BS, MS, and PhD at the same institution

[crimsonengineer87]

So I've just graduate with my B.S. in civil engineering from Washington State University. I applied to and was accepted into all of my grad schools, which included Berkeley and Illinois, but decided to stay at WSU because of funding issues. The basic question I have is: what do people think about a BS, MS, and PHD from the same institution? I have a few comments:

1. I don't want to be a professor. I want to work for a government agency, such as the EPA, with my PhD. I've heard from a few professors that it won't matter that I got three degrees from the same place, but rather my letters of rec, what project I worked on, and who I worked with.

2. If I stay at WSU, then I will probably finish in 4 years with a PhD, as opposed to doing 2 full years masters and then moving on somewhere and starting over and that being another 3-4 years.

3. At WSU, I am fully funded with a fellowship for the first year. They want me to apply for the NSF IGERT program that they have here at WSU, which would provide two years of funding (and my advisor basically said I'm a shoe in).

So I'm really torn. The folks here at WSU say it doesn't matter, but I think they're biased. I've had a few contacts at Berkeley and they said to go somewhere else. I totally agree. If funding were available, I would. Going somewhere else allows you to develop new ideas. But will these three degrees essentially doom me to failure?

Thanks.

[Yang]

I think you should go to the best program. The problem isn't that you've been at the same school for all 3 degrees, but that you have better options at other schools. I would take up those more prestigious options as they would open new doors down the line.

[mmm35]

I seriously considered going to the same school for all three, but ultimately decided not to. One major reason was that I had allready run out of courses to take by the time I finished my M Eng. More importantly though is that I wanted a new perspective on things and to get a chance to learn from a new group of people. The further I got into the process, the more I realized that what I wanted to study would be better to study at a different school. I dont think that "academic incest" is nearly as frowned upon now as it was in the past, but the reasons that it was frowned upon still exist; it is always good to broaden your horizons and avoid getting pigeonholed into your undergrad advisors interests.

Can you apply to PhD programs and see if you get better funding offers before deciding to do the MS or PhD at your current school?

Overall though, going to a different school may be best for you personally, but I really doubt it would make a difference in getting a govt job. I know that in industry people could care less if you have a masters or not, and I doubt anyone who hired me could tell you where mine is from. But it is always possible to change your mind and want to remain in academia.

[Jae B.]

The problem isn't that you've been at the same school for all 3 degrees, but that you have better options at other schools.

^… I tend to agree with this statement, though I understand your funding concerns. I, too, am continuing at my undergraduate institution, Berkeley, partially because of funding.

But I was really conflicted about just signing on to get my B.A. and Master's from the same school! Everything seemed perfect, except for that. I ultimately decided it wasn't a big deal because:

1. the school is considered one of the best in the field
2. I was a transfer undergrad student, so I previously only spent two years at Berkeley -- I'll only reach four years including my Master's
3. it's generally thought to be very difficult to get into grad school at Berkeley if you attended here for undergrad (because, as you got a whiff of, Berkeley strongly disproves of academic incest in most cases), and
4. I intend to have my career in the school's locality, where it holds the most prestige.

So, I think there needs to be reasoning beyond your financials, to really make it worth it. Academic incest still makes some people go, "Hmm..." about you, as if you weren't very bold, couldn't move on, got stuck on your undergraduate work, couldn't reach out to new people, etc.

So you will need to work against those stereotypes.

Part of my decision was the value of the networks I currently have. Sounds like that will work out well for you, too, regarding funding opportunities.

However, if I ever decided to get a PhD (which I am not planning to do), I don't think I would continue at the same school -- unless it was the best of the best for that degree. I wouldn't want to appear so intensely affiliated with a particular school, or to be tied to its reputation, good or bad. And diverse experience is valuable -- but maybe you can make up for that in other ways?

If you are really set upon this path, look for other experiences that can make your background look braver. In case, as watergirl said, you decide someday to do something other than work in government.

Good luck to you, and congrats on all your acceptances!

Edited May 25, 2010 by Jae B.

[CanuckBoy]

It is not an easy question, I think you should ask yourself:

Which instituion, professors, research groups, classmates can best help you achieve your long term and short term goals?

Where will you be most productive?