Jesse Stay wrote:
On Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 1:19 PM, Derek Davis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I'm hoping that as a bunch of students/ex students/future
students/never-want-to-be-students, your collective wisdom may help me with
a difficult decision.
Not to spoil your decision, but what is your reasoning for graduate
school? Do you want to become a Professor? It would seem to me that
at least for a developer or even sysadmin, that using those 2-4 years
in gaining experience and learning within your field could be more
productive and have more fruitful results. Perhaps it's just me, but
I don't know many employers, at least in the IT industry, that look at
graduate school on your resume. Most of us are interested in code
samples, work performed (and accomplishments), and references. Here's
a great article by Seth Godin on Resumes that I think can also apply
to Graduate School:
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/03/why-bother-havi.html
Right now we're in a boom with the Social Media/Networking wave.
There are plenty of jobs out there and plenty of opportunities to grow
that will give you way more than graduate school would. Many
businesses would even be willing to train you. Of course, that's my
small business mentality speaking - if you're going to a cog in a "big
machine" (as Seth calls it), graduate school may be a good choice.
Just my $.02 (even though you didn't ask for it)...
Jesse :-)
I have thought about doing grad school just to get a grad degree. Not
necessarily to get a higher pay or for a better resume. I would just
like to say that I have a Master Degree and that I accomplished that.
Just doing research in a particular area of tech for 2 years also sounds
kind of fun although the rest of grad school might be kind of painful.
Anyways......
As for the schools, VT does sound like a more techy school. What I would
recommend though is to find an area(s) that interests you and see what
those schools are doing, if anything, in that area(s). Also, if both
options look equally good academically, look at some of the other
things. Which town would you rather live in for 2-4 years, or longer?
Stuff like that.
So there is another 2 cents. You are up to 4 now.
Mike
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