3 True Facts About Studying PhD
Raghav posted some very valuable comments to the article, M.S. or PhD, which was published yesterday.
We definitely need more readers like Raghav to come forward to post comments about their education and experience about their studies in the U.S.
Facts About PhD
Well, the person who posted this question is having different ambitions in mind other than pursuing PhD from a reputable institution in the United States.
I wonder if he/she should care about PR/green card when the immediate goal is to get on hold with the research activities and the requirements to take up PhD at various institutions.
I recently completed my master’s from a fairly reputed university in California, and I did not pursue PhD even though I got an offer from one of the professors there.
I made the decision just because I was not sure whether I would be able to sustain the drive and passion for the topic my advisor had suggested which will take another 3-4 years to complete.
PhD is not Easy as it Sounds
I do not want to sound rude or offend or discourage you from applying for PhD, but I am just furnishing the facts and discussing reality.
Take my word, it is not going to be easy getting a PhD. Even if you get an admit for a PhD program, the following things should be reckoned with.
First thing would be to clear the screening exam (most universities conduct this as a semi-formal interview with a panel composed of 3-5 professors) and believe me, the questions can range from any of the topics of your concentration.
You got to really prepare hard and allocate time for your examination such that you can take it with overflowing confidence since most universities offer only two chances for you to clear the test.
You have to balance this along with your regular curriculum to earn credits and maintain a healthy GPA.
Second if you have not found an advisor by then, you got to tighten up things and come up with a good topic and an advisor.
Third you have to appear for the qualifiers to get financially secure (since ’till then, some professors would pay off your tuition by means of TAs, which are hard to come by these days for PhD students too due to recession effects).
(Unless the business industry is booming with adequate funds and your institution has fantastic tie-ups with affluent organizations, professors are going to find money hard to come by.)
Your nascent thoughts on discontinuing PhD with a master’s reflect your resolve of not being clear or motivated to do PhD. I would suggest you to take that crucial step after considering the questions posted by HSB in their comment.
Good luck with your admission and career.
What is Research?
The above 3 facts are exactly true. PhD is not easy for someone who just wants to study for some graduate degree.
So, what does it take to do PhD?
- Toughness (even if you enjoy the work, research is tough)
- Hard work (solving a problem which was not solved by anyone in the world before)
- Dedication and Commitment.
- Focus for entire duration of a PhD program.
Many students after reading this article who were on the edge of applying for PhD just for funding will likely change their plans.
In some way that is good, because you will not suffer for 2 years when you face the above facts in real life.
If you don’t have a research experience and get admit for a direct PhD program, it will take at least 2 years to understand the meaning of research.
I have done my masters in physiotherapy and have been wrking since the last 3 yrs in academics. In addition to research subjects, I teach about 8 subjects more for both undergraduates as well as post graduates.Am a voracious reader and Iam also associated with guiding the postgraduate students with their reaserch work which is mandatory for getting the masters degree.
I plan to do my PhD in USA becz they have a really good standard,latest equipments as well as a much broader spectrum. Green card and better income is an incentive too but main motivation is the content and am willing to give my best both to achieve my dream and to work towards it.
I wanted tpo know which universities are considered good for PhD in physiotherapy (known as physical therapy in USA) and what about the funding (I mean what are the factors that are considered for funding)?
Plz let me know at the earliest. Thanks a lot.
Can someone tell me what kind of questions are generally asked in the telephonic interviews for Ph.D. admission???
I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you Sir. But let me tell you that I felt badly such that I was disappointed once I read you post about "3 true facts about studying PhD". Right now I am studying M.sc and I have received recently a scholarship for PhD from the university. Do you think that I am in right direction?
Hi all,
I m a student , doing MS on Software engineering and my GPA is 3.60 & GRE : 1040(720(M) + 320(E)+ 2(aw)). I m planning to do P.hd, pretty much interest to do P.HD.I need abest guidance from any of friends..
Thanks
VAI
Hi,
Greetings of the day!
I am a Bachelor of Pharmacy from INDIA. My GRE score is 1100 (350A+ 750Q; 3.0 (A.W.)), I am having 3.5 years of Experience in Clinical Research. My GPA is 3.45 (evaluated by World Education Services). I am interested to go for PhD program in Pharmacology. I do not have any hard core research experience.
