MS after work experience – any advantages?

This blog post is in response to many questions on app2us forums about possible advantages of applying for MS program after few years of work experience. Many students want to know whether they should wait for one or two years, gain experience, then apply. First of all, some facts:

Unlike MBA, work experience is neither required, nor preferred for MS admissions. Even in case of an applicant having work experience, the academic recommendation letters matter, universities do not care about recommendations from the workplace. Vast majority of students in the MS programs do not have any full time work experience.

Now we shall analyze some possible advantages of applying with, say, two years of experience:


1. Chance to improve academic record: Many applicants do not have good grades or marks in the first couple of years of their undergraduate degree program. If they apply during the fourth/senior year, their final year grades are not counted. If they apply after one or two years, they get an opportunity to focus on studies in the final year, and improve their overall record. In that case, when they apply, their entire result is available, and the improvement in the last year is something the admission committees like a lot.


2. More time for GRE, TOEFL and the applications: Even for the focused and sincere types, the pressure of handling GRE, TOEFL and application steps can be very stressful to manage alongwith college exams and projects. If you apply after getting your degree, then in the college you can focus on the coursework, and next year you can focus on GRE TOEFL and applications. Make no mistake, a full-time job where you will be during the application process can be much worse compared to your college life. But there is a profound difference. Your college grades stick with you for whole life and matter during the admission process. So overall it is easier to manage a full time job and the application process, rather than academic responsibilities and the application process.


3. Time for strengthening of profile: As mentioned work experience itself does not help much in admissions. However relevant experience, or experience in a research based job can help. Also experience at a world famous (read US based) company like Google or Microsoft can set your application apart from the crowd. As you work and gain experience, you can also invest some time in publishing a paper, and find more time to study for GRE.


4. Better job prospects: Although applicants with work experience do not get significant advantage in the admission process, at the end of the MS program, they stand much better chance of landing a coveted job. Also, the experience may help find a student worker job and internship during the study.


5. Gain More: This is a subjective statement, students with work experience can gain more out of the education and enjoy being students again after being away from academics for a while. The experience you gain at work in general can help adjust in a new country and culture.

There are no big disadvantages of applying with work experience. Unlike some people think, people with five or even ten years of experience are not discriminated against. In other words, it is ok to have ten years of experience – your application will not be rejected due to very high experience (or older age). There are minor hassles, like getting transcripts or letters of recommendation, but those can be managed.

We at app2us.com strongly recommend to apply after one year of work experience in the case where you need to and can improve your academic record by excelling in the final/fourth/senior year (case 1). In other cases, it depends on personal preferences. Hope this post helps you in making an informed decision.