[OT] graduate school

[Mike Lovell]

Jesse Stay wrote:
> On Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 1:19 PM, Derek Davis <derek.davis at gmail.com> wrote:
>   
>> I'm hoping that as a bunch of students/ex students/future
>>  students/never-want-to-be-students, your collective wisdom may help me with
>>  a difficult decision.
>>     
>
> Not to spoil your decision, but what is your reasoning for graduate
> school?  Do you want to become a Professor?  It would seem to me that
> at least for a developer or even sysadmin, that using those 2-4 years
> in gaining experience and learning within your field could be more
> productive and have more fruitful results.  Perhaps it's just me, but
> I don't know many employers, at least in the IT industry, that look at
> graduate school on your resume.  Most of us are interested in code
> samples, work performed (and accomplishments), and references.  Here's
> a great article by Seth Godin on Resumes that I think can also apply
> to Graduate School:
>
> http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/03/why-bother-havi.html
>
> Right now we're in a boom with the Social Media/Networking wave.
> There are plenty of jobs out there and plenty of opportunities to grow
> that will give you way more than graduate school would.  Many
> businesses would even be willing to train you.  Of course, that's my
> small business mentality speaking - if you're going to a cog in a "big
> machine" (as Seth calls it), graduate school may be a good choice.
>
> Just my $.02 (even though you didn't ask for it)...
>
> Jesse :-)
>
>   
I have thought about doing grad school just to get a grad degree. Not 
necessarily to get a higher pay or for a better resume. I would just 
like to say that I have a Master Degree and that I accomplished that. 
Just doing research in a particular area of tech for 2 years also sounds 
kind of fun although the rest of grad school might be kind of painful. 
Anyways......

As for the schools, VT does sound like a more techy school. What I would 
recommend though is to find an area(s) that interests you and see what 
those schools are doing, if anything, in that area(s). Also, if both 
options look equally good academically, look at some of the other 
things. Which town would you rather live in for 2-4 years, or longer? 
Stuff like that.

So there is another 2 cents. You are up to 4 now.

Mike