justinmcummings
-
Posts
142 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by justinmcummings
-
-
I'd also be interested in know how this works. Since most paid positions are for PhD students, how does a masters student get research or lab experience? Even if the position is unpaid and not for credit just experience for boosting a PhD application.
-
I usually start with "Hello.", followed by a good bit of awkward silence. If the person hasn't left by then I talk about whatever meeting or function we are at. If it's not a professional, buisness, or academic situation, I usually have nothing.
- personalityresearcher, comp12 and mop
-
3
-
One of the Universities I was accepted to this season has already assigned my faculty advisor. I have not been offered funding at this university. My question is what if my research goals change? Am I stuck with this advisor for the 2 years of my masters? Was I only accepted because this professor wanted me? Has anyone been in a similar situation?
-
Hellooooo All,
I was hoping to hear some Pros, Cons, and Opinions of going into industry after obtaining a Masters, as opposed to going straight into a PhD. This is something I am considering when I make my decision this application season.
-
Thanks! I appreciate the response :-). I have some more information that I forgot to add earlier. At University of Michigan they have this program that is Masters to PhD transition opportunity. The way that I understand it, if I wind up going to UMich, I go for my masters for the first year. After the first year, I take the PhD qualifying exam and talk to professors about taking me on as a PhD student. If I get a professor to offer me full funding and I pass my qualification exam, I would automatically accepted to the PhD track. No reapplying needed, they just push it through with my masters application material. It sounds awesome, but even in the acceptance email they said that in the past years that they have had this system only about 5 students have been able to enter the PhD program this way. They say the hardest part is finding a faculty to sponsor and fund the PhD. So it would be rare, but still something to think about as well.
-
I want to get a PhD because the interesting research and development type jobs in my field require the higher degrees. For my field a masters will be almost standard in a couple years and a higher degree will help set me apart. I want a job that requires me to think and use what I learned in school. Also, being able to say you're a doctor is also a plus :-)
-
As we come to the end of the grad season and acceptance deadlines are approaching soon, it is decision time. I have been accepted to the following universities:
- University of Wisconsin - Electrical Engineering PhD (Funding unknown)
- University of Michigan - Electrical Engineering:Systems (No Funding)
- University of Minnesota - Electrical Engineering (Funding unknown)
As of a couple days ago I thought I had made my decision, but I am rethinking/overthinking my decision. I haven't officially accepted anything, but this is what I thought I would do.
If funding wasn't offered anywhere, I decided (or at least I thought I did) that would go to University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. My reasoning behind this is mainly based off of the opportunities that would come from going to a top 10 ranked programs in my field. People (my parents) keep telling me rank doesn't matter that much, but when applying for jobs recently I have seen job postings that say certain graduates preferred. I think that it does matter, especially since I want to get my PhD.
I live on the other side of the country so visiting the areas are not practical at this point so all the information I have is based off the internet, emails, and this forum. I am starting to rethink University of Michigan though and it started because of costs. UMich's degree is going to cost me around 50k more than a degree from UMinnesota. I have no debt at the moment, will be taking out loans, and will be getting a job while in graduate school. I want to hear what others have to say? Any opinion counts, anything to get me thinking on the right track too.
-
Is anyone still waiting on admissions or funding? For me I am still waiting on Cornell, but I am 99.99% sure its a rejection. And for funding I am waiting to hear from University of Wisconsin and University of Minnesota. Pretty sure if no funding comes through I am going to do my masters at University of Michigan. What about everyone else?
-
I'm assuming I am not receiving funding at this point. Has anyone been funded?
-
older model pro to retina pro you get a solid state drive, it makes night an day performance difference. As well as battery life.
-
If you 100% are set on the one school, why would you want to see the other one? It sounds like you made up your mind already. I will say though if you are not 100% set, you might change your mind where you want to go after a visit. I know I did.
-
the educational price of the retina pro is very similar to the air, Ive been back and fourth on this for about a month now for me I am getting the 13 retina pro. It really depends what you are going to be using it for though..ms office and internet use I would say whatever is cheaper because they both do that pretty much the same.
-
Thanks for the input. In regards to Madison funding, I was there last week. The admissions chair told me they would have funding offers sorted out this week or next week, so hopefully they'll be sending them out soon. How much you are willing to trust a university to stay on schedule is, however, another matter entirely.
EDIT: Also, even with a visit, I had a hard time getting professors to talk to me- and everyone else I've talked to has said the same thing. You're not alone!
have you heard back from Uwisc regarding funding yet?
-
1) Most people don't have an option but to pay for their MS. It might be worth considering the university that has the best reputation AND cost among yours. I've heard graduate school is actually somewhat easier than undergrad because the professors understand most MS students work at the same time - B's are the new C's in grad school, they have no intention of failing you out of the program. And if you come from a small unranked school, the upgrade in resume prestige is likely well worth it for future job opportunities.
