Oh, sorry, you made it seem like for some reason the Ph.D candidate having a Ph.D was less favorable for the position than the M.S. candidate. I read your "story" as saying that an M.S was better, which is where my confusion came from.
NO...neither is better or worse...it depends on what you want to do. The M.S.w/Thesis is a stronger degerr than a coursework M.S. Because it involves a research you must defend in front of a committee. Maybe they pass you maybe they don't...it is a defense.
Ah ok, I wasn't aware of that distinction.
That is how they are defined....I do not really see the difference...but that all depends on how independent you are...It has been my experience and for most I know...that there is NOT as much interaction with you research advisor in the PhD program....You pick your project and you do it...basically you are on your own...
I chose the school wher I did my M.S. BECAUSE of its phiosophy regarding the M.S....that school does not have a PhD program and they do NOT intend to implement one (let me be very specific you can get a PhD there if it is in THEOLOGY and you intend to eneter the priesthood)...it is known to specialize in the M.S. and its program is geared to assisting the working student with their puruit of an M.S.. Meaning, they will do everything in their power to assist you in finishing/completing if you work. That means the classes are offered with great frequency-QUARTERLY....(and I love the Quarter System) and there are many sections at various times of day/evening.
So some people enter grad school declared as a M.S and then after that get a Ph.D?
Sure all the time. I did. With an M.S. you are considered to be a strong candidate. In fact, you have already completed the same coursework that is core to the PhD. Most professors look at you as a good investment-they feel you can accelerate quickly...can begin your reasearch quickly...do not have to spend time taking coursework; since, you have completed it.
Yea, that's what my understanding of how things were usually done was (this is what I'm planning on doing for grad school).
Most people do that. Afterall, if you do not get the PhD they will give you the M.S. assuming you did the coursework and went the distance. Distance...meaning all the way to the defense...there are many horror stories I could tell you about grad school and the PhD program...like one woman I know whose advisor never reviewed her work...just let her go right into that defense with no support...she was not passed left with an M.S.....Another student I know had to have emerrgency surgery to remove a polynoidal cyst from the base of her spine...when he was out recovering for more than 1 week his advisor filled his file with negatives...he wound up switching advisors....NOT A GOOD IDEA TO DO THAT OFTEN (makes you look like you are flailing-cannot stick with a project)....That was not the case here he did graduate with the M.S....but things happen you cannot predict...there are alot of games played in academia....some are very political...On the other hand, pursuing the PhD can be very rewarding and a good experience-Be very careful when picking an advisor...make sure he/she will support you.
Fair enough. That's sort of what a Professor of a grad school told me. If I was getting a PhD because I wanted a bigger salary, that I probably was getting it for the wrong reasons.
HA HA ....Smart professor there...listen to him/her....do not get a PhD thinking you will be a millionaire...now you sound like my cousin...she is all about the money...she has an M.S. and makes the same as the PhDs in her company...no salary differenece there....You will make the money from your company based on what you do for them....But, ther are cases wher ther are salary differences...depends on what you are doing and the structure of the campany...
Right now I have a friend with an M.S. at my company...her base is 80K and she gets 15% profit sharing twice a year- and employee stock purchasing-(discount on stock) + incentives...incentives are big... makes more than some PhDs...and look at the company profiles...you can clearly see that some VPs...are makeing 250K base and I am teling you they do NOT even have an M.S.. My direct supervisor makes 185K + a year has a B.S.....So you go figure...
Interesting. Is this common? So, when she was working for them, how did she balance her time for the degree and her job? That seems like it would be difficult... 'preciate the info, I'll be graduating next year, so I'm starting to look into the whole grad school process/deal.
YES...it is very common...and if you want the degeree you make the time. You know the M.S. coursework is not really that difficult-assuming you did well undergrad. It is a reitteration of everything you learned in your B.S.plus more. There are many people who finish therir PhDs within the framework of their company...esp in pharma....you do your research while working...the company OWNS that work...I know some people who have done this in food science as well. Check what the campanies offer. Why not you are solving a problem for thwm and you get you PhD...works out for both of you...You get your PhD and they get one too...or M.S. same thing..
One of the companies I just interviewed with really pushed that as a proactive benefit....and they gave 100% tuition reimbursement...where I am now it is 95%....so ddepends..Oh tuition reimbursement is usually grade dependent....if you get an A get between 90-100%, etc....some companies have riders wher they expect you to stay with them...
There are even companies that currently offer educational assistance to undergrads to get them into their conpanies. Eli-Lilly just opened such a program in PR.
I can tell you one thing...I love X-ray analysis. that is my favorite area of analysis. I know tah most companies that do X-ray are going to pursue a PhD to do their XRD 9X-ray diffraction). I have heard them STATE-they do this because they "want that linear thinking." They want someone who has done that and just that-dedicated years to XRD...Now, most people running XRD are doing method development...so that is one perspective.
There are many different points of view and perspectives...you have to find your comfort zone...and your own perspective....
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