@sidcinnati

Cool down. You aren't the only one. I was one such student back in Fall 2012. Applied for MS, got an MEng. Been through the trauma :D LOL. Instead of wracking your brain with a ton of questions, read on. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions on MEng (vs MS)

 

01. What is MEng or Master of Engineering?

Long story short - MS=Coursework +Thesis. MEng=Coursework + Management courses, no thesis. MEng can be finished in a year. MS depends on how long your thesis takes.

 

In detail, this program aims to help the engineers become better working professionals. If you are not really interested in research and do not have plans to do a PhD, this just might be the best thing for you. You'll need to do 30 credits, Track courses + Core Courses + Electives + Capstone Project.

 

Track courses are mandatory courses offered by your program. 

Core courses are management/professional courses.  You'll need to one from each of the three aspects over the course of your MEng degree.

• Project / Task Management Development

  • Engineering Economic Analysis*

  • Quality Control*

  • Project Management

  • Entrepreneurship and Technology Law

• Interpersonal Skill Development

  • Management of Professionals

  • Leadership

  • Effectiveness in Technical Organizations*

• Advanced Technical Skill Development

  • Computational Methods

  • Optimization

  • Simulation Modeling

  • Numerical Analysis

  • Modeling & Simulation

Electives: Depends on the approved list of subjects by your department.

Capstone: A final project. Your internships can also count as your capstone.

 

02. I applied for an MS program, but I was offered an MEng degree. Why?

How does the university choose  who gets an MS and who gets an MEng admit, god knows. I decided to dig deep and spoke to people at the grad admissions office. I was told that faculty from every dept is on the admissions committee. Based on what you have written on your SOP/SOR (There is a considerable number of students that didn't write an SoR even though it was mandatory, they just paste the SOP.- shows you're not interested in research) they decide if you have the aptitude to do research.  

There is a huge misconception that a low AWA score gets you an MEng admit. I personally think that it's utter stupidity. I don't see how your ability to write essays in English determines how good a researcher you can be. I was told by some friends of mine that their professors said so. I still stand my ground. It's stupidity if they think so. Maybe they just didn't know what to say, who knows. I got a 4.5/6 and still got an MEng when i applied for an MS. Hence, proved. Stupid misconception. Next time somebody tells you a low AWA score ---> MEng, don't blindly assume they're right :D 

Grad office tells me AWA and MEng have no relation. 

 

03. Can i request for a change in the offer made to me? I want to change to MS from MEng rightaway. 

 

Sure, give it a shot. But here is what they are going to say  "We understand that you did not apply for the MEng program. There are only a certain number of students admitted into each degree program. We receive a large number of applications making it very competitive; however, your credentials are very good and we wanted to give you the opportunity to be admitted into the MEng program. The MEng program is a MS non-thesis course based program designed to be completed in one academic. This is a very successful program with many graduates successfully finding employment at the end of the program or through CPT. Many continued into our PhD program and some changed to the MS thesis based program after one academic year. This is the only offer we can make to you at this time. We hope you consider the MEng program. Please contact us if you have any specific questions regarding the MEng program. "  So, if you want to try your luck, go ahead. 

 

If you want to convert from MS to MEng, they'd be happy to do it. :P MEng students get less UGS, so, no wonder. :D

 

04. How and When do I get to convert to MS?

To convert to MS or even to PhD, please plan ahead. Students remain an MEng student and pay MEng tuition fee for the first year regardless of how early they convert. 

Most students usually convert after the fall sem. So, starting spring, you're unofficially an MS student, which means, you won't have to take those additional management courses. But you pay MEng fees. 

Start talking to professors in the fall and make a decision by the end of the semester. If you need another sem, that is fine as well, you can always convert after the first YEAR, it's just that you'll have to do a couple of extra courses. Once you've decided who your advisor is going to be, it's pretty easy from then on. Just some paper work, a few signatures, And VOILA! You're an MS Student.

 

Here is what I did: Started talking to the professors in my fall semester. Decided on one by the end of it. Became an MS student unofficially, and took only MS coursework in my spring sem. Officially converted to MS after the spring sem. Saved me a couple of core courses.

 

05. What are the job prospects for MEng and how are they different from those of an MS degree?

Both degrees are viewed as Masters degrees and are viewed as the same unless you're looking for a job specifically in the a certain field/research area. Equal opportunities. I would go out on a limb and say that if I were a hiring manager I'd give your degree more importance if you had courses like Teams, Effectiveness in Tech. Orgs, Leadership etc. since worklife is totally different from life inside a reearch lab.

 

06. How easy is it to covert to MS from MEng?

To my knowledge, almost all students who apply to convert to MS from MEng are succesful in doing so. That said, chances of joining the research of your choice may vary from year to year and the number of students already a part of that lab. There are times when you can't covert to MS under the professor you first approach, so have a back-up or two, just in case. But like I said, people not being able to convert is very unheard of. If you specifically want to join a research group, start early.