Grad School or not?

[wviperw]

In trying to pick an undergrad school to transfer to (for CS), I'm beginning to wonder whether I should consider Graduate school. I think I might want to do it, since I enjoy learning in general, and am pretty self motivated. I've never really done research (though I intend to in my final undergrad years), but I think I might like it. The only part I'm not so sure about is the whole TA'ing aspect. I really don't think I want to be teaching any classes any time soon. From what I hear you've gotta TA for at least the first semester of grad school, but then you can do more interesting stuff like research.

So anyway, should I be basing my decision of undergrad university on whether I go to grad school? Is grad school worth it? I've heard it isn't a good idea to do grad school at the same school you get your undergrad degree from--is this true?

I've read some of the guides on the internet regarding this, I'm just wanting to hear some first hand experience as well.

 

[bradruth]

You could always go to a different grad school. Go to the undergrad school you want to and then find out if you'll want to go to grad school. What year are you now?

 

[wviperw]

Technically finishing up my sophomore year, though credits-wise I'm almost a senior.

I just want to be best prepared for grad school if I decide to do it. Some schools are obviously going to prepare me for grad school better than others, depending on the area of interest I choose.

 

[bradruth]

What do you want to do when you're done with college?

 

[wviperw]

Heh, that's the 20k question isn't it? I know what I don't want to do: I don't want to be in a cubicle, I don't want to be another 9-5 suit, I don't want to be deeply entrenched in business, I don't want to teach, etc.

As far as what I do want to do, that's a bit harder to pinpoint. I'm thinking something to do with developing/designing interesting computer graphics software, or maybe AI instead?

Either way, I want to work with the--to be cliche--"cutting edge" technologies... developing new and interesting ways to bring "reality to the computer screen."

 

[bradruth]

Don't want to be in a cubicle...don't want to work 9-5...have you thought about switching your major? I'm not a CS guy, so you might want someone else's opinion on what you can do with a CS degree, because I honestly don't know.

 

[PrincessGuard]

If your final degree goal is a master's, you very likely would not NEED to TA as a grad student. In fact, graduate positions (e.g. TA, RA) are extremely competitive and you might not be able to get a job even if you wanted it.

 

[miniMUNCH]

Do grad school if you can...totally worth it.

TA'ing is easy...you don't teach the class just hold office hours and grad homework, etc.

<-- in grad school at Carnegie-Mellon

 

[SackOfAllTrades]

you can do what all the other tech majors/hard science majors are doing and go into law school. thanks for picking a FOTM major and then screwing all us law undergrads over just because of your "tech background" even though in reality you were dry-humping your FOTM trends.



...fsckers...

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: SackOfAllTrades
you can do what all the other tech majors/hard science majors are doing and go into law school. thanks for picking a FOTM major and then screwing all us law undergrads over just because of your "tech background" even though in reality you were dry-humping your FOTM trends.



...fsckers...

oh, that's what i'm doing!

 

[SackOfAllTrades]

Originally posted by: gopunk

Originally posted by: SackOfAllTrades
you can do what all the other tech majors/hard science majors are doing and go into law school. thanks for picking a FOTM major and then screwing all us law undergrads over just because of your "tech background" even though in reality you were dry-humping your FOTM trends.



...fsckers...

oh, that's what i'm doing!

Well, by the time you pass the Bar (if you ever do), there will be more lawyers than crime itself...congratulations on getting into tens of thousands of dollars more in debt just to make 45k/yr.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: SackOfAllTrades

Originally posted by: gopunk

Originally posted by: SackOfAllTrades
you can do what all the other tech majors/hard science majors are doing and go into law school. thanks for picking a FOTM major and then screwing all us law undergrads over just because of your "tech background" even though in reality you were dry-humping your FOTM trends.



...fsckers...

oh, that's what i'm doing!

Well, by the time you pass the Bar (if you ever do), there will be more lawyers than crime itself...congratulations on getting into tens of thousands of dollars more in dept to make 45k/yr.

a.) i don't plan on going into criminal law
b.) if i don't get into a top 15 school, i'm not going
c.) a lot of the top schools have loan-forgiveness programs if you take a public sector job (which, at 45k, is what you probably are taking)

and wtf is fotm?

 

[SackOfAllTrades]

Originally posted by: gopunk

b.) if i don't get into a top 15 school, i'm not going

thank god you're smarter than the rest.

FOTM = Flavor of the Month. For majors, the best example would be the CS trend that started about 8 years ago and the Aerospace Engineer major trend about 18 years ago.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: SackOfAllTrades

Originally posted by: gopunk

b.) if i don't get into a top 15 school, i'm not going

thank god you're smarter than the rest.

