How did you come up with your Thesis?

[TripleAAA]

Well, I'm just about to delve into graduate school and was curious about how the whole thesis thing worked. It's always been a bit of a mystery to me. I realize the process probably varies quite a bit from school to school, but I'm just wanting to get some comments, suggestions, etc.

How did you come up with your topic?
Did you enjoy it?
How long did it take you?

...stuff like that.

 

[IronWing]

Follow the money. In the sciences grad students generally don't dream up their topics but select from the topics for which their advisor has funding. That being said, a student generally ends up doing work that interests them.

Edit:

Oh, yes I did enjoy my thesis research.
Two years for M.S.

 

[coomar]

so choosing an interesting advisor is important

 

[TripleAAA]

Originally posted by: ironwing
Follow the money. In the sciences grad students generally don't dream up their topics but select from the topics for which their advisor has funding. That being said, a student generally ends up doing work that interests them.

Edit:

Oh, yes I did enjoy my thesis research.
Two years for M.S.

Interesting to know. I was under the impression that I basically chose what I wanted to do with approval by the professor or director of grad studies. I'm in a different major so I guess we'll see.

 

[jmcoreymv]

It depends. At my school you have the option of picking your own topic randomly, but then if you need funding, you have to use your own money, or send out the proposals to get your own funding. Or you can talk to the professors and see if they already have a funded project that you can work on.

 

[Drakkon]

Originally posted by: ironwing
Follow the money. In the sciences grad students generally don't dream up their topics but select from the topics for which their advisor has funding. That being said, a student generally ends up doing work that interests them.

Edit:

Oh, yes I did enjoy my thesis research.
Two years for M.S.

This is the impression i got when i inquired about the matter, that you didnt choose, really find the advisor that is working on something that has funding for you to piggyback, this was in math however. I didnt end up going for my masters as it cost too much at the time, but im leaving the option open after working for a couple years

 

[mephiston5]

I thank the gods I don't have to write one for my MBA...

 

[IronWing]

It really is dependent on the cost. If you can find a cheap topic then you can do as you say. If the project requires lots of money then either you'll be writing grant proposals or you're stuck working on projects which are already funded. If you want to finish more quickly and research in your area of interest is expensive then picking a project that is already funded may be a better choice. At the PhD level the student often writes the grant proposal for their topic.

 

[TripleAAA]

Bump

 

[TripleAAA]

^