Careers in science and engineering are essentially hope-filled endeavors that can improve people's lives and result in knowledge that all people can share. As the techniques and products of science and technology become more central to modern society, a background in science and engineering has become essential to more and more careers. With an engineering undergraduate degree, you are poised to launch your career in any number of directions.

You do not necessarily need a graduate degree to have a career in science or engineering. Many people find satisfying careers in a variety of positions after the bachelor's degree. Others find that a master's degree equips them well for professional careers, and that they are able to find more opportunities and more interesting projects in industry. For those who desire careers conducting research and/or teaching at the university level, a Ph.D. will probably be required.

At all levels, graduate education is both rigorous and focused. It is not simply a bigger and more advanced version of undergraduate schooling, where you meet a wide range of subjects and acquire general skills. As a graduate student, you pursue a much greater depth of knowledge that is concentrated in a single field. It requires a love of and commitment to your subject.

Your own interests and goals will determine whether an advanced degree is appropriate for you. There are a number of good reasons to choose graduate school: a desire to study a topic in greater depth, or career advancement, for example, but deciding when and how to get an advanced degree is very much a personal choice.

Attending graduate school is an important decision, so don't take it lightly. If you haven't considered graduate school, you should at least look into the possibility. Assess yourself: your interests, goals, strengths, weaknesses, and priorities. Evaluate programs carefully, and if you decide to go, set yourself up for success by choosing a program that matches your needs. Plan carefully about how to best manage the financial and time demands of graduate study. Time spent thoughtfully making this important decision will pay off; graduate school can be a rich and rewarding experience as well as the gateway to a satisfying career.

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