Graduation is a word so heavily loaded with emotion it’s nearly impossible to assign it a definition. As if choosing what college to attend and what major to complete wasn’t enough, now we’re expected to decide what to do after graduation.
When seeking advice about life after graduation, by far the most useful resources for advice are past graduates. Although they may seem intimidating, most College of Engineering graduates are more than willing to answer any questions an undergraduate might have.
An engineering degree from UW-Madison allows for plenty of options for post-graduate work. Three popular choices include going straight into industry, getting a masters degree and going on to medical school—all of which have their own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Choice One: Industry
Choosing to work right out of college is the most popular post-graduation decision. After four to five years of undergraduate study, most students are burnt out with academia and ready to jump head-on into the career they’ve worked hard to prepare for. With U.S. News ranking the UW-Madison College of Engineering thirteenth among all doctoral-granting institutions and seventh among public doctoral-granting universities, UW-Madison graduates appear very desirable to employers.
Dan Healy graduated with a degree in industrial and systems engineering in May of 2007 and is now working for General Electric Co. Consumer and Industrial in Louisville, Kentucky. As a business team leader and materials control specialist, he says that having a busy academic schedule as well as being involved in student organizations taught him time management skills that he now applies in his daily routine.
Healy interned with GE for three rotations (two internships and a co-op term).
“Co-ops and internships are great as far as work experience goes, but they are also fantastic opportunities to see how well you do living on your own, outside of a comfortable environment,” Healy says.
When asked if he regrets the decision to enter industry right out of college, Healy says he feels it was best for his future. “During my undergraduate career I was hesitant to attend grad school without first experiencing the different areas that I would be able to pursue as a graduate student.”
As final word of advice for undergrads, Healy says, “Look for a company that is willing to give you a lot of experience and exposure. Personally, I feel that rotational programs where you have four to five jobs over a two- to three-year period are an excellent way to increase your skill set and your knowledge base.”
Choice Two: Graduate School
For the Bachelor of Science graduates that want to become more focused in a particular area, getting a Master of Science degree is an excellent option. There is also the added benefit of making more money, since you are considered more valuable and in possession of more specialized knowledge.
Matt Smith is a graduate student in the Medical Physics department with future plans to work in medical imaging. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and is now working on his master’s degree. He says he made the decision to go on to graduate school during his junior year when he realized that he was not learning as much as he wanted to about his specific interests.
Graduate students typically take only 12 credits per semester, but vacant time is usually filled with research. Smith says he feels that graduate school is easier than undergrad, but this may be because he’s taking classes focused in his specific area of interest.
“From here on in, it’s pretty much only classes that you want to take,” Smith says. “It’s more of what you enjoy doing; if you didn’t enjoy doing it, you wouldn’t be in the graduate program.”
Smith says a part of him wishes he had gone on to work with a company directly out of college, but these feelings only stem from seeing his fellow graduates who are already settled down.
“Although, the farther you go in school, the more money you tend to make, so it will eventually even out. I’ll start that life when I’m done, so I may as well get more school in now. As long as you’re not burnt out, I would suggest grad school to anyone.”
Smith’s advice for students looking to go to grad school: “Keep in mind what the requirements are for grad school earlier on so you know what to shoot for…also, make sure you’re going to (grad) school in something you enjoy. If you have to work every hour of the day you’re not in class, but it’s in something you enjoy doing, then it’s not that bad.”
Choice Three: Medical School
For some engineers, especially biomedical, attending medical school after graduation is a good next step. Medical schools look favorably on applicants with engineering backgrounds, because those students have unique premedical degrees which show that the student is willing to work hard.
“Even if you’re set on, say, cardiothoracic surgery, you’ll still have rotations in OBGYN, pediatrics, emergency medicine, dermatology, everything,” Tony Wampole says, describing his future in medical school.
Tony Wampole is a first year medical student at UW-Madison. He was a biomedical engineer (BME) as an undergraduate and applied for early acceptance to medical school.
In order to get into medical school, Wampole recommends having a well-rounded resume to aid the application process. Volunteering is especially valuable, as is having worked in a hospital setting. Prospective medical students also have to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), which tests the prerequisite skills required for medical school.
Wampole says one of the most valuable skills he developed as an undergraduate was time management. Medical school classes are very rigorous and time-intensive, so optimizing time outside of class is imperative.
“With the amount of work that the BME department has us do, especially with the night labs, you really have to work out a schedule beforehand and manage your time well,” Wampole says.
Medical students are slowly integrated into the hospital setting, starting with a basic course during their first semester. The third and fourth year is when medical students typically start clinical rotations, gaining experience in nearly every field of medicine.
“Even if you’re set on, say, cardiothoracic surgery, you’ll still have rotations in OBGYN, pediatrics, emergency medicine, dermatology, everything,” he says. “It’s not until you graduate that you start your actual residency.”
Wampole’s final advice for undergraduates interested in medical school:
“Don’t freak out about grades. At least with Madison, they also look at the person, not just the GPA. You need to have good grades, but not necessarily a 4.0. And when you get to medical school … it’s all about balance.”
A degree in engineering from UW-Madison is good preparation for many different paths, whether in industry, graduate school, medical school or something else. The advice from these three graduates, as well as that of professors and—let’s face it—even parents, is a great resource to guide engineering graduates-to-be.