Getting an MS vs PhD first

Graduate School
1

<p>Well, I was wondering what you guys thought about going to a prestigious school and paying full fare for an MS versus going to a not-so-prestigious school with full funding for PhD. </p>

<p>I understand there are opportunities at universities to move from an MS to a PhD program. However, is it worth the price? And does the name of your institution really matter in the long-run? </p>

<p>I just need an idea of what I should be shooting for with a 3.5-3.6 GPA. I'm applied, not pure. </p>

<p>My goal is to work for the Air Force Research Laboratory and at the same time get an excellent education. I know that to get top salary it requires that I have a PhD to get it but with an MS it offers pretty good starting pay. I think the type of institution I attend might factor into these admissions.</p>

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<p>Can anyone give me an opinion? Insight?</p>

3

<p>This comparison is very vague. What does “not so prestigious” mean? Are we comparing Harvard to Michigan? Or Harvard to Penn State, or Harvard to West Georgia?</p>

<p>Go to get a PhD only if you actually want a PhD, not because you don’t want to pay for an MS. Paying for an MS is worth it if it gets you the job you want and you can afford to repay those loans with your new salary. It’s worth it if you aren’t sure you want a PhD, or if you want to work first, or if you want to get into a better PhD program than you could with just a master’s.</p>

<p>Does the name of your institution matter? Yes, of course it does.</p>

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<p>PhDs don’t really get better salaries. Considering the years wasted finishing up the PhD (versus a Masters) you’d be wasting your time.</p>

<p>You should do a PhD if you’re particularly passionate about doing research in some very specific area. Otherwise, don’t.</p>

<p>Of course, if you want a specific position - like being in charge of a major lab/project, then a PhD might be necessary.</p>

5

<p>In some areas, especially govt, you have to have the PhD to be in a certain payscale or to hold certain positions.</p>

<p>By saying you are applied vs pure, do you mean you are in Math? With that GPA your chances of a phd are reasonable, but much depends on your research experence and your LOR.</p>

<p>But is this really your choice? Prestige MS or non prestige phD? That is your acceptances? If the lab pays X for MS and a higher Y for PhD, then is may not matter as much. However I don’t know how to tell if they only hire from certain schools above certain rankings or higher.</p>

<p>Anyhow to target one lab/employer is rather narrow, be sure to have plan B.</p>

6

<p>This is pretty flawed post, the MS vs PhD should be about what you want not funding/money honestly. You are talking 2 years vs possibly 5-6 years of work, it’s a huge difference. </p>

<p>Now that aside what is “not prestigious”. If you read these boards enough anything that isn’t Ivy League or MIT/Stanford is all lumped together as “bad” (at least that’s the impression people give around here). There are plenty of amazing schools that are ranked 5-25ish that you will have awesome opportunities at.</p>

<p>Also pick a grad school less on name and more on potentional research/adviser. Do you want to spend 6 years at a “prestigious” school doing work that bores you to death, or 6 years at still great school that is the most exciting research you are interested in? </p>

<p>If you are more passionate about the topic, you will do better research, get published more, make more contacts, etc.</p>