Question from a student for the list

[Katharine Dickson]

I am an undergrad headed for graduate school to get my PhD.  The
question is what route I'm going to take.

It is probable that I am going to end up going to graduate school
overseas; my top programs, and indeed, most of the programs that
actually do research in the area that I want to research, are located
in England, Scotland, and Australia.  Knowing how their degrees are
structured (little to no graduate courses, per se, depending on
whether you enter with a bachelor's degree or with a master's degree,
and one can even have zero courses entering with only a bachelor's
degree), which route do you recommend for maximizing the chance that
I'll have success in finding a postdoctorate and faculty position
afterward?  If I elect to get a master's degree before beginning a
PhD, I'll probably remain in the United States until I begin my PhD.

1) Straight to doctorate
2) Get a master's degree before starting my doctorate

Any opinions or advice are welcome.

Katharine Dickson

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[Bill.Connelly]

In the UK and Australia if you enter a PhD they are going to expect
you are research ready. That you understand the topic and the methods
(though you don't have to have practicle experience). 99% of the
people in the PhD stream with you will have already done a years
(either full or part time) worth of research.

If that sounds intimidating, then it sounds like you should do a
masters, and if I were you, I would do my masters in the same lab you
plan to do your PhD in.

On Oct 11, 7:51 am, Katharine Dickson <neurobad...@...> wrote:

> I am an undergrad headed for graduate school to get my PhD.  The
> question is what route I'm going to take.
>
> It is probable that I am going to end up going to graduate school
> overseas; my top programs, and indeed, most of the programs that
> actually do research in the area that I want to research, are located
> in England, Scotland, and Australia.  Knowing how their degrees are
> structured (little to no graduate courses, per se, depending on
> whether you enter with a bachelor's degree or with a master's degree,
> and one can even have zero courses entering with only a bachelor's
> degree), which route do you recommend for maximizing the chance that
> I'll have success in finding a postdoctorate and faculty position
> afterward?  If I elect to get a master's degree before beginning a
> PhD, I'll probably remain in the United States until I begin my PhD.
>
> 1) Straight to doctorate
> 2) Get a master's degree before starting my doctorate
>
> Any opinions or advice are welcome.
>
> Katharine Dickson

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Neur-sci@...
http://www.bio.net/biomail/listinfo/neur-sci

[polly jo]

On the other hand, if you're a smart 'un you'll be wasting time doing a masters. Coz, you could essentially get the hang of "research" in about 6 months, even rocket science is not as difficult as is made out to be.  
Then again, perhaps it is a good idea to go for masters, in case you decide after two years that getting a doctorate is a super waste of time (which sometimes it is), you have a degree that allows you credibility and land an equally good job. :)

Good luck!

Polly


--- On Fri, 10/16/09, Bill <connelly.bill@...> wrote:

> From: Bill <connelly.bill@...>
> Subject: [Neuroscience] Re: Question from a student for the list
> To: neur-sci@...
> Date: Friday, October 16, 2009, 3:31 AM
> In the UK and Australia if you enter
> a PhD they are going to expect
> you are research ready. That you understand the topic and
> the methods
> (though you don't have to have practicle experience). 99%
> of the
> people in the PhD stream with you will have already done a
> years
> (either full or part time) worth of research.
>
> If that sounds intimidating, then it sounds like you should
> do a
> masters, and if I were you, I would do my masters in the
> same lab you
> plan to do your PhD in.
>
> On Oct 11, 7:51 am, Katharine Dickson <neurobad...@...>
> wrote:
> > I am an undergrad headed for graduate school to get my
> PhD.  The
> > question is what route I'm going to take.
> >
> > It is probable that I am going to end up going to
> graduate school
> > overseas; my top programs, and indeed, most of the
> programs that
> > actually do research in the area that I want to
> research, are located
> > in England, Scotland, and Australia.  Knowing how
> their degrees are
> > structured (little to no graduate courses, per se,
> depending on
> > whether you enter with a bachelor's degree or with a
> master's degree,
> > and one can even have zero courses entering with only
> a bachelor's
> > degree), which route do you recommend for maximizing
> the chance that
> > I'll have success in finding a postdoctorate and
> faculty position
> > afterward?  If I elect to get a master's degree
> before beginning a
> > PhD, I'll probably remain in the United States until I
> begin my PhD.
> >
> > 1) Straight to doctorate
> > 2) Get a master's degree before starting my doctorate
> >
> > Any opinions or advice are welcome.
> >
> > Katharine Dickson
>
> _______________________________________________
> Neur-sci mailing list
> Neur-sci@...
> http://www.bio.net/biomail/listinfo/neur-sci
>

     

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