should i apply to only 1 grad school?

Graduate School
1

<p>I just graduated with my BS degrees in physics and applied math. i chose not to apply to grad schools in december because i was debating whether to go to grad school in materials, mechanical engineering, or applied math, but I couldn't make a decision. Also, i figured taking a year or so off, and working in industry would better help me decide what to do in the future. Also, i was hesitant about getting a MS or phD. But now that i've thought about it further, i'm sure i want to do mechanical engineering, since it doesnt involve quantum mechanics, which is when i really started to dislike majoring in physics, whereas materials engineering does. </p>

<p>but the graduate programs for all the schools i'm considering applying to have all pasted, except for the school i currently attend. The deadline for that school is the beginning of February. The other schools are more prestigious, and i'm sure i can get into at least one of them if i apply next year, which is why i'm hesitant about applying to only 1 school. What should i do?</p>

2

<p>If you’re planning on working, keep in mind that you won’t be able to get a job at many places without keeping your ambitions a secret. Applying to grad school is a decent hedge against not getting a job, I suppose, depending on your ambitiousness.</p>

3

<p>(1) How much does prestige matter in your field, and how different is the quality between your school and the schools you plan on applying to?</p>

<p>(2) How important is it to you to go to a more prestigious school? The fact that you are asking makes me think that you are having some doubts about going to your school for a graduate program.</p>

<p>(3) Is there any rush for you to apply now? If you are doing a master’s program, would it help you to save money for a year and then apply?</p>

<p>Personally, I think you should apply now because who knows how you will feel a couple of months down the road. At worst, you’ll have to decline an offer and apply again next year (losing a hundred bucks), but the best case scenario is that you end up loving the program and you save a year.</p>

4

<p>I would take into account whether you want to stay at the school you are now at or if you would rather go somewhere else. If you’re ready to go someplace else then it sounds like you’ll have to wait and apply next year.</p>

<p>gthopeful is right, you’ll have a hard time finding a job in your field if you admit you are only planning to work there for a year. Do you have something you can do for the year that you’re excited about?</p>

5

<p>"(1) How much does prestige matter in your field, and how different is the quality between your school and the schools you plan on applying to?</p>

<p>(2) How important is it to you to go to a more prestigious school? The fact that you are asking makes me think that you are having some doubts about going to your school for a graduate program.</p>

<p>(3) Is there any rush for you to apply now? If you are doing a master’s program, would it help you to save money for a year and then apply?</p>

<p>Personally, I think you should apply now because who knows how you will feel a couple of months down the road. At worst, you’ll have to decline an offer and apply again next year (losing a hundred bucks), but the best case scenario is that you end up loving the program and you save a year."</p>

<ol>
<li>i think prestige matters quite a bit in engineering. I go to one of the top 5 state universities, but the school i most wish to get into is UC berkeley, for its prestige, academics, atmosphere, and social scene. It’s about the same quality as my current school when it comes to the atmosphere and social scene. I also like that it’s also a different location, but not too far from where i’m from, but i’d be ok with going to my current school as well.</li>
<li>Prestige just matters to me because i want to have the best job opportunities after i graduate. Money isn’t that big of an issue to me</li>
<li>There’s no rush, but i’d rather attend grad school ASAP, instead of spending next year being unemployed and forced to work with a professor for a meager salary.</li>
</ol>

<p>"I would take into account whether you want to stay at the school you are now at or if you would rather go somewhere else. If you’re ready to go someplace else then it sounds like you’ll have to wait and apply next year.</p>

<p>gthopeful is right, you’ll have a hard time finding a job in your field if you admit you are only planning to work there for a year. Do you have something you can do for the year that you’re excited about?"</p>

<p>Without considering prestige of the other schools, i’d rather stay at my current school or go to berkeley, for the atmosphere and social scene. </p>

<p>I wasn’t planning on telling companies i wish to work for them for only a year. What’s wrong with working for them for a few months or a year, and then making up an excuse to leave the company when the time comes to attend grad school?</p>

6

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<p>I personally don’t have a problem with that. Also, working with a professor next year, even if the salary is meager, doesn’t sound like a bad option.</p>

