<p>Hello, my name is David, and I am having trouble deciding what career path to take. </p>
<p>I am a non-traditional student in that I quit school at 20, and went back at 25 after I married my wife and had a child. I am a junior at a non-prestigious state University dual majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics. I currently have a 3.63 G.P.A., but have gotten straight A's since I re-enrolled in 2006. (The last 70 credit hours, for a total of 192) I am committed to studying very hard for the GRE.</p>
<p>My main goal is to be a good father and husband. After that, I would like to work in a challenging position, ideally utilizing my knowledge of computer science and mathematics. </p>
<p>To achieve this goal, I am considering a graduate degree in Computer Science. The only way this would be possible is if I were able to get a fellowship or grant that fully paid tuition and living expenses. Some of them require I work for the government after getting my degree, which I have no problem with. </p>
<p>I spoke with my adviser today at school and he said getting a graduate degree would be very hard with a family at any type of Research University, but I might try a non-Research University.</p>
<p>My question is buried, I know, it's because I'm confused myself. I'm really just looking for guidance and direction based on my goals. To reiterate, I will (I already have been for years) sacrifice all my personal time, but I would like a few hours with my family every day and Sundays off. I would also like a challenging Job in the computer industry. We're willing to move around.</p>
<p>David, an interesting post. I’m an engineer. I worked in industry for years. I’m going back to grad school in a few months. I’m not married, but probably older than you.</p>
<p>First, industry is tough. Computer programming jobs, computer engineering jobs, and electrical engineering jobs are unstable. This economy is terrible and tech is effected…not like banking…it is still effected though. When you work in industry, your company will get sold. Your site will be closed. Your dept axed. At this point it would be hard for me to recommend industry to jobs to anybody if they want stability. They may not want stability. They may be single and think that the experience will do them good before they go to grad school, and they may not care if they get laid off. A PhD or Masters will help alot with finding a job. </p>
<p>As for being married in grad school, and how grad school is funded. These are about the toughest issues out there. You’d start with a Masters degree program, unless you are very good/lucky and get accepted into a Phd program. Phd programs are usually funded by the university with tuition waived and you getting a stipend. Masters programs are rarely funded at first, however often you can sometimes get a Research Assistantship or Teaching Assistantship after a semester or year. This will fund you. This would be more likely especially if you let the profs know you’d really like to stick around for a PhD.</p>
<p>If you are funded at a University, your wife works, she is understanding that you’ll need to work a lot in school/research, and you don’t mind living in marriage student housing, I believe Grad school is completely doable for you anywhere. It’s tough to get all this to fall into place though.</p>
<p>Wow… refreshing to hear some real life issues being addressed here rather than gibberish about college prestige, investment banking and ‘big’ law…</p>
<p>First of all, congratulations on returning to school with a greater sense of commitment. It took me a while as well, with many ups and downs, but as I stare my MBA down with a few semester left, it was all worth it.
I think that you should really explore your options deeper. Maybe an MBA, or MS in a related field (management, informatics, information science) would help propel you into the occupation you desire. And for that, I would not rule out part time studies. If you are getting A’s in CS, then a MBA is more than obtainable within a 2 to 3 year period, while still remaining in the workforce. Keep in mind that the MBA will offer options both within your desired field as well as out of it, if anything should come up. At this point, possibly a university that is on the cheaper side is advantageous to you in order to keep debt down and still obtain your goal. </p>
<p>Best of luck either way… keep getting A’s and everything else will take care of itself.</p>
<p>Have you thought about trying to find a job and then getting the master’s degree, either part-time or while on leave from your job? Many companies will pay for their employees to get master’s degrees – that’s the tack my husband is planning to take.</p>
