1) This special program is for students interested in pursuing the Masters Degree, though it would be completed alongside students pursing a PhD or MS/PhD, and

1) This special program is for students interested in pursuing the Masters Degree, though it would be completed alongside students pursing a PhD or MS/PhD, and one could switch to the PhD track if they wanted to. 2) Applying to grad schools as a PhD candidate is standard advice given by professors, so that wouldn't be an embarassing thing to do.