[Blown353]

Some advice about the defense industry, since it was mentioned:

It's cyclical, so don't expect lifetime job security. The contracts come and go-- and layoffs track them typically lagging a little bit behind. Been there, done that.

If going into defense (which can be fun) the best bet is to get a job requiring a Q-level or thereabouts security clearance-- because they'll have so much money into your background check and clearance they are FAR less likely to lay you off and you'll often "float" through the slow times. (i.e. getting paid to read magazines and surf the 'net, because it's cheaper than laying you off and going through the debriefing process only to have to re-activate your clearance when business picks back up and they want to re-hire you.)

Mark's advice is good, consider getting a job with the BS then have the employer pay in full or part for the higher degree(s). Try to get into grad school as soon as possible to avoid "memory loss" that inevitably occurs after graduation or you will be playing catch-up when you finally start grad school.

I graduated with my BS in mechanical engineering and was on track to get out with a masters in 5 years... I still regret not staying for the MS. With work and everything now it would be hard schedule wise (and re-learning) to get back into things even though my employer would cover 80% of the tuition & books.

Also, getting a higher degree isn't always beneficial, many employers see the upper level degree as requring they pay you a higher wage and you can class yourself out of the position. I know this is especially true for someone with a MS/PHD trying to get a just out of school job. The employer sees someone with no work experience and thus wants to offer you entry-level wages... but they also see the higher level degree and don't want to pay the differential for the degree given you have no/minimal work experience. A catch 22 as it were. We had a guy here with a PhD who lied (didn't disclose it, said he only had a MS) so he could get hired on. We didn't want to pay PhD wages but he needed the job. He had this problem after several interviews at other locations, he dropped the PhD off his resume and was hired on the spot.