- #1
paul2211
- 36
- 1
Hi All,
I am currently in my final year of engineering in Canada, and I'm starting to feel lost about what I want to do in life after graduation... whether to go get a masters or go work in industry.
In regards to work, I believe my last co-op employer liked me enough to give me a good shot at having a permanent position with them after graduation. However, this company is one in which people mostly like stay until retirement due to job security, benefits and good salary. When I first entered university, this would have been this dream to work for a company for 40 years and retire.
However, after meeting people throughout my co-op and exploring large cities in North America, I have become more ambitious. In these cities, I met many people who have great desires and want to pursue their passions in academia. Even some friends back in school are forgoing job opportunities to get their masters. These started making me question if I want to go to grad school since meeting people through co-op in large cities have really transformed my view for the future of my life. I am thinking maybe grad school might be an experience that can help me really understand what I want in life.
Hence my problem. I have never done research during undergrad and have not fostered any deep personal relationships with my professors except for doing well in their class and occasional office hours. I have no idea which prof to ask about recommendation letters required for graduate school; heck, I don't even know if I would enjoy graduate school!
This dilemma is causing me quite a bit of stress in my final year as I cannot focus on which route I wish to go. I am scared that if I go to industry, I will be less likely to go to grad school since profs will remember me even less, and I may never get a good chance to explore this other interest.
Can some of you let me know if you have faced this dilemma during your final year? How difficult was it to return to school (ex. above average one like U of Toronto) after several years in industry at first?
Thanks!
I am currently in my final year of engineering in Canada, and I'm starting to feel lost about what I want to do in life after graduation... whether to go get a masters or go work in industry.
In regards to work, I believe my last co-op employer liked me enough to give me a good shot at having a permanent position with them after graduation. However, this company is one in which people mostly like stay until retirement due to job security, benefits and good salary. When I first entered university, this would have been this dream to work for a company for 40 years and retire.
However, after meeting people throughout my co-op and exploring large cities in North America, I have become more ambitious. In these cities, I met many people who have great desires and want to pursue their passions in academia. Even some friends back in school are forgoing job opportunities to get their masters. These started making me question if I want to go to grad school since meeting people through co-op in large cities have really transformed my view for the future of my life. I am thinking maybe grad school might be an experience that can help me really understand what I want in life.
Hence my problem. I have never done research during undergrad and have not fostered any deep personal relationships with my professors except for doing well in their class and occasional office hours. I have no idea which prof to ask about recommendation letters required for graduate school; heck, I don't even know if I would enjoy graduate school!
This dilemma is causing me quite a bit of stress in my final year as I cannot focus on which route I wish to go. I am scared that if I go to industry, I will be less likely to go to grad school since profs will remember me even less, and I may never get a good chance to explore this other interest.
Can some of you let me know if you have faced this dilemma during your final year? How difficult was it to return to school (ex. above average one like U of Toronto) after several years in industry at first?
Thanks!