Could you please let me know the name of few universities in which I can apply for program.
Further information:
• I would require financial support.
• I am looking for TTUHSC, but I am not sure that I will get the admission.
• I am ready to quit my job for reappearing in GRE and TOEFL Examinations.
Could you please provide some guidance for the planning?
I have 1160 on GRE and band 8 score in IELTS. I have abt 6 years of work experience which has nothing to do with my field of study. I have a masters in Political Science. Should I apply for Phd or MA? How good are my chances?
Thanks
I agree with what has been said here.
Also your research has to be completely original.It's definitely not a piece of cake to think of something new & investigate that area.One has to be ready to take up the challenge of exploring something that nobody has done before.But the highpoint is that one is able to learn so much, acquire great proficiency in a field of knowledge.What impresses me most about doing a PhD is to be able to dig your noses deep into journal reading, spending hours reading & learning, presenting these and exploring the nascent.
I also feel it's exciting cos one gets the opportunity to teach.This could be a very enriching experience.Also a Phd is most suitable to those who want to continue as researchers or become academicians.If you think all of the above is what you desire then a PhD is for you.
Hi,
I think it's a good idea to make the Ph.D aspirants aware of Ph.D. But my doubt is I have got about two years of research experience and now I am very much aware of what is research and I always enjoy making challenging tasks. My problem is recently I have given GRE my score is (370V + 710Q=1080, AW=1.5) and I have above 70% marks right from my school days to master degree and two papers are going to be published in a good reputed journal very soon. My concern is on whether I can Ph.D in Bioinformatics from any of the reputed institutes in U.S, Kindly suggest me.
Thanks & Regards
Vijaya
University of Texas at El Paso.
Well: I agree partially with R but here we have some trade- offs. ..as he mentioned you really need lot of patience, hardwork and of course your major advisor also matter's…eventually when you get the degree and land in a good job..that's complete diff story ..you earn a lot of respect, growth and good salary especially if you are in a industry..There are several things to consider…just getting a pH.D is not sufficient. pH.D with good publications, the type of work, univ matters…barely getting out of pH.D will end up as a post-doc for several years, which you may think at that point that pH.D doesn't give you a lucrative job..if you get in to a job with master's, you get some experience and to the level of pH.D in terms of salary if you convert your pH.D time (5-6 yrs)..again here with master's level you cannot go easily to higher positions or get promoted unlike pH.D's..
So it's your decision..think about your area of research, type of jobs, growth with master's and pH.D…..and of course green card
@SS – Good Insight. Here is another link that talks about PhD and Research from Purdue http://www.cs.purdue.edu/homes/dec/essay.phd.html
I am going to finish my BE this year. From what you said about Phd, i have definitely ruled out that option. But it has always been my dream to become a researcher.. I have already applied for MS. Now for the option between thesis/non-thesis, which one will be the best for me. I dont think i have a thorough knowledge in my field at this time. So im very aware of the necessity for me to get some more 'education' and get exposed to the depths of my field(thats the reason i chose to do MS in US). What i wanna ask is, are the MS thesis and non-thesis totally different? Can someone post a thorough study of these two options like the one posted by Raghav(for MS and Phd)? What i expect from my MS is, a lot of technical exposures in my field and proper guidance to help me realize my dream.
And im a newbie… if u have anyother suggestions(even rude ones) please shoot it out.
MS with Thesis option
I wanted to get some information about the masters with thesis option. I am an engineering student and want to switch to physics. I have thought of the field in which I would like to puruse a Ph.D., but for that I need a very deep and solid foundation of physics. The masters thesis program is said to be centered on research and the master non thesis is mostly a taught course, with a project which has a lower contribution to the complete course. Is it advisable to me to do a masters thesis option, given my engineering background. I have done some self study of the physics course taught in B.Sc., but I am not sure if that is enough to get straightaway into a research course for my masters. Please advise me on what is suitable for me in masters.
MS thesis and internship mandatory to get job in USA.
This is a great piece of information. When we are not involved in something… we just think about it very lightly. But when we do it… we face the real facts of life.