Importance of Work Experience for MS applications

By Sanket Gupte•2024

Hi, my name is Sanket Gupte, currently pursuing my PhD at Stanford University. I completed my undergraduate studies at BITS Goa and actively write on LinkedIn to help aspiring graduate students and computer scientists navigate their academic journey.

"How important is work experience for MS applications?" Let's discuss how it's beneficial for the admission process, for your coursework and funding, and for internships and job placements.

Disclaimer: The opinions and suggestions mentioned in the article are those of the author based upon his experience and observations in graduate education. The article is not meant to endorse any specific university, program, or career path.

For Applications

Work experience has two major advantages. Firstly, it helps to demonstrate your skill set and preparedness to handle advanced study. Using work experience to build up your profile is a great way to mitigate several factors such as a low GPA, lack of undergraduate projects, and field transitions (such as B.Tech Civil to MS CS). Secondly, you can leverage work experience to craft a compelling Statement of Purpose which outlines your motivation to pursue an MS. For instance, an SDE at Amazon working with distributed systems can use their experience to apply for a systems focused MS CS program.

Key Benefits:

  • Demonstrates skill set and preparedness for advanced study
  • Mitigates low GPA or lack of undergraduate projects
  • Helps with field transitions (e.g., Civil to CS)
  • Provides material for compelling Statement of Purpose
  • Shows practical application of theoretical knowledge

During Your Course

If you're applying for TA / RA positions related to your previous work, you'd definitely be at an advantage. For instance, if you've worked on designing 5G chips at Qualcomm, you may find it easier to get a TA position for intro level EE courses. If there are open RA slots for related research, your experience would again put you at an advantage. As discussed previously, TA / RA positions are a great way of subsidizing the cost of an MS degree due to the included tuition waiver.

Academic Advantages:

  • Easier to secure TA positions in related fields
  • Better chances for RA positions in relevant research
  • Access to tuition waivers and stipends
  • Practical knowledge enhances coursework understanding
  • Networking opportunities with faculty and peers

Internships and Jobs

Bagging an awesome summer internship is easier with work experience. If you have a demonstrable track record of doing impactful work at your previous job, you are more likely to have recruiters reach out to you and schedule interviews, instead of being ghosted or not hearing back. Whether you convert your summer intern to a full time position or apply to other companies for full time jobs, your previous work experience would again help you stand out, and depending on your level of experience, you would be eligible for more senior roles than a student who has directly done an MS after a Bachelor's degree.

Career Advantages:

  • Higher chances of securing summer internships
  • Recruiters more likely to reach out proactively
  • Eligible for more senior roles post-graduation
  • Better conversion rates from internship to full-time
  • Demonstrated track record of professional impact

Final Advice

There is no need to rush into an MS program. Take some time to work and figure out what you like and what you don't like, and use that experience to target the right MS program for you. If you have questions about how many years of experience you need before you apply, or if you can get an admit without work experience, or if there are any drawbacks to having work experience, I'd be happy to continue this discussion in the comments.

Key Takeaways:

  • Work experience significantly strengthens MS applications
  • Helps offset academic weaknesses and field transitions
  • Provides funding opportunities through TA/RA positions
  • Improves internship and job placement prospects
  • Take time to explore your interests before applying

If you found this article helpful, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn for more insights on graduate education and career development in STEM fields.