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  3. Master's degre and PHD: a bad idea?

Master's degre and PHD: a bad idea?

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  • L Lost User

    Likly means 45 credit hours. Whole differant story.

    B Offline
    B Offline
    Brady Kelly
    wrote on last edited by
    #8

    Ah yes, but it's still not massive.

    D 1 Reply Last reply
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    • S Sava Savanovic

      "Going to grad school is like going into the military." Except you have to pay for it, you can drop out anytime you like, you can both work and go to school, you don't have to wear a uniform, you get a diploma when you leave and sometimes drill sergeants know what they are doing.

      Ko seje so, nicu mu skakavci.

      X Offline
      X Offline
      Xiangyang Liu
      wrote on last edited by
      #9

      Sava Savanovic wrote:

      "Going to grad school is like going into the military." Except you have to pay for it, you can drop out anytime you like, you can both work and go to school, you don't have to wear a uniform, you get a diploma when you leave and sometimes drill sergeants know what they are doing.

      Plus you can keep your favorite hair-cut and not be afraid of getting killed. :-D

      My .NET Business Application Framework My Home Page My Younger Son & His "PET"

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      • B Brady Kelly

        Ah yes, but it's still not massive.

        D Offline
        D Offline
        Dan Neely
        wrote on last edited by
        #10

        for each credit hour you're expected to spend at least 3 hours of work on your own time studying and doing assignments.

        Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall

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        • R Ray Cassick

          I do agree that, if you are considering a PHD right now it better be because you have an employer that is paying for it and there will be some direct impact on your financial bottom line (ie: raises, etc...) A Masters program however, as was pointed out before, is not that much time and ion the grand scheme of things, not that much more money on top of your Bachelors. However, you need to consider what you are getting it in. I think that there are far to many MBAs out there... Consider an educational track that is closer to your personal plan rather than something like a general business degree. But, remember that sometimes doing something from money is NOT the best way. I have decided to get my Masters so I can try to teach at the university level. I am not planning on teaching to get rich, or planning to do it as my only career. I want to do it as a way to help form the minds of those interested in an industry that I really feel needs educational help. One That I love and believe in and that I think, if taught correctly, can lend a lot to society in the long term.


          LinkedIn[^] | Blog[^] | Twitter[^]

          D Offline
          D Offline
          Dan Neely
          wrote on last edited by
          #11

          a PHD isn't something you do because you think it would be fun, it's something you do because you're unable to stop yourself from doing so....

          Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall

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          • D Dan Neely

            for each credit hour you're expected to spend at least 3 hours of work on your own time studying and doing assignments.

            Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall

            J Offline
            J Offline
            Jim SS
            wrote on last edited by
            #12

            Which comes out to about 15 3 hour classes. At two classes per semester (including summer) it takes about 2 1/2 years while working full time. Lots of people have done it that way. It greatly increases the value of the education because you are often using some of the education you are getting for something worthwhile. It also reduces many of the quoted author's reasons for not getting the degree.:suss:

            SS => Qualified in Submarines "We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm". Winston Churchill

            D 1 Reply Last reply
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            • D Diego Moita

              I always suspected this but this blog explains it much better[^]. Take a peek at the links she provides in the post. They're very interesting, too.


              Of all forms of sexual aberration, the most unnatural is abstinence.

              M Offline
              M Offline
              MrPlankton
              wrote on last edited by
              #13

              In the last 'big' recession 82 (bigger than this one so far) I shagged calls as a Xerox repairman during the day and took classes at night for BS degree. I didn't even notice 'the recession'. Graduated in 2000 with Masters CS(after classes part time). I have to tell you, a masters degree isn't worth much. Now that being said, if you get an advanced degree in sadistics and possibilities (aka a degree in story telling), that's a whole different issue. Our organzation can't hire them fast enough. 2 cents

              MrPlankton
              “If I had my choice I would kill every reporter in the world but I am sure we would be getting reports from hell before breakfast.” William Tecumseh Sherman

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              • D Dan Neely

                a PHD isn't something you do because you think it would be fun, it's something you do because you're unable to stop yourself from doing so....

                Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall

                R Offline
                R Offline
                Ray Cassick
                wrote on last edited by
                #14

                I'm not sure I understand your thought... I actually enjoy the learning process so I think that a PHD would be 'fun' for me, but I always weigh the 'fun' factor against the 'cost' factor. ROI of fun always takes a lower priority than ROI of business value.


                LinkedIn[^] | Blog[^] | Twitter[^]

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                • J Jim SS

                  Which comes out to about 15 3 hour classes. At two classes per semester (including summer) it takes about 2 1/2 years while working full time. Lots of people have done it that way. It greatly increases the value of the education because you are often using some of the education you are getting for something worthwhile. It also reduces many of the quoted author's reasons for not getting the degree.:suss:

                  SS => Qualified in Submarines "We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm". Winston Churchill

                  D Offline
                  D Offline
                  Dan Neely
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #15

                  yeah some of my coworkers've done the same. Unfortunately the only options available near where I live with a traditional classroom part are management degrees. I don't trust myself not to self destructively slack off in an entirely online program.