2) You should go with a good school for your MS if you are really set on a PhD. Letters should be no problem if you plan it well (talk to professors when you can and DO WELL IN CLASSES). I'm not sure of your financial situation, but you should get your MS if you think it will help you get into a nice PhD program - isn't that the point of money anyway? do what makes you happy with your money (thankfully you're in engineering so I think you'll manage well).
3) Maybe this means you would end up getting your MS there if you don't end up getting PhD funding? Sounds like that would be the worst case to me. This brings you back to 1).
You seem very lucky in that you came out with a debt-free BS; consider yourself lucky. You are probably more able to afford graduate school than most Americans. In terms of money for your MS, you would likely get a great paying internship during the summer if you do an MS at a good school.
Thanks!
-
The results page was flooded with ucla results today
-
I wouldn't do something you don't want too...do you have any jobs lined up or do you really need a PhD for the field you want to work in?
Also what is your plan to improve your application package from this season to next season?
-
When you hear about an "implicit waitlist" on this forum, this is exactly what it's referring to!
EDIT: When this happens, you can ask the program about your application status. They might let you know. You can turn that "implicit" into an "explicit"!
Yeah, I asked the departments but I was just given the generic you should hear back by April 15th, if not please contact us again.
-
I'm hoping it means waitlist or finalists for last 2 or 3 positions and they are still deciding...but with my experience so far it means PhD rejection and Masters offered instead. I'm really really hoping for northwestern, but i think it is kinda a long shot.
-
University of Minnesota got back to me with a Masters offer, waiting to hear if there is any potential funding.
-
I'm in a completely different program (PhD electrical engineering) but almost the same situation, I'm not sure what to think either. Hopefully we will get answers this week. Best of luck!
-
I may or may not be posting this prematurely, but I want to get some other opinions. I have applied to 11 schools for a PhD in Electrical Engineering, at the time of this post I have been accepted to 1 PhD program and 2 Masters programs. I am still waiting to hear back from 3 schools, and funding information from the one PhD. I came from a very small engineering program at a liberal arts university and my professors may have been out of the loop too long, but they were under the impression I would not get admitted anywhere without funding. I did my research and spoke with many schools and the general feeling was that for PhD students I would be funded, masters students were typically not funded. I did not realize how competitive the various funding sources (RA, TA, Fellowships) are when applying.
Here are a bunch of the questions going through my mind at the moment:
1.) Should I really pay for graduate school? I know I want it bad enough to take the loans out and pay, but I am debt free at the moment and don't particularly like the idea of exactly how much money graduate school entails. Would the job I have to get to pay for living expenses take away from the quality of my work? I had a job in my undergrad, but it was super easy, I could do hw in my down time...plus I picked my own hours; but I know graduate school takes more time dedication and should be more challenging. Especially coming from an unranked small program, to a top 25 ranked research programs.
2.) Would it benefit me more if I were to attend a top ranked Masters program and try again for PhD in two years? Is two years enough time for a professor to get to know me to be willing to write letters or rec? Will I be in so much debt after my Masters that I will not want to continue to my goal of a PhD?
3.) Should I take a risk at the well ranked PhD school in hopes that after my first year I receive funding offers? The department informed me that only about 10% of first year students are funded, would it be appropriate to ask how many second year students receive funding?
Any input would help, particularly those in my same field.
ps: I have more questions, I just have to sort them out in my mind first...if that makes sense.
pss: Please forgive the spelling, grammar, and nonsense rambling.
Thanks for reading!
-
still waiting on the same bunch for me:
Northwestern, Cornell, University of Minnesota (application still sitting in final review status for over a week), Michigan State (Told me its a matter of funding at this point, no funding = no acceptance offer), U of Washington (Told me to consider other options at this point, official reject letters come out April 15th).Other than that just hoping to hear some good funding information from U Wisc. If no funding comes through for them, I'm not sure if I will go there or go to UMich and reapply for PhD in 2 years :-/
-
It's not over until you hear from every last school! I am also applying to universities for PhD in EE, I have yet to hear from 5 schools. We have another forum going on right now if you want to post there as well and see if anyone has heard from your two schools. Good Luck! Keep the hope alive!
-
did i miss something? this thread is a digital dinosaur...why was it resurected?
13" Macbook Pro vs. 13" Macbook Air
in Officially Grads
Posted
Apple doesn't make a docks that I know of, but they have attachments you can get fairly cheap to get an ethernet port if you really need one. I think its a thunderbolt port to ethernet port adapter. There are other companies that make a dock, but they are rather expensive.