What master's degree should I take?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the considerations for choosing a master's degree following a Bachelor's in Industrial Engineering. Participants explore the implications of pursuing further studies in physics versus entering the workforce directly.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Career advice

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about the value of their Industrial Engineering degree and questions whether pursuing a master's in physics would be beneficial or redundant.
  • Another participant advises against a vague approach to career planning, suggesting that job markets require specific skills and knowledge, and that uncertainty may not resolve itself over time.
  • A different viewpoint emphasizes that many individuals do not have a clear career path, and some only discover their true interests after graduation, suggesting that making informed choices is still necessary.
  • One participant proposes that gaining work experience with a Bachelor's degree could provide clarity on career goals and potentially lead to employer-sponsored further education.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best approach to take regarding further education versus entering the workforce. Multiple competing views remain regarding the value of specificity in career planning and the timing of pursuing a master's degree.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying degrees of uncertainty about their career paths and the relevance of their current studies to future job opportunities. The discussion reflects differing opinions on the timing and necessity of pursuing a master's degree.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals considering further education in engineering or physics, those uncertain about career paths after a Bachelor's degree, and students in interdisciplinary fields may find this discussion relevant.

Butters
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I’m studying Industrial Engineering but it seems that I have nothing specific and it’s just about everything. I could say that it’s more mechanics related but we don’t study so specifically like mechanical engineers. That’s why I have some concerns about what these studies are making me. I don’t really know what I want besides that I like physics and would want to pursue a career in engineering.
What would be the best choice for my master's degree? Would physics fit? I guess I want physics because I'm afraid to choose anything specific like seeking deeper understanding in the same field as my major. But maybe Industrial Engineering + Physics would make lots of nothing. It's like If I worked as a scientist in some lab what good would there be from my IE degree.
 
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I'd advice against "I don't want to do anything specific". At some point you'll be looking for jobs. Jobs are very specific. And from experience with a lot of former colleagues, the "in time I will realize what I really want to do"-hope that usually accompanies "I don't want to do anything specific" usually doesn't come true for physicists, not even after a PhD in physics. You can as well make an educated guess of your future path now.
 
Timo said:
I'd advice against "I don't want to do anything specific". At some point you'll be looking for jobs. Jobs are very specific. And from experience with a lot of former colleagues, the "in time I will realize what I really want to do"-hope that usually accompanies "I don't want to do anything specific" usually doesn't come true for physicists, not even after a PhD in physics. You can as well make an educated guess of your future path now.

Generally speaking, one should simply know what he really wants. The problem is that there are very little people who know that and I'm not one of them. A friend of mine has known what she wants since school and she is naturally motivated about every choice regarding her career path. Another thing is that sometimes people realize what they want or what they don't want after they have graduated. So I guess we can never know even though we still have to make choices and hope for the best. I chose my major optimally based on what is perspective and what I think I like, If I don't find for sure I'll decide on my master the same way.
 
You can get a job with just a Bachelor's in Industrial Engineering, no? Why not go work first and figure out what you want to do a Master's in later? You'll probably even get a good portion of the cost of the degree covered by the company you work for. You "like physics and want to pursue a career in engineering." Seems like you can get started on that now.
 

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