<p>I think a lot of us have the same question, hopefully some experienced person could answer it: should I apply for Master Program or Direct PHD?</p>
<p>I have very little research experience in college, but good GRE and GPA, so is it better to apply to Master program? Is PHD program more competitive? If I apply for phd program but get rejected, will they consider me as a master program candidate? </p>
<p>What is the benefit of applying for direct PHD when you have to go through the master program anyway other than saving some paperwork to apply for PHD after master?</p>
<p>BTW, does design courses count as research experience?</p>
<p>Ph.D programs are more competitive because they are virtually always funded and thus slots are limited. Master’s programs may or may not have funding available.</p>
<p>I had this exact question when I was a junior doing my B.S. I decided to apply for PhD programs and I had research experience but it did not work out for me and I’m so glad that it did not work out for me then. You don’t realize this but doing a Masters is the best thing one can do when they don’t feel 100% ready to go straight into a PHd program. I went into a Masters and it’s fully funded and even get a stipend and I have learnt so much and have to do a thesis here as well. Now applying to pHd programs again and I feel so ready and so much more confident which shows and makes a big difference.</p>
<p>Think about this is it worth getting into just any phD program now or would you want to do a Masters and then increase your chance of getting into a much better pHD program?</p>
<p>But, I don’t know what field your in or your background but if you feel ready for a pHd then don’t sell your self short but from my experience M.S is a great stepping ladder. </p>
Perhaps - the bigger issue (presuming you WANT the PhD) is whether or not you feel adequately prepared. There is no stigma to not getting accepted to a PhD program, so the big issue is what happens if you ARE accepted and then expected to start in on research tasks shortly after starting classes.</p>
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Generally, yes.</p>
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Assuming they TAKE masters candidates (many don’t) they will usually consider you for it automatically, and if they do not they will give you the option of applying for either or both options.</p>
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The big advantages are that you can start your research earlier (hopefully resulting in an earlier graduation) and that you are eligible for better funding - many to most masters candidates pay some or all of their own way through school, while most PhD candidates are fully funded. Also, as a PhD candidate you do not have to complete a separate masters thesis - a good experience, but significantly time consuming.</p>
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No.</p>
<p>As Veejay noted, doing a masters first can be a very good step for some students. For others, however, it is just a way to bleed time and money.</p>
<p>PhD programs are generally more competitive than master’s programs.</p>
<p>SOME PhD programs, if you are not accepted, will consider you for the MA programs instead. It depends on the department, and sometimes you have to specifically request it.</p>
<p>The benefit? Money. PhDs are usually funded, and MA programs are usually not (although that varies by field). You can save tens of thousands of dollars by doing an MA/PhD combined. You also may save some time (perhaps a year or two), and you don’t have to apply again. PhD programs are still competitive with MAs and there’s no guarantee you’ll get in.</p>
<p>It’s not necessarily true that you don’t have to complete a separate master’s thesis though. I am in an MA/PhD program and I did have to complete a master’s paper. It’s less involved than a terminal MA program thesis, but it was still work. The good part is that it looks like I’m gonna get a first-authored paper in a top journal out of it.</p>
<p>Professors don’t check a check box - research or no. They look at things qualitatively. So design courses do count as semi-research experience, but they are not as STRONG as independent research with a professor or working as an RA or doing an independent study. So you won’t be as competitive as the students who have those kinds of experiences.</p>
<p>If you want a PhD, apply for a PhD. If you aren’t sure, then apply for master’s programs. I agree with veejay; you want to go the BEST PhD program you can get into - the one that’s the best fit for your field and aspirations. If you have to do an MA first to do that, it’s worth it, especially if you can get a stipend/funding. You also do not want to get entangled in a PhD program unless you are 100% sure that you want to be in one. So if you have doubts, you should probably go the MA route.</p>