During the last weeks I have been taking the exams of my first semester as a graduate student of ETH Zürich’s Master Program in Biomedical Engineering. I have to admit that this task has been more challenging than I thought it would be for several reasons.
A few days ago, a friend asked me for some advice regarding admission to a graduate (Master’s) program. I thought this could be the perfect occasion for me to put together my thoughts and experience into this brief post.
As an engineer, what kind of graduate school program would be better for me, an MSc or an MBA?
Last week, we obtained the First National Prize in the National Instruments University Challenge 2009 with the project Home Control System for Handicapped People based on Electrooculography. It was a very challenging but also very rewarding experience for all of us in the team: Luis E. Lara-Gonzalez, my colleague and friend, and Prof. Jorge A. Martínez-Alarcon, M. Sc., our professor and advisor.
In Mexico, in order to complete the credit requirements of any undergraduate program, you are required (by law) to perform a so-called social service: 480 hours of non-remunerated work in a nonprofit organization (preferentially in your field). This time corresponds to a half-time service for one semester or a full-time service for one summer. The Biomedical Engineering program at the Universidad Iberoamericana is no exception.
In my case, I decided for the latter option - summer of 2009. Not only did I chose it because it wouldn’t interfere with my lectures, but this also allowed me doing my social service outside of Mexico City. At first, I thought of the social service as a requirement that I wanted to get done with as soon as possible. I thought I would get the feel of the field work of a Biomedical Engineer, learn one or two new things, and get the credits. I had no clue what kind of experience was before me.
