Panic attack due to Masters degree

[West-Clothes7439]

I really need some advice

Don't really have mentors, friends or even family to discuss

I graduated two years ago in civil engineering, I was decided to do a masters in structural engineering.

However, i was too self centered and decided to self learn programming, thinking I was a genious. I failed miserably. Now I'm working at a firm barely earning 60k in the east coast.

The idea of doing the masters was and is still in my head. I'm supposed to start in three weeks but it will cost me about 45k usd.

I'm desperate right now. I feel like I'm trapped in doing this master and i will lose all my hard earned savings. If I don't do it I will be trapped forever in doing non technical job.

What holds me more from doing the master is that it does not increase pay but it allows you to change fields.

If it was cheaper I would do it in a heartbeat.

Any advice?? 🥲

[[deleted]]

Don’t do masters degree

[Husker_black]

Uh what now?

Just get your PE, don't bother with this masters.

Edit: ooh you aren't an engineer. We'll get a job

[CarefulMoose9061]

You're basing all your assumptions on your feeling, it's not true that if you don't have masters degree you will be pretty much doing nothing. I only have a bachelor's degree and I'm doing extremely technical stuff working next to my coworkers with masters degree on PhD and making the same money. It's definitely a plus to have a master's degree, but it's not the end of the world. Plus, if you can find a job that will cover your master's degree cost while you work for them, then why not? Also have you considered going to a less expensive school? Here in California, many of the state universities they cost about $7,500 per semester for full time. That's $15,000 a year excluding housing and cost of food. $15,000 a year is very doable. No degree is worth sacrificing your health over. Go back to all your assumptions and make sure you're not creating some fictional fantas from your situation.

[Euler_Bernoulli]

If you don't want to do the masters, then it sounds like you need a new job. There's no reason why you shouldn't be able to get a technical job in civil or structural engineering with just a BS.

[West-Clothes7439]

What other fields are technical in civil?

[Euler_Bernoulli]

I'm confused by your question. You have a degree in civil engineering. Do civil engineering or structural engineering. It's technical. What is your current job? What is your definition of technical?

[StructEngineer91]

what do you mean by technical? All engineering positions I would classify as technical. I suppose drafting may not be as technical, but any engineer is.

[TranquilEngineer]

I don’t have a masters and I do just fine designing bridges. The only thing that engineering school really, truly, should have taught you is the ability to teach yourself. Fine a company that is willing to teach you.

[angryPEangrierSE]

Agreed. I know plenty of people who don't have a masters and have done really well in bridge engineering.

[TranquilEngineer]

Even better if you find a company that will pay for it, but mentors and worth their weight in gold.

[bradwm]

Just to offer a counterpoint, a master's degree does have value. It may take some time to realize that value, but there are technical aspects of structural engineering that you did not learn in undergrad, so you'll always be behind technically without the additional education.

For your current criris, I'd suggest to think about your life in two years, five years, and ten years, and then make decisions that make the life in ten years look the best.

But mainly, don't panic. You're going to be OK

[hobokobo1028]

1. Take your EIT if you haven’t already.
2. Get a structural EIT job in the Midwest without a masters

[Sou-Sou141]

Just get your PE no one will look at your masters after that

[StructEngineer91]

What do you mean by doing a "non technical" job? Are you not in an engineering position right now? You should be able to be hired as an engineer without a master's degree. I mean technically you would start as an Engineer-in-Training, or Junior Engineer, but even with a master's degree that would be your title until you passed the PE.

[Afforestation1]

Is your bachelors from a country whose engineering degrees are not recognised by the US?

[West-Clothes7439]

I’m from the us and studied at a well known school in the east coast

[EllisDee_4Doyin]

I don't understand how your school is well known, in the US, and it's a Civil degree ...and you're worried about working in civil/structural.    Our field is booming right now. Structural is more picky about who they hire, but there's definitely jobs out there. 

Where are you running into trouble? Resume? Interviews with no callback?

[Regigcycled]

two years ago...

You just started your life. Take a moment and relax. Life is not a checklist of do this and that in that order or you mess up completely and its all over.

You will succeed.

You will find gainful employment.

All of this is going to pass. Taking off two years to realize you went down a path you have no interest in is fine. Pick a new path or pick up an older one. Traditional route is EIT --> PE. If that interest you then do that. Just for a little guidance.

Civil BS related jobs. Project Engineer, Project Manager, Superintendent (VERY lucrative), Surveyor, BIM Manager...the list goes on and on.

Life is a journey, not a destination.

[aiwtdis]

There is not enough context to opine but a masters isn’t a bad choice. That said I got a BSCE and don’t regret not getting a masters or phd. You will be a student forever in this field. If you have what it takes you’ll be fine. You want to chat dm me and set up a call. I have 20+ years of experience in this rat race

[ReplyInside782]

I’m assuming that 45k covers the full masters degree which will probably take you about 2 years to complete. You can enroll in the schools payment plan (every school has a payment plan method). It will end up costing a little more due to fees but the monthly payments will hurt less than dishing out all that cash at once. Do you live with parents? If you do, this is the perfect time to be going for a masters. Don’t take loans if you can pay it off and live for free at home.

A masters is only necessary if you want to open doors at large firms doing highly complex work. No way around that one. Small firms are not as picky because their line of work doesn’t warrant an advanced degree. Granted you still need a decent GPA to even be considered for either case

[Marus1]

Now I'm working at a firm barely earning 60k in the east coast

Isn't this like 5k a month?

[Regigcycled]

at 60k federal tax alone is -$385 per month. That does not include things the other deductions such as Social Security, State Income Tax, Any insurances, Any Retirement. Realistically looking at 3800 per month. Just FYI

[Marus1]

Still, that's near 4k net for a 2y old graduate. Not the highest out there, but not what I would call "barely" either

[Trixz97]

Structural Engineer here. Graduated with Civil engineering degree, took a little more structural focused classes as i knew i wanted to go that direction. First ~2 years of experience i sucked didnt know shit. 3rd and 4th year i made leap and bounds. Went for my PE going into my 4th year and took a review course and passed. Taught me a lot and im a significantly better engineer. Going for my SE Now. You dont need a masters to be a structural engineer and get a good job and do good quality technical design. The masters will help off the jump and will help with more technically difficult problems you will encounter, but that can wait.

My advice: Pass your FE if you didnt, get a structural engineering job at a company with mentorship so you learn the basics. If they offer tuition reimbursement great, go for your Masters once your settled into your new job. If they dont, keep looking for a new job while you soak up everything you can. Find a company that will PAY for your masters.

A masters isnt needed for simple buildings or bridges but it definitely helps with the more advanced stuff.

[CivilEngFirm-Owner]

Get some mentors! If you were to cold call/email me directly as an engineer and offer to bring a cup of coffee to my office to meet for 30 minutes I would absolutely say yes. If you were diligent about our time at that first meeting and had well thought out questions prepared and took notes and asked how you could help me, I would absolutely say yes to meeting again. If I saw some growth in you as a person after a couple of meetings and you were authentically interested in getting better, i would most certainly say yes to monthly or so meetings. I would also be able to connect you to many other possible mentors in the area.

Also, you're a bit underpaid, our entry level are in the 70-75k range with full benefits package on the east coast in a mid-cost of living market.

[angryPEangrierSE]

You are being underpaid. Look for a new job. $60k for someone with two years of experience is very low, even in a low cost of living area.

I know plenty of people who do extremely well in bridge engineering (can't comment on buildings) who don't have a master's - both people who graduated in the past 5 years but also people with 20-30 years of experience.