4 ms·

I think he should still knock out a quick PhD in physics or similar, especially from a top notch school. There's got to be -something- he can learn being aroun

I think he should still knock out a quick PhD in physics or similar, especially from a top notch school. There's got to be -something- he can learn being around and cooperating with really smart people. Or as his mom says, "You've got to have something to fall back on..."

flatline 14y ago
Even if he gets accepted directly into a graduate program (I think this is very rare but he may qualify), the first couple years are not going to be dedicated to research. I agree that there would be a lot of value there for someone so young - what's the rush? - but I've never heard of a quick PhD.
- keiferski 14y ago
  Wittgenstein received a PhD from Cambridge solely from his book Tractatus, which he wrote during WWI. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_Wittgenstein#section_6 http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_Wittgenstein#section_6
  - keeganpoppen 14y ago
    Well thanks to you I just spent the last hour reading about Wittgenstein...
    - 001sky 14y ago
      1929–1941: Fellowship at Cambridge PhD and fellowship At the urging of Ramsey and others, Wittgenstein returned to Cambridge in 1929. Keynes wrote in a letter to his wife: "Well, God has arrived. I met him on the 5.15 train."[123] Despite this fame, he could not initially work at Cambridge as he did not have a degree, so he applied as an advanced undergraduate. Russell noted that his previous residency was sufficient for a PhD, and urged him to offer the Tractatus as his thesis. It was examined in 1929 by Russell and Moore; at the end of the thesis defence, Wittgenstein clapped the two examiners on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, I know you'll never understand it."[124] Moore wrote in the examiner's report: "I myself consider that this is a work of genius; but, even if I am completely mistaken and it is nothing of the sort, it is well above the standard required for the Ph.D. degree."[125] -- The story in a nutshell.
- arethuza 14y ago
  "the first couple years are not going to be dedicated to research" Depends on the country - in the UK you can/could go straight from completing an undergraduate degree to working full time in research doing a PhD without having to attend any more classes.
ayla 14y ago
btw he did get accepted to MIT undergrad and chose to defer. I know from a common friend.
dasil003 14y ago
He is both smart and has a good work ethic, so I wouldn't prescribe anything to him. He should work on what he wants to work on and the opportunities for collaboration will present themselves.

flatline 14y ago

Even if he gets accepted directly into a graduate program (I think this is very rare but he may qualify), the first couple years are not going to be dedicated to research. I agree that there would be a lot of value there for someone so young - what's the rush? - but I've never heard of a quick PhD.

keiferski 14y ago
Wittgenstein received a PhD from Cambridge solely from his book Tractatus, which he wrote during WWI. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_Wittgenstein#section_6 http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_Wittgenstein#section_6
- keeganpoppen 14y ago
  Well thanks to you I just spent the last hour reading about Wittgenstein...
  - 001sky 14y ago
    1929–1941: Fellowship at Cambridge PhD and fellowship At the urging of Ramsey and others, Wittgenstein returned to Cambridge in 1929. Keynes wrote in a letter to his wife: "Well, God has arrived. I met him on the 5.15 train."[123] Despite this fame, he could not initially work at Cambridge as he did not have a degree, so he applied as an advanced undergraduate. Russell noted that his previous residency was sufficient for a PhD, and urged him to offer the Tractatus as his thesis. It was examined in 1929 by Russell and Moore; at the end of the thesis defence, Wittgenstein clapped the two examiners on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, I know you'll never understand it."[124] Moore wrote in the examiner's report: "I myself consider that this is a work of genius; but, even if I am completely mistaken and it is nothing of the sort, it is well above the standard required for the Ph.D. degree."[125] -- The story in a nutshell.
arethuza 14y ago
"the first couple years are not going to be dedicated to research" Depends on the country - in the UK you can/could go straight from completing an undergraduate degree to working full time in research doing a PhD without having to attend any more classes.

ayla 14y ago

btw he did get accepted to MIT undergrad and chose to defer. I know from a common friend.

dasil003 14y ago

He is both smart and has a good work ethic, so I wouldn't prescribe anything to him. He should work on what he wants to work on and the opportunities for collaboration will present themselves.