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Getting my Ph. D

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first you need to get into a large well funded undergrad program so you can get plenty of research experience. look for big name professors on campus to work with so you can get a good rec

next you need to take your GREs and do real well and apply to plenty of grad programs. if you get into a PhD program, they pay your tuition and give you a small stipend to live on while you're in the PhD program.
 
Originally posted by: Astray
the more I think about it now the more I'm starting tot think a Ph. D might not be worth it.

I do want to live some sort of life, so maybe a Masters would be best for me, especially since I don't exactly have money to burn, I'll be saving up/getting alot of loans to do this, I wouldn't want to waste it...
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I know from talking to a few TAs in my School, who are in the master/PHD program, one of them was telling me that he thinks about his research almost all the time. He said he once when he didn't have pen and paper on him, he wrote down a research idea on a bar napkin while at said bar. Wake up in the middle of the night with an idea, write it down. And depending on your personality, you might work on it for 4-5 hrs, in the middle of the night. The impression i get from him and a few professors is, if you don't want to do reserach, then don't get your masters/phd in eng.

Oh, And, if you did get your PhD, not all of the profs stay in acedemia. IN my school, a few left to start a startup company. I think it looks good to investors when you have a few PhD starting a company that are experts in their field and want to build/market a product that require their knowldege/research.
 
Thanks alot for all the great advice, I think I'll continue to shoot for my Ph. D, then, if I deem necessary, I'll cut it off wherever it may be the most appropriate.

I'm gonna save and print this thread, It's gonna help me alot.
 
Also, what exactly Is Academia? I hear references to it all the time but have no idea what it actually is...

Wikipedia + google ftw...
 
Originally posted by: Astray
Also, what exactly Is Academia? I hear references to it all the time but have no idea what it actually is...

Wikipedia + google ftw...
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Working at a university
 
Originally posted by: hypn0tik
Originally posted by: gopunk
Originally posted by: hypn0tik
Originally posted by: gopunk
Originally posted by: iwantanewcomputer
Originally posted by: erub
go to the best school you can get into for CompE undergrad, do well, then apply for M.S. & Ph.D. programs
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that would be the obvious answer now wouldn't it...
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is there any other?
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Not that I know of.

Bachelors -> Masters -> Ph.D -> Post Doc -> What now?
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academia... i'm not sure if post doc helps with industry much
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I was merely listing the degrees that I know of and in what order they are done.

I doubt that Ph.Ds would help very much in industry either. I don't know of very many people who are out in industry holding a Ph.D. They usually end up in academia somehow.
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In CompSci? Are you kidding? A ton end up in industry, working on developing new technologies 'n stuff...

But it's the engineering PhD's that really make the cash as consultants.

 
Originally posted by: Astray
Wow, thanks alot for all the replies, this certainly helps me, I was getting frustrated because Ididn't want to start applying until I knew exactly what needed to be done first.

Thanks alot.

I plan on going to MIT, They offer most of the classes I'm going to need to take, if not, all of them. ...Now to get the money...

Though a Ph. D isn't exactly required for the field, I want to do this for myself, and to make sure my family never has to worry about anything, ever...
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if money is a big concern, i'd go to a reputable state school for undergrad...kick a$$, get a 4.0, find professors you can do research under....and then apply to MIT for their grad program

save you some money
 
Christ people are using ATOT to plan there career paths.... In the beginning of the thread you wanted a Ph.D halfway through you said " actually i think i dont want it" then at the end you said you want it again... it seems as if you dont know WTF you want...
 
This was already covered but here goes again:

Get your BS/MS (more on this down below) at a decent school, the reputation of the school means something but not alot. Look for professors or research groups that are doing things you are sort of interested in and see if they have an opening for an undergrad, this will be your first exposure to research work. You may have to volunteer to get this exposure but it is invaluable both in experience for the grad school apps and in recommendations. If this isn't possible then at least get to know a couple professors for good recommendations a professor that knows you will write a better letter than one that just knows your grade.

Some schools offer a fifth year MS program, if you are sure you want to work towards a PhD this might not be a bad idea (I know of a few people where I am at that did just this and it seems to have helped them) but it is usually a strictly coursework option, you'll do a year to 1.5 years of grad coursework at the end or after you finish your BS.

If you are unsure about the PhD you have two options:
1) Apply as a masters student and do a thesis, the thesis is kind of like a mini dissertation. It lets you try your hand at some small research project and if you hate doing the thesis then I can't imagine a dissertation would be something you'd want to do. Also if you do decide you want to do a PhD then getting a recommendation from a current faculty that might also be able to guarantee your funding is (at least where I'm at) an almost certain guaranteed entrance to the program. In addition at some schools getting into the MS program is easier than the PhD so this can be a nice little backdoor into a school you might have had a harder time with. Secondly when doing review for your thesis topic you may find your true research interests have changed and you can apply to a different schools PhD program that aligns with your interest better.
2) Apply as a PhD, do a MS thesis, if you hate it take your MS and run, if you love it you are already on your way.

If you are doing a PhD for monetary reasons as an engineer it doesn't pay off, the best payoff is a MS (I don't remember where I read this so you'll just have to take my word on it). Doing a PhD because you are interested in research is really the only reason you should be doing it. The types of positions opened up with a PhD in industry are typically R&D, if thats not your interest you can stop at a MS and do what you want to do.

So as to not sound like I am making stuff up I'm currently working on my MSEE doing a thesis an my current advisor wants me to stick around in his group for a PhD but I'm still fence sitting.
 
I think you are putting the cart before the horse.

What you really need to do is just finish your bachelor's degree and then see how things pan out. I think the last thing you need to be concerning yourself with is what PhD program you are interested in.
 
Get a cheap but good Bachelor's degree. Do well in GRE, and do well in classes. Apply for Graduate Schools where you like the research - apply for a ph.D program. Get accepted. Get your ph.D in 3.5-5 years depending on advisor. Make lots of money.

The End.


P.S. you dont have to get your master's degree prior to a ph.D. Most programs offer direct to ph.D programs. Additionally, the coursework a ph.D has to go through is equivalent to the coursework a master's degree has to do which exception of electives.

It is recommended that you get your ph.D from a school different from your b.s. degree simply because you need to expand your horizons, get "outside of the box" etc.
 
first you need a real degree in computer science (BA), from a good school, with amazing grades, extracuricular activities, etc. basically you need to rock college the way the best kids rocked high school. then you'll probably need to work in the field a couple years. then you might be considered for a doctoral program at a university. but if your performance is less than stellar, you'll need a masters degree to even be considered. after that, they make the steps clear to you. expect to spend at least 5-7 years on the PhD alone.
 
Originally posted by: KarmaPolice
you have to get a BS, then a masters, and then you can get a Ph. D

There is no go straight to Ph. D card...
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WRONG WRONG WRONG. did you just pull that out of your ass?

plenty of people go straight to PhD programs, but you need good grades to do it. most PhD programs award masters degrees along the way. if you get a masters first, you are wasting two years repeating stuff when you go for your PhD. but some people have to do this to prove to PhD programs that they are capable of post-grad work.
 
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