FOTM = Flavor of the Month. For majors, the best example would be the CS trend that started about 8 years ago and the Aerospace Engineer major trend about 18 years ago.

ah cool

yea i decided it wasn't really worth it for a less prestigious school.

 

[SackOfAllTrades]

Originally posted by: gopunk

Originally posted by: SackOfAllTrades

Originally posted by: gopunk

b.) if i don't get into a top 15 school, i'm not going

thank god you're smarter than the rest.

FOTM = Flavor of the Month. For majors, the best example would be the CS trend that started about 8 years ago and the Aerospace Engineer major trend about 18 years ago.

ah cool

yea i decided it wasn't really worth it for a less prestigious school.

Ya, I'd say go top 10 (if you want to make money). I want to become a criminal prosecutor so I wouldn't need to go to such a highly ranked law school. But who becomes a lawyer for the law anymore?

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: SackOfAllTrades

Originally posted by: gopunk

Originally posted by: SackOfAllTrades

Originally posted by: gopunk

b.) if i don't get into a top 15 school, i'm not going

thank god you're smarter than the rest.

FOTM = Flavor of the Month. For majors, the best example would be the CS trend that started about 8 years ago and the Aerospace Engineer major trend about 18 years ago.

ah cool

yea i decided it wasn't really worth it for a less prestigious school.

Ya, I'd say go top 10 (if you want to make money). I want to become a criminal prosecutor so I wouldn't need to go to such a highly ranked law school. But who becomes a lawyer for the law anymore?

it's not just the money though (cuz then i'd just go into business)... i'm really interested in clerking for a judge, and it's going to be easier if you're at a better school. plus you have more geographic mobility (i.e., you can get jobs just about anywhere as opposed to the area your law school is in).

 

[wviperw]

"Don't want to be in a cubicle...don't want to work 9-5...have you thought about switching your major?"

Hehe, don't take me literally. By those statements, I just meant I don't want to be a corporate-whore, or whatever. I'm all for working long hours in front of a computer if it is going to be something I love to do. I'm *not* going into the computer industry for the "money", or for the "business atmoshpere". Those are just side effects.


"TA'ing is easy...you don't teach the class just hold office hours and grad homework, etc"

Seriously? I guess it depends on the college, 'cas I've always heard TA's do almost all the teaching (because professors are lazy and are doing research).

 

[Svnla]

As an MBA grad, I think Grad school is worth it. If you are willing to work hard and dedicate yourself to ear it (no more cruising by as you did in Undergrad classes).

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: wviperw
Heh, that's the 20k question isn't it? I know what I don't want to do: I don't want to be in a cubicle, I don't want to be another 9-5 suit, I don't want to be deeply entrenched in business, I don't want to teach, etc.

As far as what I do want to do, that's a bit harder to pinpoint. I'm thinking something to do with developing/designing interesting computer graphics software, or maybe AI instead?

Either way, I want to work with the--to be cliche--"cutting edge" technologies... developing new and interesting ways to bring "reality to the computer screen."

going to CS grad school depends on what you want to do. if you are not going to get a phd, there are not that many really good reasons. from what i saw of my friends (i was a CS undergrad)

most of them went to grad school because the economy sucked and they didnt wanna go get jobs.

they also had good grades and had the option (i did not).


anyway

1. you want to work at a company in defense like boeing. these companies basically you have to have an MS to move up in the company. they are very you have to have good grades and look good type places. why you would want to work at one of these places however is the more important question.

2. you want to get a phd.

3. you actually like doing research.


4. this is the good reason. you want to work in some weird field that doesnt have practical applications right now. there are tons of theoretical fields dealing with say AI especially that are not really used in the business world. if you want to learn about them you'd have to go to grad school or work for some think tank.


i guess if its just about jobs, experience is probably better to have. at ucla i know an MS in CS is only 9 classes. and they are in the quarter system. conceivably you could get an MS in 1 year. undergrads btw take about 12 classes a year , granted less competitive. so this 1 year of school really isnt that impressive anymore, since most people know its really only 1 year where you probably shoulda been working, if this isa money thing.



you probably really shouldnt be thinking about this. i'm assuming you are in jr college. 2 years of CS can make or break you. probalby 3 anyway since you are gonna be a transfer .


i've got friends who after their 4 years of CS (they obviously did not love it very much) have decided to be math teachers, or bartenders, or do technical services (that means i majored in CS but dont like programming). so yeah dont worry about it yet.