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Hi all, I'm currently into the final year of study in a B.Tech degree in Information and Communication Technology. After finishing my studies, I'm interested in taking up higher studies abroad. The courses I'm interested in are Masters in Engineering Management, MFE and Masters in Management. The MEM degree is currently my favoured option and I've gathered that Duke, Dartmouth, Case Western and Cornell are the best for doing this course. Does anyone know if there are any other universities which offer this course? I'm prepared to go to both US or Europe for studies.Also, for the MFE degree, is it recommended to do the course with work exp or is it insignificant in the overall oulook of the course?The Masters in Management is a specialised course offered in European universities such as this one:http://www.grenoble-em.com/355-master-i ... -2.aspxCan someone with knowledge of this course kindly tell me how this course differs in content to an MEM. And again, would you recommend that I have work exp before doing this course? Finally, I would really like to hear your recommendation on what you think I should take considering that I come from an engineering background. I would really appreciate your help as I'm having some difficulties in making a firm choice.

try to talk with current MEM graduates of duke, darmouth etc through orkut . As per my knowledge it is expensive (50k) and not all international students find jobs. Many are doing PhD now.Better to work for a couple of years as C++ programmer and do a MFE.Or else do the MFE now and take the risk.

I have been in touch with one of my college seniors who is about to finish the MEM course at Duke and he had only good things to say about the course. About the job market, he told me that it wasn't easy to get a job in any field under the current economic scenario but that by the time I graduate from my Masters course, i.e, in 2 or 3 years time, the economy should be doing well. He also forwarded me the following article from the FT:http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/d5afe86a-9669 ... 9a.htmlAnd I'll keep the MFE in mind too thanks.

Your friend has given you the correct information. That is the exact same thing I heard from many of my friends who did MBA at Top schools in USA and then had to take IT jobs to pay off their MBA student loans. The companies were just not willing to hire the international students. They are all hoping that the economy will change in 2-3 years and then they will be able to get the Management Consulting / IB jobs for which they studied in the MBA. They did the MBA just to move away from IT into Finance and then they had to take IT jobs to pay off their MBA loans. You should talk to more international students at whichever school you plan to attend just to get a clear picture of job prospects before you go deep in debt for the degree.

SC,There is a saying "Hope for the best and be prepared for the worst".

SC, It is best, you first decide what really interests you. IMO, MEM and MFE degrees require different kind of mindsets. Don't try to change your thinking/interests just by what others say. Ask yourself.

It really depends on what you want to do *after* your studies. Do you want to do something that is more programming oriented (then do a degree in CS), or more math oriented (a degree in applied math, stat, MFE will help), or management (then MBA).You choose what area to study based on what you want to do, not the other way round.Personally, I believe having a hybrid of programming and math skill will get you jobs very easily.see this:http://numericalmethod.com/blog/2010/08 ... engineers/

hli7,Someone has to actually enjoy programming to be efficient in it. I am surprising finding 80% of engineering graduates from branches other than CS/EE detest programming and consider it a menial job. Also one has to actually consider the long term view of a career, an average manager will earn higher than an above average programmer. So its not that easy as you have pointed out.

AbhiJ,It is a good point. Thanks.

QuoteOriginally posted by: AbhiJAlso one has to actually consider the long term view of a career, an average manager will earn higher than an above average programmer.Not true at top tier firms. Indeed at the better firms, the managers of programmers are required to continue to program.