<p>I am at a loss with what I want to pursue for grad school.</p>
<p>Here are some info:
1) I definitely will be pursuing grad school after I finish my BS in May 2014.
2) I'll be going to grad school for aerospace engineering (undergrad is in mechanical engineering)
3) I used to want a PhD, and ultimately, I still do want a PhD.
4) recently, I've been thinking that maybe I should get a MS first to test the waters and come back for a PhD later.
5) MS for engineering is hard to find funding for, which is my primary concern for getting a master's first</p>
<p>Typically for engineers, MS is where the money's at and PhD is if you really like the field. As an undergrad, I don't think you can really find out how much you like the field until you are actually in grad school. That scares me a bit. I can really like something at the moment, but that can change during a PhD program. My main reasons for wanting to get a PhD are:
1) I like school ( at least for now)
2) Some of the places (outside of academia) that I would like for require a PhD. Money purposes for these jobs play a role.
3) I like research ( at least for now). The problem here is I have yet to experience industry. Maybe I'll like industry better than research. </p>
<p>I'll be filling out applications soon (this coming semester). I'm just lost about what I should apply for. I can't apply for both. If I apply for a MS and don't receive funding, then I won't be able to go. As mentioned previously, my concern with getting a PhD is that i don't know if I'll like it until I'm in the program. I think say all I want now, but it's not possible for me to see how passionate I am about that field until I'm in the program. </p>
<p>What do you guys suggest?</p>
<p>No one really knows until they are in it. You might think you do, but until you are in it you have nothing to base it on anyway.</p>
<p>I would apply for MS programs AND PhD programs, aiming for those PhD programs in which you earn the MS en route. You are correct that MS funding is much more sparse, but you might still catch a funded position. And since you currently expect to get your PhD, there is nothing dishonest or untoward about entering a PhD program from which you can escape with an MS if things don’t work out - anyone can enter with good intent and then change their mind. Try to avoid departments that either rarely fund masters students (like Stanford for EE) or which you think might give you grief if you need to leave after the MS.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. I will be applying for aerospace engineering grad schools.
Speaking of Stanford, it’s most of the engineering MS students that aren’t funded right? Not just for EE? </p>
<p>I assume that taking part in a PhD program and then quitting after obtaining a MS would be looked down upon right?</p>
<p>
I can speak only to EE, but I would not be surprised if it was engineering-wide.</p>
<p>
It depends on why you left. </p>
<p>If you leave because you could not hack it then you will be looked down on as being below a PhD… which you WILL be, so it is not really a problem. You will have the MS and will be treated as any other MS recipient in industry.</p>
<p>If you leave because you get into the program and then realize you do not WANT a PhD, then that is generally fine with everyone - it happens! There will be disappointment and a little unhappiness, but few people will really hold it against you.</p>
<p>If you leave because you never wanted the PhD and were just trying to scam free tuition, then yes, they will hold it against you, and they will do so hard. Don’t ask for a letter of recommendation. Ever.</p>
<p>Now all of this assumes that they (your advisor, your college, prospective employers, etc.) can correctly identify why you left. Most of the time they cannot (unless you are kicked out, of course), so they will make the best guess based on what they can find out. So that is a genuine risk, but most people who get burned do so because they went in intending from the start to leave with the MS. It WILL make it harder to enter a PhD program in the nearish future, so I would not recommend leaving if you think later you will want to try again.</p>
<p>It might be wiser to work for a few years, decide if you like industry and learn what kind of degree gives you the credentials for what you want to do with your career. Engineering graduate programs understand and appreciate students who get experience in industry first. It is not a detriment to your application. It sounds as if you “like” research but are not passionate about it. In that case, wait and see what you can experience in the “real world”.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies.</p>
<p>xraymancs, I would prefer not to work first. I do really want to continue my education without any interruptions. I guess what I am trying to say is that I don’t know how passionate I am about research and I don’t think I’ll be able to really know until I become a graduate student. That is what bugs me.</p>