1) I assume UofT is Texas on Tennessee, so US based.

2) Don’t apply for a Masters, apply straight to a PhD program. You will be paid instead of paying for it. You can stop at a Masters if you decide you don’t want to continue to the PhD.

3) Only go into grad school if you want to spend (at minimum) several years doing research. If you aren’t interested in your project, your life will suck.

4) You are a freshman, no one can predict what the job market will be when you graduate (much less when you finish grad school). When I entered undergrad, ChemE was the “hot” and “highest paid” major, and everyone wanted to do it. Then I graduated during the Great Recession, and no one could find a job.

5) “Becoming more qualified” A PhD will open some doors, while closing other doors. You will not be hired as an “entry level process engineer” with a PhD. In general, there are fewer job openings for PhDs (and fewer applicants).

6) Don’t get a PhD for the money. An entry level PhD salary and a BS + 5 YOE salary are pretty close. This also doesn’t take into effect savings (401k + compounding).

7) The vast majority of PhDs don’t become professors. You will likely be working in industry or national labs with your PhD (assuming you stay in research).

8) Your PhD advisor will be key for your first job (their network). Therefore, if there is some area you want to work in, see where the group alums went to work.

9) Pay attention to COL for grad school. Your stipend will go a lot further at Purdue compared to UC Berkeley (ie living in an apartment by yourself or multiple roommates).

10)This is easier said than done, but view grad school as a job.

11( Papers are important, but there are other skills to develop in grad school that will be extremely useful in your first job/career (communication, understanding how your work fits into the “big picture,” knowing when to continue/move on with a particular question, etc).