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Katharine Dickson

unread,
Oct 10, 2009, 2:51:28 PM10/10/09
to Neur...@magpie.bio.indiana.edu
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

Bill

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Oct 15, 2009, 6:01:36 PM10/15/09
to
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.

polly jo

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Oct 16, 2009, 5:00:55 PM10/16/09
to neur...@magpie.bio.indiana.edu, Bill
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 <connel...@gmail.com> wrote:

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