<p>I feel, also, that graduate school doesn’t have to be inherently antagonistic to spending time with your family, you just have to find ways to make things work. For example, I like going home at dinnertime and spending time with my husband, so I start in the lab every day a few hours before other people do. For a more extreme example, a former postdoc in my lab (now a PI herself) often worked the night shift in the lab, coming in at 9 PM and leaving at 7 or 8 AM, so she could take care of her son during the day in the summer. Another postdoc in my lab sometimes works overnight Friday night so he can spend all day Saturday with his family.</p>
<p>If it’s a taught Masters, it’s going to be more like undergrad time wise. Of course, you’re also probably in a worse position for funding if it’s a taught program. Whether it’s a research university or not is less salient than whether it’s a research degree or not.</p>
<p>I would think twice about planning to get a Master’s degree while working. Certainly, it is done. I was in the corporate world for years, and I know Masters degree programs while working were started far more than they were completed. In the many places I worked, usually only 25% of those who started the Master’s degree completed it. Often those who completed it were single too. For those who quit, the time it took away from the family after a long grinding day in corporate america was not worth it to them. Often the employers will not be supportive either. The courses cost money. Behind closed door the managers can do a lot to discourage you from taking additional courses no matter what there official policy is. These coporate Masters programs are often the first thing to get cut when budgets are tight…like now.</p>
<p>I’ve taken a graduate course while working too. One of those online courses from the State University. You miss a lot when taking a course this way. You can’t take lab courses unless you end up taking loads of time away from you job to drive to the lab. You can’t be in a study group, you can’t go to the prof’s or TA’s office hours. Working with them over the phone is painful…especially if the TA is international. Asking questionsin class is difficult. I thought is was kinda a crumy experience.</p>
<p>If I were the starter of this thread, I’d look for PhD programs in Computer Science(or Computer Engineering). Also,(this may be the last thing you want to here) I’d apply to Masters programs and consider biting the bullet and paying with the hope(based on loads of research about the school) that you can find a TA or RA after a semester or a year.</p>
<p>As Jack63 notes, many PhD programs usually pay full tuition and stipend. You can usually get university subsidized housing as well for you and your family. When my husband was getting his PhD in computer science, we lived fairly well because I had a job, and we had no children. But we knew several families that made it work with stay-at-home moms and up to two children. Most mothers had at least part-time jobs, though. (I think there was subsidized day care as well, but mostly the mother’s working hours were non-class times for their husbands.) This was a long time ago, though, so I don’t know how things have changed.</p>
<p>I suggest that you look at several schools in less expensive areas of the country. For instance, going to Berkeley might make it impossible to support your family. Although I can’t speak to specific computer science programs, I do know that science PhD programs generally offer between $18,000 and $26,000 in stipends/fellowships/research assistantships for the first year. That is in addition to full tuition. If you are a good, hardworking, ambitious student, you should have no trouble finding a professor who will support you in subsequent years. Usually, the only students who end up with minimal support are those who treat graduate school like undergraduate (no independence, initiative, hard work, etc.) or who have been in the program more than 5 years.</p>
<p>Master’s programs are rarely funded like that; however, some do indeed support a select group of students. Once in a PhD program, often you can apply for an M.S.E. if you leave the program ABD (all but dissertation).</p>
<p>Does OP even have an interest in research? A lot of people are pointing him towards a PhD, but all he’s said is that he wants to balance being a good father with having a challenging job.</p>
<p>^^I don’t know. He said that he is considering a graduate degree in computer science and that the only way he can go is if he gets a fellowship/support. My reading of the good husband/father comment means that he does not want to put undo stress on his family if he takes this route.</p>
<p>With programming abilities, he can be a software engineer right out of college, but he seems to want more.</p>
<p>The OP does not indicate a desire for a PhD, only an interest in advancement for the benefit of himself and his family.
