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What type of masters degree is it? Course-based or thesis-based? If you are interested in continuing on to a PhD, a thesis-based masters would give you a much b

What type of masters degree is it? Course-based or thesis-based? If you are interested in continuing on to a PhD, a thesis-based masters would give you a much better insight. Even better if you try to publish while you are getting your degree. If it is a course-based masters, it will take you a lot of extra work outside of classes to get a taste of research. Do you already know your area of interest? This would be tremendously helpful for trying to pick an advisor.

bradhoffman 8y ago
I choose to take the thesis route, but I still have 27 hours of coursework to complete as well. My goal was to have 2-3 publications over the next year, but I am not sure how feasible it is. I am in the middle of determining a route for my research right now. Leaning towards AI, but also enjoy Operating Systems, Networking, and Security.
- doctorsher 8y ago
  Wow, 27 hours of coursework and a thesis! Are you sure you can complete this in one year? That seems like a very heavy schedule. I guess it depends how your department accounts for course credit hours. My department was 30 hours of coursework for the course-based masters, 18 for the thesis-based masters -- 3 credit hours per course. It sounds like a very important role of your coursework will be to get a more refined idea of what research you'd like to perform. I'd recommend taking classes in each of your areas of interest. The more advanced classes might give you a better idea of research in that area. These are probably the classes the PhD students will be taking. I think a goal of 2-3 publications in one year is pretty lofty, but it depends how motivated you are and how much work you have to put into each of those publications. I think one solid publication (long paper, good conference/journal) will already give you a substantial edge in PhD admissions. This is a good goal; if you can do more, all the better! But I would hate for you to feel like you didn't meet your goal, and not be satisfied with one publication. Honestly, even if you go through the trouble of submitting a paper and it gets rejected, that is still an incredibly valuable learning experience. Feel free to email / google hangouts me at adam.r.drescher (at) gmail (dot) com if you have more detailed questions, want my perspective during your graduate school experience, etc. I'm happy to help.
- Miltnoid 8y ago
  Yeah 2-3 publications in a year, unless you've been working on them for 2 years before that, is not going to happen. If you can get one good publication, you'll get into nearly any program in that field.

bradhoffman 8y ago

I choose to take the thesis route, but I still have 27 hours of coursework to complete as well. My goal was to have 2-3 publications over the next year, but I am not sure how feasible it is. I am in the middle of determining a route for my research right now. Leaning towards AI, but also enjoy Operating Systems, Networking, and Security.

doctorsher 8y ago
Wow, 27 hours of coursework and a thesis! Are you sure you can complete this in one year? That seems like a very heavy schedule. I guess it depends how your department accounts for course credit hours. My department was 30 hours of coursework for the course-based masters, 18 for the thesis-based masters -- 3 credit hours per course. It sounds like a very important role of your coursework will be to get a more refined idea of what research you'd like to perform. I'd recommend taking classes in each of your areas of interest. The more advanced classes might give you a better idea of research in that area. These are probably the classes the PhD students will be taking. I think a goal of 2-3 publications in one year is pretty lofty, but it depends how motivated you are and how much work you have to put into each of those publications. I think one solid publication (long paper, good conference/journal) will already give you a substantial edge in PhD admissions. This is a good goal; if you can do more, all the better! But I would hate for you to feel like you didn't meet your goal, and not be satisfied with one publication. Honestly, even if you go through the trouble of submitting a paper and it gets rejected, that is still an incredibly valuable learning experience. Feel free to email / google hangouts me at adam.r.drescher (at) gmail (dot) com if you have more detailed questions, want my perspective during your graduate school experience, etc. I'm happy to help.
Miltnoid 8y ago
Yeah 2-3 publications in a year, unless you've been working on them for 2 years before that, is not going to happen. If you can get one good publication, you'll get into nearly any program in that field.