; one has to plow through school continuously to get it before one is able to practice. However in the U.S. in engineering, timing is definitely an option, so for those folks here are some factors to consider. One centers around tea.

This is my favorite tea. Sometimes

Let’s consider several factors:

  1. Focus
  2. Finances
  3. Respite

Focus

There is an argument to be made for continuing one’s master’s studies immediately after the bachelor’s. One may not have accumulated at that point many spouses, children, or worldly goods. Continuing at the same institution is an easy continuance, or moving (even overseas) when one is lightly burdened is a snap. You may not yet have a house or even car. Without many commitments built up yet, it’s an opportune time to knock the degree out, one could argue.

However, while these are all reasonable, in my opinion it would be preferable to enter your field and work first. ‘Easy’ should not be the main motivator; we are talking about an opportunity cost of several years of your effort. Entering a master’s program without having a clearer focus means you might not be getting the most out of your time.

Rather, it would be more useful to start working in your field, make the most of the steepness of learning curves in the initial years, and figure out (a) if you like it in the first place and then (b) what particular topic you are motivated to go on and study in more detail. You may have certain expectations about your field that are dispelled or changed once you enter the industry, and if you don’t learn more about those first, you may be less well equipped to execute a pivot that a master’s could enable.

Your education and indeed the classes’ will benefit more from your veteran perspective. Having a bit of seasoning will allow you to process book learning more effectively as you relate it to your work experience. You’ll also be able to avoid a bit of the deer-in-the-headlights attitude of new graduate students that have never dealt with the sorts of machinery or challenges that you’ve encountered. If you do get an opportunity to work as a teaching assistant, you’ll have far more confidence in dealing with undergraduates if you have a CV with practical experience.

Finances

These days is seems like many students exit their bachelor’s studies burdened with debt that will take several years to pay off. There may be a temptation to ‘double down’ and simply add more to this sum, by continuing directly. At least there are often more opportunities to be a teaching or research assistant in postgraduate programs that can lessen that sting.

Again though, I would hold a different preference. Work for a while, eliminate those students loans if any, build up some savings, and then consider a master’s when one is in a stronger position. Your wealth and budget will mean more to you once you are out earning your keep, rather than adding to some more ethereal electronic loan balance. You’ll make smarter decisions regarding your course of study since your time and wealth will be at a greater premium. In general you’ll mature faster as you become the ‘field general’ of your finances in your work environment, rather than continuing on as a student that may rely on support from others. In the ideal circumstance, you keep living on student expense levels, and reap an engineer-level salary that allows you to make significant progress on students loans, cash for a car, house down payment, retirement, spouse searching, saving up for the master’s or other priorities you may have.

The final note on this factor is that if you find yourself in a fine firm that you want to keep working with, then many have avenues where you may be able to have your master’s fully or partly paid for. Perhaps you will continue in engineering, or perhaps you decide to add an MBA or a master’s in project management (MPM), either of which can make valuable adjuncts to an engineering degree. A couple years proving your worth and exploring your interests and opportunities may have significant financial benefits (or avoid missteps). Since these income/revenue impacts are at an early stage in your career, it’ll have a huge compounding effect on your late career net worth.

Respite

I like my Yogi “Perfect Energy” tea, but after a couple cups in the morning, my taste buds get a bit saturated, and the flavor is reduced. In the same way, the pleasure of most endeavors (school, work, activities) can dull over time, unless one mixes it up periodically.

After decades of classroom education, most of us could use a respite from that environment and would relish heavier exposure to something different – some call this dimension the ‘real world’, though of course there are many. College can be fun and all but if you want to make more of the steepness of your ‘maturity learning curve’ after changes, then alter your environment by working for some time. Make and enjoy money, expand your ability to manage yourself and others, and learn more about what you do and don’t like in your field. It may or may not be as you envision.

If you are doing it right, your early career work should be difficult, stressful and keeping you right at the peak of the Hebbian version of the Yerkes-Dodson law, seen below.

Stay in the sweet spot – can be tough (Source: Wikipedia)

When young, you probably will err on the side of the right of the curve, using your inexhaustible energy to try to maximize your learning potential and income. There will be time to fine tune this or be a sloth later. So it may be that several years out, with better focus and finances, the master’s may be a good opportunity to give you a respite or change of pace from work, even if you are picking up your master’s part time as you continue your employment. Keeping that respite in future reserve thus makes sense versus ‘expending’ the opportunity right out of undergraduate education.

Summary

Many of you have other factors that lean you one direction or another. As someone who paid a large opportunity cost for a PhD that really didn’t result in much (any) increased revenue, I’m hardly one to get too preachy (though this too was after several years of working in the field). As stated, in some fields a pause between a bachelor’s and master’s isn’t really an option.

However, it seems folks considering engineering master’s programs as an undergraduate should comprehensively weigh these considerations and make an informed decision, rather than a convenient or comfortable one that might lie on the path of least resistance. Hopefully these aspects listed provide some things to weigh and modify for your particular circumstances.