- #1
Uranium
- 24
- 0
Hey,
So for weeks now, I've been trying to put together a career plan of sorts, and I'm just seeing a lot of options without a clearly best choice. Maybe someone wiser than I can help me out.
I'm a rising senior in nuclear (and radiological) engineering, but I don't know whether I should go to grad school in nuclear, go to grad school in another field (most likely mechanical), or get a job and wait to get an MBA, or get an MBA after a masters. I'm in a BS/MS program at my school, so that is definitely a viable option (but it will cost out-of-state tuition, lest I get funding). I've come to determine that I pretty much hate doing research...maybe that's just my professor and research area, but I've pretty much ruled out of Ph.D. track from my list. I could go to grad school in my home state (VA) for much cheaper, maybe get an ME or EE masters or something. I'm also considering branching off into health physics, which would open up a few more doors than pure nuclear engineering itself.
I would definitely like to get more into management at some point, so I do foresee an MBA along the line...hopefully. I'm not sure how advantageous that would be from a nuclear background; I feel like a more general engineering background (like ME) would make more use of it. Looking at graduate program curricula, NE programs (particularly for my program) seems to appeal more than most things, but that's just based on course and subject names (I tend to deceive myself based on how things sound versus how they really are). Most schools have HP and NE curriculum so separate that you have to choose immediately with less room for combination.
When it comes down to it, I feel/realize that most jobs completely suck, but I do want solid security and promotion potential, which scares me a little bit about nuclear. Especially with the government and economy performing questionably. Any advice is extremely helpful, and I thank you for your help.
Regards,
SS
So for weeks now, I've been trying to put together a career plan of sorts, and I'm just seeing a lot of options without a clearly best choice. Maybe someone wiser than I can help me out.
I'm a rising senior in nuclear (and radiological) engineering, but I don't know whether I should go to grad school in nuclear, go to grad school in another field (most likely mechanical), or get a job and wait to get an MBA, or get an MBA after a masters. I'm in a BS/MS program at my school, so that is definitely a viable option (but it will cost out-of-state tuition, lest I get funding). I've come to determine that I pretty much hate doing research...maybe that's just my professor and research area, but I've pretty much ruled out of Ph.D. track from my list. I could go to grad school in my home state (VA) for much cheaper, maybe get an ME or EE masters or something. I'm also considering branching off into health physics, which would open up a few more doors than pure nuclear engineering itself.
I would definitely like to get more into management at some point, so I do foresee an MBA along the line...hopefully. I'm not sure how advantageous that would be from a nuclear background; I feel like a more general engineering background (like ME) would make more use of it. Looking at graduate program curricula, NE programs (particularly for my program) seems to appeal more than most things, but that's just based on course and subject names (I tend to deceive myself based on how things sound versus how they really are). Most schools have HP and NE curriculum so separate that you have to choose immediately with less room for combination.
When it comes down to it, I feel/realize that most jobs completely suck, but I do want solid security and promotion potential, which scares me a little bit about nuclear. Especially with the government and economy performing questionably. Any advice is extremely helpful, and I thank you for your help.
Regards,
SS