Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ames!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!bloom-beacon!bu-cs!purdue!decwrl!levers.dec.com!ciarfella
From: ciarfella@levers.dec.com (Paul Ciarfella)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: The need for an advanced degree
Message-ID: <8901041445.AA20933@decwrl.dec.com>
Date: 4 Jan 89 14:45:04 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 34


	I've been thinking about going back to graduate school full-time
for a master's degree in computer science (with an emphasis on software 
engineering and distributed systems).  I cannot make a firm decision on 
whether or not to go back because I'm not sure what the advantages of a
master's degree are.

	I've been working full-time for over a year and a half since graduating
with a BS in Computer Science.  At the time that I plan to go back to school
I will have three years under my belt.  It would then take probably two
years to earn the degree.  Part-time programs don't appeal to me - there
is just not enough time to divide between work and school.

	Sometimes I feel that I am doing it for the 'right' reasons, ie.,
to learn more.  But then sometimes I feel that I am doing it only because
I feel that I must have one to advance my career.

	What advantages do 2 years in grad school have over 2 years in
industry?

	For the people who went back to school after working a few years,
did you feel that your work experience and knowledge gained from working
gave you an advantage over students who went straight from undergrad to
grad school?  When you got back to work, was the experience beneficial to
your career?  Did it give you an advantage over your fellow engineers who
did not have advanced degrees?

	I'm interested in hearing about what others have done.

Thanks,

Paul Ciarfella	

levers@dec.com