Engineering Career Path

[mslade]

I will be starting a undergraduate program in Mechanical Engineering shortly and just have a few questions about what I should work for in the future. I have a few different career paths that I would like to pursue but don't know if they would all be applicable. I am interesting in working for a company like Tyco Electronics. I know that they offer internships to college students and if you do well, you have a good chance of being hired. In the distant future though, I would be interested in possibly becoming a proffesor in Engineering, but I would like to work a good many years before doing so. I believe a good professor should have first hand experience before trying to teach others. My question is, would it be wise of me to get my BSME work a few years and try to get my MS/Phd later or get my further education directly after graduate school. I have heard from some people that if you get post baccalaureate education before really working, it actually works against you. I was wondering how true this is. Or would it be possible to work as an engineer and take classes and take many years to accomplish my Phd?

[fss]

I am interesting in working for a company like Tyco Electronics.

Just an FYI, they hire a lot more electrical engineers than mechanical engineers.

My question is, would it be wise of me to get my BSME work a few years and try to get my MS/Phd later or get my further education directly after graduate school.

It can work out either way. Sometimes you get lucky and your company pays for your higher education if you've worked there long enough. You don't necessarily need a PhD to get hired as a professional engineer, but a Masters' certainly helps.