Does work experience count in getting into a top US school?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relevance of work experience in the context of applying to top US universities for a Master's degree, particularly in fields related to Physics and Electronics Engineering. Participants explore the implications of work experience on admissions, the nature of Master's programs at prestigious institutions, and the importance of program reputation.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that relevant work experience would be beneficial when applying to graduate programs, particularly for those with a background in Embedded systems and firmware development.
  • Others point out that many top schools, including Stanford and Berkeley, do not offer terminal Master's programs, which may affect the applicant's chances depending on their goals.
  • There is a discussion about the existence of Master's programs for working professionals, with some participants noting that the reputation of these programs can vary significantly.
  • Some participants emphasize the importance of the specific department, indicating that while Physics departments typically focus on Ph.D. programs, there are terminal Master's programs available in some cases.
  • One participant mentions that the OP's question could be interpreted in different ways, particularly regarding whether they are seeking a Master's in Physics or a related field, such as financial mathematics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the availability and relevance of terminal Master's programs at top institutions, as well as the weight of work experience in the admissions process. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach for the OP's situation.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the specific definitions of "top schools" and the varying reputations of different Master's programs, which are not fully explored. Additionally, the implications of work experience may depend on individual circumstances and institutional policies.

rayamr
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Hi,

I have two majors ,one in Physics and the other is Electronics engineering.I have 7 years of work experience in Embedded systems and firmware development. I want to do MS from a reputed US university( like Stanford ,University of California Berkeley etc). Do you think I stand a good chance?I need your opinions. Thanks in advance.
 
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Most of the top schools (including Stanford and Berkeley, who even states that they will not consider students looking to earn a terminal Masters' in their graduate catalog) don't have terminal Masters' programs.

However, if you were applying to a graduate program, relevant work experience would certainly count for something.
 
rayamr said:
Hi,

I have two majors ,one in Physics and the other is Electronics engineering.I have 7 years of work experience in Embedded systems and firmware development. I want to do MS from a reputed US university( like Stanford ,University of California Berkeley etc). Do you think I stand a good chance?I need your opinions. Thanks in advance.

It depends on the type of degree. A lot of schools have masters degree programs for working professionals, but you do have to do your research before spending the money on those degrees. There are situations that I know of in which the school has a big name, but the working professionals program doesn't have a particularly good (or bad) reputation.

Also, if you are already working, then getting a brand name isn't that useful for career purposes.

It also makes a difference if you are in the US. Going to school in the US is a major route for immigration, and if your primary goal is to get into the US, then I wouldn't worry so much about going to a "top" school.
 
fss said:
Most of the top schools (including Stanford and Berkeley, who even states that they will not consider students looking to earn a terminal Masters' in their graduate catalog) don't have terminal Masters' programs.

It depends on the department. Physics departments almost uniformly Ph.D. programs, but there are terminal masters programs, and even terminal masters programs intended for working professionals.
 
twofish-quant said:
It depends on the department. Physics departments almost uniformly Ph.D. programs, but there are terminal masters programs, and even terminal masters programs intended for working professionals.

I didn't say there weren't terminal Masters' programs. However, Berkeley and Stanford do not have terminal Masters' programs, and it's uncommon for a "top school" to have such a program. Harvard does, but a small sampling of the top physics institutions (the two mentioned above plus MIT, Caltech, Princeton, Cornell, UChicago, and even some larger state schools like UMich, Univ. Illinois Urbana-Champaign) yields very few MA or MS programs.
 
fss said:
Harvard does, but a small sampling of the top physics institutions (the two mentioned above plus MIT, Caltech, Princeton, Cornell, UChicago, and even some larger state schools like UMich, Univ. Illinois Urbana-Champaign) yields very few MA or MS programs.

I think we were reading the OP's question in a different way. It wasn't clear to me whether or not the OP was referring just to MS in physics, or if he was interested in getting a masters degree in a related field. Stanford and Berkeley offer MS in financial mathematics.
 

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