7

<p>Your lack of focus in your original dilemma (materials, mechanical engineering, or applied math) and your reason for choosing mechanical (lack of quantum??) lead me to believe you’re probably not ready to pursue a PhD. (Masters is a separate issue). Getting a PhD involves focusing very narrowly on a topic of interest and then delving deep into it. It’s hard enough to choose a thesis topic out of a sub-sub-field, choosing one out of an entire department is quite a different matter. If you’re sure you know what you want to research, specifically, then it’s a good idea to talk difference in programs and schools; but until then, it doesn’t make much sense. Grad school is not a good time to figure out what you want to do with your life: go figure that out in the workplace, and then if you still want to come get your PhD, do so then. Otherwise you will likely flounder in your PhD program.</p>

8

<p>modern physics is based on q-mech, how could you major in Physics while you don’t get along with QM?!</p>

<p>btw ME is not a good field right now, mainly because the auto industry is in bad shape</p>

<p>And I highly agree with lizzardfire, you are not a PhD-ready. Go work in the industry, figure out what do you want to do with your life first. You’ve been in college for four years and that didn’t do the job, I don’t think few days of “careful thinking” gives the correct decision.</p>

<p>Chances are you will find a direction you want to pursue in a few years, and maybe your company will even cover the tuition for you.</p>

9

<p>There are some worrying things you are saying, like choosing your grad studies by default, based on what you DON’T like about other programs.</p>

<p>Also in many fields (and I don’t know engineering soso much) doing your PhD at the same place you did your undergrad is discouraged. You aren’t branching out and cross pollinating, finding new mentors. I don’t think you have yet said if you are looking at MS or PhD, but even this can be true for MS, unless your uni has a 5 year masters plan to take advantage of.</p>

<p>And this is especially off-base-sounding: “spending next year being unemployed and forced to work with a professor for a meager salary.” That you don’t view such an opportunity, should you get one, as a great experience for your grad studies and plus for your resume confuses me. Research experience on the res is always a plus, no? Also that you wouldn’t look for a nice paying internship, should money be a major issue.</p>

<p>So, though it was a good idea of you to wait to apply, this last minute rush seems ill advised. Will you resent the school that took you? Always thinking you could have done better? You may have good perspective on that if you send in a bunch of apps just to see how few acceptance you get, then you may be more appreciative.</p>

<p>Also you can have time to further evaluate MS vs. PhD. There are some programs (UW-Madison) that will admit you without prejudice as to which you are applying for and if you do MS, you are preadmitted to PdD if you pass quals (although my daughter goes there now and did get 4 year funding, implying a PhD track.)</p>

<p>Also you can have time to research, not just schools, but the professors you will like to work with in the sub-area of interest. My daughter (is first year grad student in CS at UW-M) spent quite a bit of time on this and indeed choose her school greatly influenced by that.</p>

10

<p>“If you’re sure you know what you want to research, specifically, then it’s a good idea to talk difference in programs and schools; but until then, it doesn’t make much sense. Grad school is not a good time to figure out what you want to do with your life: go figure that out in the workplace, and then if you still want to come get your PhD, do so then. Otherwise you will likely flounder in your PhD program.”</p>

<p>I thought lots of students enter a phD program but then exit with just a MS? I even talked about this with one of my professors, and he recommended that I do that if i’m not sure about getting a MS vs phD</p>

<p>“Chances are you will find a direction you want to pursue in a few years, and maybe your company will even cover the tuition for you.”</p>

<p>how will I know if they can cover the tuition? do i ask them during the interview before i’m hired? also, they only cover for MS, not phD, programs, right?</p>

<p>“And this is especially off-base-sounding: “spending next year being unemployed and forced to work with a professor for a meager salary.” That you don’t view such an opportunity, should you get one, as a great experience for your grad studies and plus for your resume confuses me. Research experience on the res is always a plus, no?”</p>

<p>i meant that i currently work with a professor, but i’ve been working for him for 6 months already, and it involves just simple programming, not related to the fields of engineering i’m looking at for grad school</p>