                  Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall

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                  • J John M Drescher

                    The times I was looking for programmers I have interviewed candidates that had PhDs or Masters degrees and after interviewing a bunch of them I have come to the conclusion that it was a total waste of my time. Most of these either did not know how to program (yes you can have an advanced degree in computer science without ever touching a pc) or they did not want to program (and had instead wanted to manage or to try to rethink / redesign the whole computer software / hardware industry).. For me this was a bit of frustration as the jobs clearly stated that programming was the most important requirement.

                    John

                    modified on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 3:08 PM

                    R Offline
                    R Offline
                    Ray Cassick
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #16

                    I agree there.. You CAN reach a level in a profession where your knowledge' is more high level.. typically I would not even consider a PHD level person for anything below CIO or some other highly strategic position and I find it hard to believe that a PHD person would even bother applying for one. ...actually, no I am not surprised I guess because many of the PHD level people I have come across 'think' they can do anything well. I think that is something that is comes part and parcel with having gone that far in the educational process perhaps? A kind of educational arrogance?


                    LinkedIn[^] | Blog[^] | Twitter[^]

                    D 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • R Ray Cassick

                      I'm not sure I understand your thought... I actually enjoy the learning process so I think that a PHD would be 'fun' for me, but I always weigh the 'fun' factor against the 'cost' factor. ROI of fun always takes a lower priority than ROI of business value.


                      LinkedIn[^] | Blog[^] | Twitter[^]

                      D Offline
                      D Offline
                      Dan Neely
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #17

                      What I meant was that given the effort required vs the level of return; especially the bit about being set back to square 1 if at the 99% point of your research some other @#)($ publishes the same thing; that in economic/stress/etc terms the cost benefit analysis always ends up NO unless you're compelled to do so or want a job where it's a prerequisite.

                      Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall

                      1 Reply Last reply
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                      • D Dan Neely

                        yeah some of my coworkers've done the same. Unfortunately the only options available near where I live with a traditional classroom part are management degrees. I don't trust myself not to self destructively slack off in an entirely online program.

                        Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall

                        J Offline
                        J Offline
                        Jim SS
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #18

                        Started on an MBA because there weren't any engineering/software programs at the local college. (BTW you can just about ace the GMAT if you have a math background - they don't expect business people to understand logic).:cool: Dumped the MBA idea as soon as I found a school with CS masters program.

                        SS => Qualified in Submarines "We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm". Winston Churchill

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • R Ray Cassick

                          I agree there.. You CAN reach a level in a profession where your knowledge' is more high level.. typically I would not even consider a PHD level person for anything below CIO or some other highly strategic position and I find it hard to believe that a PHD person would even bother applying for one. ...actually, no I am not surprised I guess because many of the PHD level people I have come across 'think' they can do anything well. I think that is something that is comes part and parcel with having gone that far in the educational process perhaps? A kind of educational arrogance?


                          LinkedIn[^] | Blog[^] | Twitter[^]

                          D Offline
                          D Offline
                          Dan Neely
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #19

                          I know got 2 phd coworkers. One's working here part time while teaching full time, and is being used primarily as a technical expert in the same area as his degree. I'm not entirely sure what the 2nd is doing; he was supposed to be 50/50 between my project and a second but the other ended up monopolizing his time. My projects interest was that the implementation methods of his research would (theoretically) have let him spin up much more quickly on the sort of analysis he'd be doing; normally we start people in the role as interns to do the extensive training needed while they're still relatively cheap.

                          Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • D Diego Moita

                            I always suspected this but this blog explains it much better[^]. Take a peek at the links she provides in the post. They're very interesting, too.


                            Of all forms of sexual aberration, the most unnatural is abstinence.

                            B Offline
                            B Offline
                            Bassam Abdul Baki
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #20

                            I always thought getting a PhD was for the personal reward and the prestige. I'd still get one if I could take four years off from work.


                            Web - Blog - RSS - Math - BM

                            C 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • R Ray Cassick

                              I do agree that, if you are considering a PHD right now it better be because you have an employer that is paying for it and there will be some direct impact on your financial bottom line (ie: raises, etc...) A Masters program however, as was pointed out before, is not that much time and ion the grand scheme of things, not that much more money on top of your Bachelors. However, you need to consider what you are getting it in. I think that there are far to many MBAs out there... Consider an educational track that is closer to your personal plan rather than something like a general business degree. But, remember that sometimes doing something from money is NOT the best way. I have decided to get my Masters so I can try to teach at the university level. I am not planning on teaching to get rich, or planning to do it as my only career. I want to do it as a way to help form the minds of those interested in an industry that I really feel needs educational help. One That I love and believe in and that I think, if taught correctly, can lend a lot to society in the long term.


