SHPE - Spring08 - (Page 44)

E L S I G U I E N T E PA S O T By Leilani Rangel Intel Corporation, Maritza Martinez saw that the time was right for her to do just that. Not only had she saved enough money to be financially stable while pursuing a degree, but also her professional experience served to counterbalance instances where her bachelor’s GPA or GRE scores might have been lower than the university requirements. “Working in industry really helped me because universities knew that I was serious about earning my degree,” she said. “I had to be serious, because every year of school was one year less of salary. Knowing how much it was going to cost me if I didn’t do well in school made me more focused.” With a GEM Fellowship, Martinez completed her M.S. in electrical engineering from Purdue University last fall, and she anticipates pursuing a Ph.D. in the future. There are some drawbacks to putting off graduate school. Family obligations may add to the work-life-school balance. Do Good Things Come to Those Who Wait? F or many engineering students, it isn’t so much a question of if they will pursue a master’s degree but a matter of when it will happen. While some are willing to forego a paycheck for another couple of years to stay in school full time, others prefer first to enter the work force. In fact, some university studies suggest that nearly half of all graduate students work for some length of time prior to enrolling in a graduate program. Three members of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers who entered the work force prior to graduate school share some of the pros and cons of their decisions as well as advice to those exploring advanced degree options. A primary reason why many postpone graduate enrollment involves finances. Such was the case for Hugo Castañeda. Upon completing his mechanical engineering degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2003, he was accepted into a graduate program starting January 2004, but with limited funding. He took an interim job with The Boeing Company; but, when he was offered a full-time position and tuition reimbursement, he couldn’t resist the opportunity to work and learn at the same time. “A lot of times, when you’re going to school and being bombarded with theory, you don’t have the opportunity to apply what you’re learning in a real world environment,” Castañeda said. “I think being able to apply what you learn is so much more valuable. By earning your degree while working, you’re able to apply what you learn and get paid for it. Also, after you graduate, you know that you already have a job.” Castañeda completed an M.S. in mechanical engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, in December 2007. As a design/project engineer with Boeing, he now works more closely with his area of interest, thermal fluids. He’s considering an M.B.A. in the future. In addition to economic reasons, Luis H. Mendoza-Natividad had another reason for first seeking employment. As an international student, he didn’t qualify for many scholarships. He also found that there was plenty of funding for Ph.D. programs, but not as much for master’s programs. “Technically, I could have gotten a visa extension if I went to school full time,” he said, “but I thought it was important to get some professional experience before I got hen you’re going to school and being bombarded with theory, you don’t have the opportunity to apply what you’re learning in a real world environment. I think being able to apply what you learn is so much more valuable.’ — Hugo Castañeda ‘ W into a graduate degree and that I had some more after that, before I went into a Ph.D.” When Mendoza was looking for employment, tuition reimbursement was a must. He also made sure that he completed his bachelor’s degree in good standing academically. “I let my senior-level professors know that I was going to pursue a master’s degree and that I was going to be contacting them for letters of recommendation a couple of years down the line,” he said. Mendoza is currently working for operation systems with Baylor Healthcare Systems, which is sponsoring his work visa and paying for him to complete an M.S. in systems engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. Still others prefer to take a leave of absence from work in order to pursue a master’s degree full-time. Eight years after completing her electrical engineering degree and well into her career with the Also, because of such time constraints, working professionals are more likely to select non-thesis programs which may put them at a disadvantage if in the future they desire to go into academia. While most large companies offer tuition reimbursement, some may not guarantee employment in the field of study. “You have to find the right situation for you,” Castañeda said. “Pending your financial situation, I would recommend getting your master’s degree as soon as possible after you’ve graduated. It’s always harder to go back to school and get back into the routine many years after you have graduated.” Martinez offered similar advice. “If you’re really tired of school, if you feel mentally and emotionally drained, take a break for a year or six months,” she said. “I don’t recommend waiting as long as I did, because it was a steep curve. If the funding is there, go for it.” I SHPE R Spring 2008 44

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SHPE - Spring08

SHPE - Spring08 Contents President’s Letter Browser Letters to the Editor Calendar of Events The Magic of Thinking BIG Five Steps to Easier Fundraising Designing Women ¡Viva Verde! The Education and Training of Ramon Flores Breakthroughs in Mobile Military Communications The Retention Doctor Success at School Begins at Home STAR Nominations Do Good Things Come to Those Who Wait? Programs & Services Regional Roundup Advertisers Index

SHPE - Spring08

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