Hi,I am an EE student and I'm nearing the end of my first year from

[Lunat1c]

Hi,

I am an EE student and I'm nearing the end of my first year from a 3 year course. I am quite sure that I want to continue studying after I obtain my degree, however I'm not sure what I want to study just yet. Is this normal for someone at my stage? Or should I already have a clear picture of what I want focus on after I graduate?

As for my first year at university, it was pretty much full of introductory stuff, nothing specialised, so I guess I haven't got a good idea of what options there are for me as an EE student after I graduate - I'd love to know about some paths normally taken by EE students.

Also, recently I have talked to a professor about pursuing further studies and I mentioned that I intend to go for a masters after I graduate. She said that usually when someone is studying for a masters degree and he's doing quite well, he normally gets offered to stay and obtain a phd. Is this something that happens very often?Thank you in advance for any replies that could shed some light on all these doubts I have :)

 

[fasterthanjoao]

Hi,

I am an EE student and I'm nearing the end of my first year from a 3 year course. I am quite sure that I want to continue studying after I obtain my degree, however I'm not sure what I want to study just yet. Is this normal for someone at my stage?

Yes, completely normal. Though I thought I knew what I was going to do in year 2 of my 5 year degree, I changed my mind completely in my final year. Thus, I always tell early undergraduates that I feel it's better if they don't make a mental commitment to any particular area of study so early on - if you did you'd potentially miss out on many other things you might enjoy.

Also, recently I have talked to a professor about pursuing further studies and I mentioned that I intend to go for a masters after I graduate. She said that usually when someone is studying for a masters degree and he's doing quite well, he normally gets offered to stay and obtain a phd. Is this something that happens very often?

Are you in the UK? The answer to this question isn't straightforward. First off, there are almost always many times more Masters students than there are PhD students to be had - my department takes ~20 Msc students per year and maybe 3 PhD students. Some professors do prefer to take from the pool of Msc students if there are any willing, simply because they know the student and are familiar with how they work. This can be a big advantage since interviews do not always tell the full picture. Building up good relationships with staffers during an Msc year will be great for your chances, but it's also very important to keep your grades up.

 

[Lunat1c]

fasterthanjoao, thank you for taking the time to reply.

As for your question, no I'm not in the UK. However that's where I intend to pursue my studies once I obtain my degree. The professor who I mentioned read for her phd in the UK as well, so I guess what she told me applies mostly to UK universities.

 

[fizziks]

Hi,

I am an EE student and I'm nearing the end of my first year from a 3 year course. I am quite sure that I want to continue studying after I obtain my degree, however I'm not sure what I want to study just yet. Is this normal for someone at my stage? Or should I already have a clear picture of what I want focus on after I graduate?

Yes. I didn't find my major until my 3rd year. Yes, it took me another year to finished school, but I finished. Science/engineering majors will find out that they won't be able to completely decide their major until they past their first 2 years of gen ed courses. If you are truly a science oriented person, your natural curiosity will take over you to check out other science courses/majors. I went from Chemistry to Mathematics to a Physics major.

All my relatives finished with a different major/area of study than what they originally planned.

Hi,
Also, recently I have talked to a professor about pursuing further studies and I mentioned that I intend to go for a masters after I graduate. She said that usually when someone is studying for a masters degree and he's doing quite well, he normally gets offered to stay and obtain a phd. Is this something that happens very often?

It didn't happened to me nor my fellow RAs I worked with when I was pursuing my Masters. We all just went for Masters thesis and ended there. It might be more common in higher tier schools in the U.S. but that's a complete guess

 

[Matrix0]

Hello,

I can say that it is completely normal for someone at your stage to not have a clear idea of what you want to focus on after graduation. Many students take time to explore their interests and options before deciding on a specific path for further studies. It is important to take the time to figure out what you are truly passionate about and what you would like to pursue in your career.

In terms of options for EE students after graduation, there are many paths you can take. Some common options include working in industry, pursuing a masters degree, or continuing on to a PhD program. Within these options, there are also various subfields and specializations that you can choose from, such as power systems, telecommunications, or signal processing.

Regarding your conversation with the professor about pursuing further studies, it is true that students who excel in their masters program are often offered the opportunity to continue on to a PhD. However, this is not a guarantee and it ultimately depends on your performance and research interests.

I would recommend exploring different areas of EE through coursework, internships, and research opportunities to gain a better understanding of what you enjoy and where your strengths lie. This will help you make a more informed decision about your future studies.

Best of luck to you in your academic journey!