<p>I am a graduate student without a masters yet working in an engineering school in a top 10-15ish school. Do you other engineering grad students usually pick up your masters on the way to a PhD? Generally speaking, my program doesn't require a MS to finish with a PhD, but some folks pick it up just in case for whatever reason. I am curious what some of you more senior grad students think. Do most of you doctoral students become so 100% sure of finishing with a PhD that you simply would just bypass the MS and just shoot straight for the PhD?</p>
<p>I think it depends largely on the school. At some schools, it is almost impossible not to get your master's if you complete your PhD (as the PhD requirements are a superset of the master's), so you might as well get it. At other schools, it actually involves extra work, and so some people don't feel the need to get it.</p>