College Question about Masters and phD

[nietsni3]

Originally posted by: biostud666
In Denmark 99% go for the masters, you can't really get a job without the master degree.

are they all geniuses or does the education system go easy on them?

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: nietsni3
dayem, no wonder the Physics department's head at my school said he spent 10 years just to take his PhD

My uncle got his PhD in theroretical physics. He took 8.5 years and said he was one of the fastest he knew of. A PhD in the pure sciences is often at the high end of the 4-8 year range and can often exceed it. I wouldn't be the least bit shocked at the 10 year mark you mention.

In fact, I know of several people who hit the 6, 7, or 8 year mark and just got a PhD level job without the actual degree - their employeers knew they had taken the classes, did the research work, and knew that finally getting the diploma is an overly drawn out affair. Once you get that first job education is pretty much unimportant.

 

[nietsni3]

so do they actually have to pay for the tuition of the school in that whole 10 years? i mean the longer it takes the more you pay? someone better not get stuck 10 years liek that at a top notch expensive university.

 

[welst10]

Originally posted by: nietsni3

Originally posted by: biostud666
In Denmark 99% go for the masters, you can't really get a job without the master degree.

are they all geniuses or does the education system go easy on them?

masters degrees ain't hard, much less than PhD.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: nietsni3
so do they actually have to pay for the tuition of the school in that whole 10 years? i mean the longer it takes the more you pay? someone better not get stuck 10 years liek that at a top notch university.

Most graduate students earn money for doing the work. You are paid as a teaching assistant or paid as a research assistant. $12,000-$20,000 a year is common. And they rarely if ever pay tuition (that is covered in your TA or RA stipend).

Some people don't get paid, but that is often if they were rejected from many schools, and had to settle for one school that didn't have money at the moment. The chance of this occuring is lower in the wealthy degrees (engineering) and highest in the poor degrees (teaching).

There are exceptions, I'm just talking the average grad student at the average university (not highly specialized and sought after schools).

 

[nietsni3]

but what i mean is no matter how much you get from the teching assistant, do they STILL have to pay the tuition every year as long as they have not finished the degree (which means if you dont teach to deduct the tuition, you have to pay in cash)? or do the school charge the money in a different way for graduate level (only charge the money on how many times you use their lab for instance)?

 

[biostud]

Originally posted by: welst10

Originally posted by: nietsni3

Originally posted by: biostud666
In Denmark 99% go for the masters, you can't really get a job without the master degree.

are they all geniuses or does the education system go easy on them?

masters degrees ain't hard, much less than PhD.

exactly, the first year is just like the bach., but then you'll need to do a thesis which is a research study taking a year. (Atleast that's how it works here in Copenhagen on biology)

 

[cquark]

Originally posted by: nietsni3
but what i mean is no matter how much you get from the teching assistant, do they STILL have to pay the tuition every year as long as they have not finished the degree (which means if you dont teach to deduct the tuition, you have to pay in cash)? or do the school charge the money in a different way for graduate level (only charge the money on how many times you use their lab for instance)?

A TA or RA will cover your tuition costs. If you're doing research without a TA/RA, you may not have to pay tuition until the term in which you defend your dissertation. You won't have an office or access to general university resources in this situation, but your advisor will likely let you use his computing and lab resources.

 

[cquark]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: nietsni3
dayem, no wonder the Physics department's head at my school said he spent 10 years just to take his PhD

My uncle got his PhD in theroretical physics. He took 8.5 years and said he was one of the fastest he knew of. A PhD in the pure sciences is often at the high end of the 4-8 year range and can often exceed it. I wouldn't be the least bit shocked at the 10 year mark you mention.

It's better these days. The average in physics is 6.5 years, a bit less for theoretical, a bit more for experimental.

 

[preslove]

Originally posted by: The Boss

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
Ok So i finish the my Criminal Justice Degree, and then which test would have have to take if i stayed with the same career, GRE?

probably GMAT. GRE is for more quantitative degrees such as engineering.

GMAT is usually just for MBA programs and/or management phds. LSAT for law, MCAT for med school. GRE for everything else (except for interdisciplinary programs).

 

[preslove]

Originally posted by: nietsni3
but what i mean is no matter how much you get from the teching assistant, do they STILL have to pay the tuition every year as long as they have not finished the degree (which means if you dont teach to deduct the tuition, you have to pay in cash)? or do the school charge the money in a different way for graduate level (only charge the money on how many times you use their lab for instance)?

If you get an assistantship you will get a fee waiver or tuition stipend that will cover your tuition. On top of this you will have to be a TA or RA, for which you will get $12,000-20,000. If you have good scores and grades you can get a fellowship, which gives you more money for less work. You're just expected to do really good research and publish. But all this is for PhD programs. You usually don't get money for a Masters.

 

[TuxDave]

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
Once you graduate college, if you want to pursue a Masters what is required, and about how many credits is it and years?

Also what is required to try to get a PhD?

I'm just wondering.

For UC Berkeley EECS(where engineering classes are mostly 3 credits with few that are 4)

M.S. (typical time is roughly 2 years to complete)

24 Credits where 10 of them must be Graduate Level
A research project or thesis

Ph'D (typical time frame is 3-4 extra years over a M.S.)

32 Credits where 24 (I think) must be Graduate Level
A thesis
Pass a prelim exam
Pass a dissertation

You're usually required to get a M.S. on your way to a Ph'D

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: nietsni3
but what i mean is no matter how much you get from the teching assistant, do they STILL have to pay the tuition every year as long as they have not finished the degree (which means if you dont teach to deduct the tuition, you have to pay in cash)? or do the school charge the money in a different way for graduate level (only charge the money on how many times you use their lab for instance)?

Most of the time as long as you are actively doing work, you will be paid. As long as you are being paid each semester by the college/university, most places don't charge tuition.

In 2004 at my university, you had to have a minimum of $12,918 stipend and your tuition was waved. If you has $10,412 - $12,918 yearly stipend, then fall and spring tuition was waved and up to 6 credits of summer tuition was waved. Under $10,412 and you had to pay full tuition. I did not know of a single student who didn't have the full tuition waived (but then I was in engineering where there are plenty of TAs, RAs, and people with fellowships).

However, I had to pay fees, but that amounted to less than $500 a year. This included things like entrance to gyms, health insurance, etc.

In engineering, many masters students get paid and get free tuition. I cannot comment on other fields - but RAs, TAs, and fellowships are availble if you can find one.