                              LinkedIn[^] | Blog[^] | Twitter[^]

                              S Offline
                              S Offline
                              Saurabh Garg
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #21

                              PhD is not something you do because someone else is paying for it or you can earn more by getting the degree. You do PhD because you want to do it!! PhD is long and hard journey, unless you do from crap school, and you need lot of patience and focus over long period of time. PhD is not about learning facts from variety of subjects but it about the way you do things. -Saurabh

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • D Diego Moita

                                I always suspected this but this blog explains it much better[^]. Take a peek at the links she provides in the post. They're very interesting, too.


                                Of all forms of sexual aberration, the most unnatural is abstinence.

                                C Offline
                                C Offline
                                Chris Austin
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #22

                                Man, sometimes I really hate being contrarian. But..... I got a Masters many years ago while working full time and it helped my career immensely. Not only that, I loved the topic I was researching and the people I was working and studying with were and still are doing stuff that really cant be found in text book. I've been working on a PhD part time for several years now and again, I am having a blast. For me, there are two reasons to continue. First, I love the material. Secondly, in the field I am studying it helps to have access to people who are pushing the field. I don't know (or frankly care) if I will ever finish but I am having fun doing it.

                                Sovereign ingredient for a happy marriage: Pay cash or do without. Interest charges not only eat up a household budget; awareness of debt eats up domestic felicity. --Lazarus Long

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                                • B Bassam Abdul Baki

                                  I always thought getting a PhD was for the personal reward and the prestige. I'd still get one if I could take four years off from work.


                                  Web - Blog - RSS - Math - BM

                                  C Offline
                                  C Offline
                                  Chris Austin
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #23

                                  I've been working on one part time in physics for a long time. You don't really need to take off from work if you can get into the right program and have an employer who will allow you to attend to you studies when necessary.

                                  Sovereign ingredient for a happy marriage: Pay cash or do without. Interest charges not only eat up a household budget; awareness of debt eats up domestic felicity. --Lazarus Long

                                  B 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • C Chris Austin

                                    I've been working on one part time in physics for a long time. You don't really need to take off from work if you can get into the right program and have an employer who will allow you to attend to you studies when necessary.

                                    Sovereign ingredient for a happy marriage: Pay cash or do without. Interest charges not only eat up a household budget; awareness of debt eats up domestic felicity. --Lazarus Long

                                    B Offline
                                    B Offline
                                    Bassam Abdul Baki
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #24

                                    Did you start it right after college? I'm having a hard time picking a mathematical field to pursue. It would probably have to be something in Number Theory.


                                    Web - Blog - RSS - Math - BM

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                                    • X Xiangyang Liu

                                      Sava Savanovic wrote:

                                      "Going to grad school is like going into the military." Except you have to pay for it, you can drop out anytime you like, you can both work and go to school, you don't have to wear a uniform, you get a diploma when you leave and sometimes drill sergeants know what they are doing.

                                      Plus you can keep your favorite hair-cut and not be afraid of getting killed. :-D

                                      My .NET Business Application Framework My Home Page My Younger Son & His "PET"

                                      E Offline
                                      E Offline
                                      El Corazon
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #25

                                      Xiangyang Liu ??? wrote:

                                      and not be afraid of getting killed.

                                      we obviously went to different schools. ;P actually, home was more dangerous. :-D (that's why I moved 232 miles away!)

                                      _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • D Diego Moita

                                        I always suspected this but this blog explains it much better[^]. Take a peek at the links she provides in the post. They're very interesting, too.


                                        Of all forms of sexual aberration, the most unnatural is abstinence.

                                        E Offline
                                        E Offline
                                        El Corazon
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #26

                                        I think getting a Masters or PhD just for the sake of the degree is a waste for many of the reasons outlined. However, I think there is a difference when you specialize into a specific field, or if you have the experience to be sure where you want to be, or have a job help you pay for it. If I can ever stay out of the desert for a semester I would like to return to school. There are many reasons to get a degree, the first and foremost is that in my job every degree has a salary cap. You get a degree you up your salary potential. that does not mean you automatically earn it, but it means you don't slam into the salary wall like a bug in the white sands 500. Getting a degree just for the sake of getting a degree is almost always a waste of time. But there are programs that work with businesses to get realistic education, and businesses that work with schools to put their workers through. Find one or the other. :) that's my 2 cents... keep the change. :)

                                        _________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb) John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • D Dan Neely

                                          a PHD isn't something you do because you think it would be fun, it's something you do because you're unable to stop yourself from doing so....

                                          Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall

                                          P Online
                                          P Online
                                          PIEBALDconsult
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #27

                                          dan neely wrote:

                                          it's something you do

                                          ... to meet chicks. :cool:

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