how long did you spend there? where did you go? what did you study?

did you just get your masters if it was a terminal program? or go on for your Ph.D.? reasoning?

8/9/2007 7:56:38 PM

/message_topic.aspx?topic=489517

8/9/2007 8:07:53 PM

yeah, not helpful at all

and in no way related to the topic

any serious responses? (thanks a shit ton Badu)

8/9/2007 9:25:09 PM

I did BS and MS in nuclear engineering at NCSU. I've been working in industry for 2 years now, and decided to go back for a Ph.D. It's down to Tennessee or Michigan at this point.

I can't say much for other fields, but in nuclear engineering, if you get a Ph.D., your career focus is pretty narrowly focused. I understand most Ph.D.s operate that way, but your job options get severely limited with a Ph.D. Due to that, I thought I'd test the waters in industry with the MS before going for Ph.D.

8/9/2007 9:31:32 PM

i got my master's from ncsu in organizational communication. it was a great program.

i went full time for 2 years - was a teaching assistant which paid for school and also gave me some extra $$.

they didn't offer a PhD but i am considering going back at some point.

8/9/2007 9:32:51 PM

i'm working on my phd in oceanography at scripps institution of oceanography (part of uc-san diego)

i'll have been here 5yrs next month, planning to finish in about 6months (long time, but on the beach in san diego is not a bad place to be 'stuck' for 5+yrs)

i went straight for my phd out of undergrad, scripps generally doesn't offer masters degrees

8/10/2007 1:14:01 PM

Getting my MBA through Campbell's RTP campus

Will take 2 years. Business.

No Ph.D

Reason? More $$$. Plain & simple

8/10/2007 1:42:53 PM

I'm going straight through with my PhD, while also working with a company who is funding my research. My research is my job, so it's essentially counting twice. I finished my MS last year, and will probably complete the PhD next December.

I guess that would be 4 years after undergraduate.

I started out at NCSU, and due to budget problems, Progress Energy dropped the funding, and it got picked up by Georgia Power, so I'm now at Georgia Tech.

Why I did it? I had lots of companies approach me when I was graduating, and one of the options was doing research for an energy consortium. They asked if I would be interested in it, getting free education and full salary, and it just seemed the right thing to do. One thing I demanded was that in addition to doing research for them that I work out in the field, too, to get some sort of hand on ( ) experience. They not only agreed, but insisted. So far it's been great.

8/10/2007 3:06:33 PM

Quote :

"yeah, not helpful at all and in no way related to the topic any serious responses?"

i got a serious response...eat my shorts

8/10/2007 10:03:10 PM

Im currently working on my M.S. in International and European Relations at Linkoping University in Sweden. I'm writing my thesis right now and should graduate in January, 1.5 years after I started. A free education in a foreign country with a reputable education system and taking one semester less than most american schools sold me on this program. However, at this point, ive had enough school and dont plan on a PhD.

8/11/2007 7:05:35 AM

Dr. EMCE......

8/11/2007 11:31:38 AM

After four years teaching high school, I decided I would rather be a college professor. I've spent the last five years in the math department at NCSU (teaching one class a semester), and expect to receive my PhD in May. It's a long process, but I'm very glad that I did it, and glad that I was mostly done before having kids.

8/11/2007 9:58:10 PM

Graduated from State in 2004 with a B.A. in political science and a minor in journalism. Worked for a newspaper in South Carolina for a year before I decided the money wasn't good enough despite how happy I was with the work. Because, let's face it, happy doesn't pay the bills.

At State, again, for a master's in communication. Been here for three semesters, and this fall is my final semester. I'll probably try to get a job in public relations before going off to law school in a year or so.

I should say that if I am extraordinarily pleased with my job after my master's, I might not go to law school. But as of right now, law school is my intention.

8/12/2007 11:19:35 PM

^ if you really want law school, why didn't you go for the MA? could have gone to law school after your job, instead of grad school.

could have saved money and time!

8/13/2007 8:25:53 PM

Because I was desperate to leave where I was. The whole process of applying to the program and moving away took two months (I applied in early November, arrived in Raleigh at the end of December).

And I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to go to law school at the time. I was considering staying in journalism in some way, and the master's would have helped with that, according to several of the people I talked to about it.

8/14/2007 1:11:32 PM

I'm in the PhD program here - got my M.S. here as well... both in applied mathematics. Why? Because I think I'd like to teach one day, and I don't have the patience for high school age or younger. So I need a PhD to teach at the collegiate level.

8/22/2007 2:56:21 PM

I really do appreciate the input guys

8/22/2007 10:27:07 PM

Went to American University. 2 year program in International Affairs. The degree was split into two concentrations. I chose Int'l Economic Policy and International (Third World) Development. Got the masters. Wanted the terminal degree because I wanted to focus on applications, on policy creation, not theory or teaching. There was nothing that made the degree terminal except for the research project towards the end. Everyone was admitted to the terminal masters. To go on to the PhD, you had to a) write a thesis versus the non-thesis option (which was still as much work as a thesis) and b) you had to apply to the PhD and be admitted. The second was hard. 10 students chosen from a field of 100 (for the PhD). Often people who got their masters at American went on to do PhDs elsewhere. Those who did Master's elsewhere, came to American for their PhD.

I liked the options we had. I would do it again.

8/22/2007 10:31:44 PM