If you go the startup route, you will likely not do your Masters anytime soon. Not saying you couldn't but I've just seen it a number of times, and you'll like

If you go the startup route, you will likely not do your Masters anytime soon. Not saying you couldn't but I've just seen it a number of times, and you'll likely get caught up doing the startup dance (its fun). Honestly, that isn't a bad thing. In a lot of ways going through the startup process is a better education. Not discounting an advanced education but frankly I'd rather get practical experience over a Masters. The large company you can easily complete your Masters as the amount of work and the type of work you will be doing will be the entry level work. Not that it is bad, just that it is different than a startup where you could be tasked with a critical feature or bug fix that the company really is depending on. Another factor to consider, if you do really want your Masters now, the bigCo might wind up paying for a lot of it, if you agree to stick around for 1-2 years after they pay for it. Sometimes that is worth taking less fulfilling work so you can fulfill your education, just a thought. For my 2 cents, I'd go the startup route. But if you are a risk adverse person, don't.