So I am in Houston and don't really want to spend four years on a distance masters program and would like to complete one in two years like everyone else (while hopefully stacking my classes so I can only drive to TAMU two or three days a week).

I have an ABET undergrad from TAMU, and will be taking the GRE this summer.

What is the best online prep course where I can watch the instructor and have homework? I have looked at Kaplan and Princeton Review, among others, and would like to go with an accredited company, such as either of those. Looking to spend less than $1000 but have some flexibility on class and homework completion.

Looking to sign up this evening, so let me know.

Prep course for the GRE? I just got three or four books and studied them...a lot cheaper route, unless you need an instructor to be able to understand. Sorry, no experience in prep courses here.

ABET undergrad? Engineering Tech or Industrial Distribution or what? There is no other reason to call it that unless you werent an engineer.

Also why do you want a non-thesis option? Coursework doesnt help anything and if you dont have the prereqs, despite having whatever your undergrad is, you are going to have to do some bachelors work to get up to speed, this is par for the course in graduate engineering when switching majors.

Finally, get a GRE book, study it and win? Seriously, the GRE is so easy you should have no problem getting great scores. The hardest part about the GRE is that the math is basic HS math and most engineers havent had to work problems like that since 10th grade. It is most important not to score under a 700 on math, getting like a 400 on verbal isnt that bad, but getting under a 700 on quant is a big red flag at least it was for electrical engineering.

Last bit of advice, use the masters time to do it right and do a MS and get an internship in there to get to know the field better and have contacts to improve your job chances after your coursework. I dont care what major it is, you dont learn squat out of a book, you learn it by being forced to solve problems which require you to apply your knowledge. That is why I cant imagine why anyone would do a MEng, you just dont learn anything from a book alone.

The above about the gre is correct. The above about the non thesis option program is very incorrect.

Thesis option carrier far more weight. Anyone who has done graduate school knows the classes are relatively easy. Also, the internship idea is spot on. Internship gives you the chance to land a great job. Without one, finding a job will be much more difficult. MS will get you more interviews and if you have the right advisor will make several companies shoe ins.

I did my masters (ELEN) like this:

2 semesters coursework - plan is 3 but I squeezed it all into 2, also I did as many graduate/senior level business courses as I could, but I think ELEN closed that loophole after I did it

1 year MS thesis research abroad - my thesis adviser had contacts to world renowned research labs abroad and I used this to go abroad, see the world and do a thesis project which was industry sponsored. Seven years later, Im still here abroad and I still work for that industry partner, I just get paid a lot more

For a person planning to stay in the US I would suggest.

2 semesters coursework - again they dont think a lot of grad students and only expect you to take 3 courses a semester, take 5 instead and you are done in 2. I did this while working 40 hours a week at a research extension off campus.

After 2 semesters do an internship, attempt to roll said internship into industry sponsored MS thesis. I had friends managed to bundle their MS work with a company and everyone was happy, prof got some cash and industry contacts, student was sponsored and company got their research done and had a lead on a student, win-win-win, like everything in business, people are willing to play along as long as you can convincingly sell your ideas.

After that, you should know some people at the company and probably be able to get a job there and the minimum is that you know the industry better and are a hell of a lot better interview because you actually have some real world experiences and know how it actually works.

But hey, Ive done it, my friends have done it .. but I dont know anything, if someone needs to learn it the hard way I cant tell you any different.

I agree with getting the courses done in 2 semesters - I did the same. Allows you to get your MS done in 3 semesters if your research is manageable. Also, if you do MS, get an adviser early with a funded project. You get paid to do your research rather than getting paid to be a TA.

Randy03: ABET means ABET-accredited since ENTC just recently became ABET-accredited. Some master programs require an accredited undergrad.

I took all the necessary lower-level pre-requisites needed for the M Eng in PE. I have already called TAMU's PE dept.

All others: I would like to start my own company within the next 20 years, or at least work for a small firm within the next 5-7. I understand I will most likely work for one of the majors to gain experience in order to be attractive to a smaller firm. Hence, why I would not be too terribly interested in the thesis option as I am not looking to have my career in Academia.

Many companies allow their employees to partake in the distance learning option, so it must hold some weight in the industry.

Thank you for all your advice; I just need to decide whether:
(1)distance learning is feasible (ie. whether a company will hire me full time while concurrently enrolled) or
(2)whether I should commute for the full time program and do internships on off semesters.

PS: I live in Houston with my husband and am not looking to live in College Station full time (ie. non-thesis is more attractive). There is a UofH option, but I would like to do the more prestigious A&M if possible.

[This message has been edited by kansas02gt (edited 6/3/2013 9:21a).]

When I went through this I was told to shoot for a 650-700 on Math and an overall 1100 GRE.

I didn't study and got a 650 on the MATH and a 400 on the Verbal. 1050 was enough to get in GRE wise. This was about 9 years ago.

It's another SAT wannabe test that means nothing. You can score a 1600 and do awful in grad school. It's more of a requirement.

If you want to improve your skillset and job opportunities, the MS is the way to go.

Dr John Lee is at UofH. MS with him would be far more prestigious and valuable than ME at TAMU IMO. Worth looking into if you are serious about improving your way of thinking and overall skillset. If all you want is a foot in the door, ME will likely accomplish that depending on undergrad and prior experience.

aggie028, what is your email addy?

[This message has been edited by aggie028 (edited 6/6/2013 6:51a).]

I just studied 3 or 4 books.

I will be graduating with my MEng in PETE from tamu in August. 2 years ago, they wanted a 1200 total with at least a 700 math(preferably a 750). The department is more likely to admit you into the MS option if you want to be on campus. Or you could apply for the MEng option and take 1 online class the first semester, then simply tell the department you want to come back full time and take classes on campus. (This is what I did)

As far as MS vs MEng, my experience has been that the majors don't care unless you want to go into research. In that case you need your PhD anyway. If you only desire to get your masters, I'd suggest MEng. I had an internship with a big 4 while completing my masters, and have a job with another big 4 for after graduation.

HTH