I am sticking with the MBA advice… and I do not believe it to be detrimental to do so while working. I apply my course content to my occupation and it makes me better in my MBA program, not worse. I go for 2 classes a semester and will have completed in under 3 years when I am done in '10.</p>
<p>Well if you want some words of encouragement, my other 4 officemates are all married and 2 of them have young children. They’re doing just fine (though their eyes are bloodshot, haha)</p>
<p>Well, an MBA could put him in a challenging position, might be easier to get while working, and would help provide for the family. It would also pull him further away from the code. Depends on whether he’s wanting an intellectual challenge or a leadership/management challenge.</p>
<p>If OP does decide to go the academic route eventually, just be very sure that the wife is OK with it. There’s nothing wrong with 10 years of vagrancy followed by little to no choice in where you’ll settle, but she didn’t sign up for it so make sure she’s willing to defer any stability she was hoping to pursue.</p>
<p>I’d seriously look at what sort of jobs you can find with your undergrad degree. That double in math could be your ticket out of a code monkey position.</p>
<p>I think I will apply for PhD, and first get the masters degree. If after that, it’s best for us to move on for personal or financial reasons, we will. By then I should have a much better idea of what the time commitments are. </p>
<p>But I at least would like the Masters. Most of the interesting jobs I see advertised require one. (I’m not very gifted in the leadership side of things, much more on the analytical/problem solving side.)</p>
<p>Thank you for your advice, I appreciate it.</p>
<p>Even if you’ve already made your decisions, I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in.</p>
<p>I have a friend who has a 2 year old. She and her husband are BOTH in Ph.D. programs, at the same school. They went into the phd b/c of the stipend.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s harder for them–but they make it work, using university daycare, fellow graduate students and undergrads as babysitters, taking turns, etc. And the best part is that they both know it’s <em>not</em> forever.
It’s a committment that is only a few years and people can juggle or do anything for a few years, as long as you are both committed to the goal and willing to go the distance and endure some inconveniences to make the future of your family better.
As someone else mentioned–it will be hard to get a job in any industry during these economic times.
I say go for it and make sure your wife is on board. With careful planning you can make anything work.</p>
<p>Again, just note, you will be in a research program if you go that route. But then you will have money coming in as well. Sounds like a tenable plan. And of course not every program offers a masters en passant, so check that out. Cheers and good luck.</p>
<p>Portland State University has a graduate program in C.S. – and… most of the classes are in the evening and only one or two days a week! If I were accepted there, I would be able to go there a few nights of weeks (based on looking at the past few years of schedules.) </p>
<p>This might be an ideal solution – it has the added benefit of us not having to move anywhere, and my wife would be able to keep her 32 hour a week job, which is literally 100 yards from our house, decent pay and has health benefits. She doesn’t want to work forever, she wants to stay at home with the kids. But she’s willing for another couple of years. </p>
<p>I don’t have to worry about getting funding, fellowships, TA’s, etc… just approximately 10k per year for tuition. If one of those things comes up, and I’m able to pursue a PhD – that’s great. If not, I’ll still have more doors opened.</p>
<p>So my only concern would be… getting in! 3.7 GPA should be good enough for a state school. I just need to focus on the GRE for the next several months. Any way of determining the competitiveness of a school? They don’t post any numbers on their website, it just says “it’s competitive to get into graduate programs here” and “We screen PhD applicants more closely than Masters, if you don’t have a clear research goal, you probably won’t get in.”</p>
<p>Maybe I’m reading between the lines, but that tells me the Masters program is relatively easy to get into?</p>
<p>Thank you all for helping me sort through some thoughts. This whole process can be confusing and overwhelming, I hope I’m able to shed light on it for someone else one day.</p>
<p>very smart, hit college at wrong time, had a 2nd go around and aced it as per previous.</p>
<p>That being said… I am not sure IT is the best thing to be in… I have worked in It for 6 years and I am about to go to grad school for something else. as many posters has said, not the best job market, too saturated, not enough jobs, competing with H1B’s … </p>
<p>probably most unstable market after cars…</p>
<p>I’m doing a masters first while working then going to have to bite the bullet into a phd program which I don’t know where it will be but the 2-3 years will be worth it.</p>
<p>You indicated that you would not object to working for a government agency in exchange for educational support, so you might consider the Dept. of Defense’s SMART Scholarship for Service program. It provides full tuition plus a yearly stipend and book allowance; it also includes summer internships and mentoring. The program is open to undergrads and graduate students, and both CS and math are among the eligible majors.</p>
<p>Certainly worth a look: [SMART</a> - Science, Mathematics & Research for Transformation - Part of the National Defense Education Program](<a href=“Page not found”>Page not found)</p>
<p>Are there employers in your area that will offer tuition assistance?
The hospital system I work offers tuition reimbursement for FT employees. You can enroll in a bachelor’s or master’s program; there are credit limits per year.
I know many employees that have completed degrees on the company’s dime.
It can’t be easy working and going to school and trying to see your family but it is an option.</p>