Grad school advice 3

[nutbutter]

I need some advice from some people about grad schools. Let me give you a little background so you know where I'm coming from. I graduated in 2001 with a BS in Civil Engineering with a focus on Environmental Engineering. I worked in Environmental consulting for 3 years, and then I switched to working in land development for a small firm for the last 2 years. I've decided that I want to pursue higher education and I need some advice as to what type of grad school would help me achieve my goals the best. I would like to get into development more and possibly start up my own business down the road. I enjoy the technical aspect and design, but I don't know if the money is there.

My issue is that I don't know whether to pursue an MBA or Masters in Engineering. I even considered a law degree to get into environmental law or real estate/construction law, but I think I've ruled out law school. Anyway, I feel that an MBA would be very valuable, however, sometimes I feel that I don't have enough technical knowledge. I spent a lot of time dealing with water/wastewater, chemistry, etc., and sometimes I feel that my knowledge of soils, hydrology, and other land development issues seems to lag behind that of some of my peers who have been doing this straight out of college. I think school would help me a lot, however, the field of land development is so broad, I don't even know what I would go back to study. Also, I think that I may be able to learn a lot of this stuff on my own on the job. I know a Masters is very important for Environmental Engineers, but it seems less important for civils, especially in a field like land development. An MBA would instantly land me in a management position at a consulting firm and give me some of the skills I'll require to start up my own business.

Anyway, I'd be interested in hearing anyone's advice on a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering. What did you focus on? Is it broad? What would a land development engineer want to focus on? Do they have Masters programs in Construction Engineering?

Peace,
Stoddard

 

[cvg]

An MBA will not instantly land you in a management position, at least not with our company. You would need about 8 - 10 years experience and a professional registration. In addition, you need to have the right personality for management which includes excellent people skills, writing skills, ability to market yourself and your employees etc.

 

[DaveVikingPE]

Go for the MBA and specialize in contract administration with a minor concentration in finance.

Then get another MBA specializing in project management.

You can always fall back on the finance stuff and make several orders of magnitude more money than you will as an engineer.

 

[nutbutter]

cvg,

Where do you work at, if you don't mind me asking?

I'm a licensed PE and upon completion of my MBA, I'll have 6 years engineering experience. I think that almost any consulting firm would place me in a project management position after completion of my MBA.

I used to work at a top 25 ENR consulting firm and if I had stuck there I would've been project manager by now even without the MBA. Maybe some of the premiere consulting firms wouldn't immediately place me in management, but I think most of them would. I like to think that I have decent people skills...I'm not shy and I have no problems communicating verbally or via the written word and I can BS with clients well enough.

DaveViking,

Thanks for the advice. Do you suggest getting 2 different MBA degrees? That would take awhile. I don't know what I'd specialize in at MBA school. I thought entrepenuership would be cool, but probably wouldn't help land a job. I was thinking about finance even though it's not as interesting to me.

 

[cvg]

The company I work for is in the top 100 ENR design firms in the US and top 50 international. From experience in my particular office (other offices around the country may be different) I'm not aware of any project managers with only 6 years experience, regardless of if they have an advanced degree. I'm not saying that you couldn't land a management position - it all depends upon the circumstances.

 

[francesca]

Are you planning on going into full-time study? If so, you can't count that time towards you "engineering experience," even if you do get the Masters in Engineering.

Whether you get the MBA or the MEng depends on what you want to be when you grow up. Do you want to be a manager? Or a technical person? If you like hands-on project work, then become a technical expert (not generalist). Find your niche, study it further in a Masters degree, and forge ahead.

As for grad schools, be very choosy. I opted for prestige over curriculum and I'm somewhat disappointed. I had wanted to pursue a PhD, but I've realized, after 1 year, that I'm not going to learn anything from the professors. I already know more than the main teaching professor thanks to my four years of current working experience. I'm cutting my losses and running back to consulting with a Masters in May.

I've learned that there are two types of professor: the research professor, who is at the cutting edge of his very narrow field, and the bored teacher who hasn't been in the "real world" for decades and is not at all current in his knowledge.

The other half of our department, on the other hand, is 100% research focused, with excellent teachers. If you are interested in their niche, then you will be very happy there and get a top class education. If you're not interested in their niche, however, it will either take you 7 years to get your PhD as a TA every semester or they will fail you in the comprehensive and ask you to leave.

 

[mjd2000]

Wow, how do you start to answer this question? This question is like an onion, the more layers you pull back there are just more layers and you want to start crying. Having 20 years of hard core experience while working at the top A/E firms, I would recommend the following.

Must Do:
- Obtain a BS in the engineering of your choice,
- Pass the EIT test
- Obtain a MS in the same or a relative degree,
- Find a really good mentor and do everything requested of him or her.
- Pass the PE test.
- Do great work for another 5 year
o Always make your budget
o Always make your schedule
o Be honest
o Focus only on the technical side and not the A/E politics
- Project Management will come when you least expect it. (It will find you.)
- Only than should you consider your own company.

Becoming a Project Manager is not based on years served. It is based on your professional development. Having a MS degree myself, I believe the difference between the MS degree is irrelevant.

With the baby boomers retiring, and younger folks going into IT, the remaining Engineers are going to be faced with some real difficult times in the near future (5 to 10 years). Folks like myself, will try to force younger Engineer into roles that they may not be ready for. (Like I said, it’s like an Onion.)

I hope this helps