3 ms·

There's also option 1.5: You start at a grad school in a PhD program (so that you have support and do not pile up debt), and you leave with a Masters as quickl

There's also option 1.5: You start at a grad school in a PhD program (so that you have support and do not pile up debt), and you leave with a Masters as quickly as you can. I managed to get my MS in CS back in the early 90s in one calendar year. I had full support via a fellowship since I was one of the top students, so I did not have to be an RA or TA, and could take additional classes. I finished all but my MS Thesis requirement in 2 semesters and owed nothing thanks to the fellowship. I then decided I was leaving with an MS, and paid for my MS Thesis credits over the summer. This cost me only a year, and it happened immediately after undergrad when I was really good at studying anyhow. I am far enough into my career to realize that it strengthened my resume early on, and I think it has really helped my long-term career earnings. The funny thing is that I didn't intend to be so mercenary. My original intent was to get my requirements out the way early to leave more time for research the second year. I realized part-way through the year that I was not as enamored with the topic that I wanted to study as I thought I was, and I hadn't hit it off with the only logical choice for an advisor in that topic, so I wanted to get out something totally different.

Delmania 9y ago
> I managed to get my MS in CS back in the early 90s in one calendar year. I had a similar path, RIT has (or had) a dual degree program for Computer Science that only added a year to the regular undergrad program. Rather than take free electives, you swapped in the additional master's course you needed and all your undergrad classes became master's level courses (i.e. more work). I was suffering from depression at the time, so it took me a year to do my master's project (it's on Github, and it's not hard to find me there). I thought about going back for my PhD, but then realized the cost wasn't worth it. > The funny thing is that I didn't intend to be so mercenary. I was and still am. I got my degree from the perspective it would help me get more money. I strongly believe the only thing my job is for is money.
- yebyen 9y ago
  Shout out for RIT! I actually didn't know there really was a PhD program in Computer Science. I just found this page with a link to list of dissertation defenses[1] that I have never seen before; historically, I've always thought it was a big joke because of this page with the overview[2] link that just recurses on itself and just displays a different image... (go ahead, don't you want to read the overview? Just click again...) TIL that RIT has actually given out a few PhDs in Computer Science! [3] Of course I feel like I earned a PhD by spending seven years there just to get my bachelor's degree. [1]: https://www.cs.rit.edu/phd-computing-and-information-sciences https://www.cs.rit.edu/phd-computing-and-information-science... [2]: https://www.rit.edu/gccis/computingsecurity/academics/phd/overview https://www.rit.edu/gccis/computingsecurity/academics/phd/ov... [3]: https://www.cs.rit.edu/recent-phd-dissertations-advised-cs-faculty https://www.cs.rit.edu/recent-phd-dissertations-advised-cs-f...
Retric 9y ago
Even that's likely worse than simply taking a MS at night for ~3 years while making ~100k. Painful yes, but having a MS slightly sooner is not going to make such a huge salary difference over 3 years. And you can get a feel for what the job is like. The third option of a MS to simplify a mid career pivot point is also worth considering. Really, picking something you want to stick with for the next ~45 years at 20 is risky.
tonmoy 9y ago
I have actually seen some professors reluctant to take on US students. With foreign students they at least know for sure that they won’t be able to leave as easily
geezerjay 9y ago
> I managed to get my MS in CS back in the early 90s in one calendar year. I had full support via a fellowship since I was one of the top students, so I did not have to be an RA or TA, and could take additional classes. Unfortunately that strategy is only valid in the US, where higher education is inexplicably, absurdly and unjustifiably expensive. In countries where higher education is affordable, it still makes absolutely no sense to look at a PhD as anything other than a pastime that makes sense only as a personal pursuit.
vinchuco 9y ago
> You start in a PhD program (so that you have support and do not pile up debt), and you leave with a Masters as quickly as you can. "Student freeloads with this weird trick. Grad schools hate him!"

Delmania 9y ago

> I managed to get my MS in CS back in the early 90s in one calendar year. I had a similar path, RIT has (or had) a dual degree program for Computer Science that only added a year to the regular undergrad program. Rather than take free electives, you swapped in the additional master's course you needed and all your undergrad classes became master's level courses (i.e. more work). I was suffering from depression at the time, so it took me a year to do my master's project (it's on Github, and it's not hard to find me there). I thought about going back for my PhD, but then realized the cost wasn't worth it. > The funny thing is that I didn't intend to be so mercenary. I was and still am. I got my degree from the perspective it would help me get more money. I strongly believe the only thing my job is for is money.

yebyen 9y ago
Shout out for RIT! I actually didn't know there really was a PhD program in Computer Science. I just found this page with a link to list of dissertation defenses[1] that I have never seen before; historically, I've always thought it was a big joke because of this page with the overview[2] link that just recurses on itself and just displays a different image... (go ahead, don't you want to read the overview? Just click again...) TIL that RIT has actually given out a few PhDs in Computer Science! [3] Of course I feel like I earned a PhD by spending seven years there just to get my bachelor's degree. [1]: https://www.cs.rit.edu/phd-computing-and-information-sciences https://www.cs.rit.edu/phd-computing-and-information-science... [2]: https://www.rit.edu/gccis/computingsecurity/academics/phd/overview https://www.rit.edu/gccis/computingsecurity/academics/phd/ov... [3]: https://www.cs.rit.edu/recent-phd-dissertations-advised-cs-faculty https://www.cs.rit.edu/recent-phd-dissertations-advised-cs-f...

Retric 9y ago

Even that's likely worse than simply taking a MS at night for ~3 years while making ~100k. Painful yes, but having a MS slightly sooner is not going to make such a huge salary difference over 3 years. And you can get a feel for what the job is like. The third option of a MS to simplify a mid career pivot point is also worth considering. Really, picking something you want to stick with for the next ~45 years at 20 is risky.

tonmoy 9y ago

I have actually seen some professors reluctant to take on US students. With foreign students they at least know for sure that they won’t be able to leave as easily

geezerjay 9y ago

> I managed to get my MS in CS back in the early 90s in one calendar year. I had full support via a fellowship since I was one of the top students, so I did not have to be an RA or TA, and could take additional classes. Unfortunately that strategy is only valid in the US, where higher education is inexplicably, absurdly and unjustifiably expensive. In countries where higher education is affordable, it still makes absolutely no sense to look at a PhD as anything other than a pastime that makes sense only as a personal pursuit.

vinchuco 9y ago

> You start in a PhD program (so that you have support and do not pile up debt), and you leave with a Masters as quickly as you can. "Student freeloads with this weird trick. Grad schools hate him!"