<p>Senior D intends to go directly to a doctoral program in atmospheric chemistry. I’m on the sidelines for this round with my fingers crossed. I would prefer she work for a year or two, but she feels the stipend+fellowship+TAship+waived tuition+medical ins. would be just about the same as a starting salary with a chem BA and that she would be wasting that time. She’s also been told that she “won’t have a life” for the next 5 or so years, so she’s anxious to get started to get to the research that she finds so interesting. Her older brother, who went straight to law school, now wishes he had taken a break. He was very tired of school after 7 years.</p>
<p>I can see that both paths can have happy endings. I only hope D does not get too burnt out. She has been in a rather rigorous program for the last 3.5 years and had many nights with very little sleep and erratic meals–and is now applying to several elite grad schools which means, if she makes it in, that life will not get any easier.</p>
<p>Only the first couple of years of grad school are much like school. After that it’s mostly lab work and writing papers and grants just like real scientists. I don’t think a break is very helpful.</p>
<p>Huh…this is so CC…this thread is filled with kids looking for a PhD!</p>
<p>I’m too afraid of the real world… and I’d rather stay in school and do research 
In other words, I’m going for my PhD in History because I know that after 3 museum/research internships and heavy soul-searching (along with lots and lots of discussions with my professors and co-workers), that this is the right track for me. When my mother found out how long it’d take me to take my PhD (about 8 years), she wondered when would I be able to live a comfortable live again LOL I’m not a fancy gal (though I can be a shopaholic) but I can live in poverty just fine I’m really excited!</p>
<p>Maize&Blue,
D1 is also interested in pursuing PhD, but in organic chem. She was submitting two applications today. ;)</p>
<p>Our son threw a curve ball a few months ago in deciding to go on to grad school after he graduates in May. He is a compsci major too, is not interested in going the PhD route and entering a field where grad school finaid is usually lacking unfortunately.</p>
<p>Originaloog, my son in grad school informed me this morning that all his friends who immediately went to work last year are sorry. College is a lot more fun!</p>
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<p>I disagree with your son’s friends (I graduated last year and went straight to work). I enjoyed college, but work is a couple of orders of magnitude less stressful! And I have more free time, even though it is less flexible time.</p>
<p>Of course, given that I’ve pretty much gone straight from full-time work into full-time work/part-time grad school (the worst of both worlds?), what do I know? ;)</p>