<p>"Also you can have time to further evaluate MS vs. PhD. "</p>

<p>i was offered admission to the DOE research internships for the spring term, but had to reject it due to family problems. they may accept me for the summer term, so this internship should help me with the decision of MS vs phD</p>

11

<p>creepy,</p>

<p>Leaving a PhD program with a masters can be dicey depending on the school - not all have provisions for it, some do not make it easy, and many schools get upset if you take that route by choice. I normally recommend this route as an escape option for those who WANT the PhD going in, and then change their minds during the program. If you are going in unsure, it is better to do a seperate MS even if you have to apy for it - in my opinion.</p>

<p>Tuition reimbursement by employers varies considerably between companies - small companies will often be unable to provide this but most larger companies have it available. When it is available, there are two issues - annual limits, and available programs. Most companies place a $ limit they will reimburse per year, which may limit your school choice and the length of your degree. Also, as you noted, most companies are loathe to pay for a “flight degree”, one where you are likely to leave the company afterwards. This includes MBA’s and doctorates, so to get approved for one of these programs you need to demonstrate a loyalty to the company such that they feel confident that you will return. Also, your degree needs to be related to your current or expected work - engineers ALWAYS have a hard time getting an MBA, for example.</p>

<p>As a personal note, my company (a Fortune 100 company) paid for my engineering MS with no annual limit, doling out $26k in total over 3 years and giving me flexible time to attend classes. They then allowed me to drop to part-time and move across the country to telecommute (mostly) while getting my PhD. My work obligation is equal or less that of an RA/TA, I get all of my school expenses paid, and my pay is $20k more than my best funding offer. Plus, I am still advancing at work, getting pay raises, and taking advantage of my company benefits. I am obligated to work there for a period after graduation, but hey, I LIKE my company.</p>

<p>If your current work with a professor does not involve research or innovation, then it is the wrong kind of position. Find a different prof or convince the current one that you are ready for a new role.</p>

<p>I would recommend waiting a year, just so you can do this properly - this is a bad time to make the decision, when most of the options are already closed to you. Plus, if Berkeley is a good choice for you (it was not for me, based on my specialty) and if you have a realistic chance at admission, then it seems foolish to abandon that option for you “current” school - unless you go to Stanford…</p>

12

<p>“I would recommend waiting a year, just so you can do this properly - this is a bad time to make the decision, when most of the options are already closed to you”
"Your lack of focus in your original dilemma (materials, mechanical engineering, or applied math) and your reason for choosing mechanical (lack of quantum??) lead me to believe you’re probably not ready to pursue a PhD. (Masters is a separate issue). Getting a PhD involves focusing very narrowly on a topic of interest and then delving deep into it. It’s hard enough to choose a thesis topic out of a sub-sub-field, choosing one out of an entire department is quite a different matter. "
“Grad school is not a good time to figure out what you want to do with your life: go figure that out in the workplace”</p>

<p>i applied for the DOE engineering internships for the summer term and will likely get accepted (since i got accepted into the spring term but had to reject it due to family problems), so as mentioned earlier, its not wise to work for an engineering company for just a few months, right? If i get accepted, what can i do in the mean time? just take mechanical engineering classes? if i dont take classes, how can working as an engineer in the workplace help me decide whether to get a phD or not if i have no background in mechanical engineering? dont i need to know what specific area of ME i like the most before i apply for phD programs?</p>

<p>oh, and finding a current engineering prof to do research with at my school is out of the option as none of them want to hire me, since i dont have an engineering background or they dont need undergrad students</p>

13

<p>Apply so at least you have the option on the table. However, if it were me, I would spend an extra couple of years and do the whole thing right. You only do grad school once. This may be different in the biomedical sciences, but my bosses in industry expected and were supportive of me going to grad school</p>

14

<p>well I got accepted today to my school’s graduate program in mechanical engineering. After taking 2 undergrad classes in ME this quarter, I’m pretty sure I want to get a MS in ME, but not really at my current school. If I had applied and got accepted into the other top schools of my choice, such as berkeley, I’d take the offer in a heartbeat since I’m not getting any job offers in industry for months now. So while I don’t really want to take the admission offer, its really tempting…Maybe I should defer admission, and then accept the offer next year if I don’t get into my other preferred schools?</p>