<p>These questions mostly have to do with MS students who managed to also do the thesis option. I understand most incoming MS thesis students have to wait a semester or a whole year before they can get funding, whether it be by an RA or TAship
1. How long does it usually take to complete the coursework and thesis? how about for those who didn't do their undergrad in engineering?
2. How many semesters/quarters do they usually get to work under the RAship? Under the TAship?
3. So if they found a research project in a semester or two, do they get to do research for the rest of the MS? or only when funded under the RAship?
4. If they do the RAship, how many hrs/wk do they have to do the research? Do they have to take classes at the same time? In other words, its not possible to complete the coursework section first, then work on the RAship?
5. Has anyone heard of someone doing the MS with thesis while also working at an engineering company part-time?
I only heard of one case, that is my former co-worker, but she got hired in the last quarter of her MS. So I think she did her thesis for 40 hrs and worked 20 hrs for that one semester. I forgot to ask her if she got funded or not</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I have to do a MS with a thesis, it’s the only option at my school. If I had the chance to do it again, I would certainly not do a thesis option. It’s nothing but a pain in the ass and here’s why:</p>
<ol>
<li> I had several different ideas for topics I wanted to pursue. After talking to a good number of professors, none had ongoing research that supported my topics. I eventually had to settle for whatever was available. At that point, I just settled for whatever advisor I liked and whatever topic sounded the easiest.</li>
<li> Since I had to settle, I really have no interest in working on my thesis other than getting it done so I can graduate. In working on it, I mostly do whatever my advisor wants me to do and have little creative or intellectual input into the process. This isnt because I haven’t tried, but it’s because this project was already ongoing before I got here and will continue after me and I’m just here to make the sausage until the next guy picks it up.</li>
<li> I haven’t learned a thing from doing a thesis so far that is of practical value to my engineering career.</li>
</ol>
<p>I dont know how it is at other schools, but that’s my experience so far.</p>
<p>what do the grad students at your current school say?</p>
<p>at ucla, I heard that its rare for MS students to get an RAship, as most MS students just do the coursework, which takes about a year. My questions have more to do with the RAship and thesis</p>
<p>I have no idea what is normal or customary. Anecdotal of DS experience 2006. Human-Computer Interaction with mechanical emphasis</p>
<ol>
<li><p>he started in Aug 01, 2006 (official semester began in early Sept) and finished by semester end Dec 2007. He did 2 semesters of classes, 3 or 4 classes, not many. He had undergrad experience and course work. No idea on second part of your question. </p></li>
<li><p>He had couple of short TA’s, not complicated or involved. </p></li>
<li><p>He had funding from day 1. Took him until Feb or Mar to firm up a thesis topic. Had couple of false starts prior to finalization, </p></li>
<li><p>Exact times devoted to class and research is not relevant. He spent has much time as necessary to get the tasks done. He is the type of person that is focused and detailed with extremely good time management. </p></li>
<li><p>can’t answer.</p></li>
</ol>