Already have an MS, want a PhD -- now what?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi,
I'm currently in the middle of a MS program and I'm beginning to wonder if I want to do a Ph.D. The field is computer science.</p>

<p>If I were to apply to a PhD program this year and start it after I finish my MS, would that give me any advantage, would it mean the PhD program would be shorter since I already have an MS?</p>

<p>I don't have any research experience in CS but I do have some research experience and 2 internships in somewhat "ITish" things (not really CS material though). My Masters program allows me to do a thesis but I won't be able to start my masters thesis until spring semester, though I would be applying in the fall -- does it make sense to pursue a masters thesis then?
Is no grad school going to want me because of my lack of research? (My BS is not in CS though it's in engineering.) I have good grades and I can probably get a few decent recommendations.</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

2

<p>You can only complete a PhD in a “shorter” amount of time if your masters courses transfer over.</p>

3

<p>As Phil implied, it varies from school to school. I am entering a PhD program in EE this fall, MS in hand, and the two schools treated it very differently. One school required me to transfer course-by-course, with the understanding that it would not fully cover my “masters” requirements. The other automatically exempted me from the course load they require for a masters. The difference between the two was probably a year of coursework.</p>

<p>At most schools you will get at least some credit.</p>

4

<p>I’m also starting my PhD program this fall like fish, one program I applied is particularly “post-master”, and the official length is 4 years (1 year less than post-undergrad)</p>

<p>either way, if you have MS in hand, most of the time you can graduate faster then post-undergrad, assuming you have done some research work during your master’s and can start up your PhD project much smoother and make your advisor happy, which is the only thing matters after the 1st year of PHD program</p>

<p>and btw there are people finish PHD in 2-3 years with MS in hand, it depends a lot on what did you achieve from your masters (if you published a paper during MS that’s a huge boost)</p>