change of major / guide during PhD

[abhi.shek]

I have been with IBM for past 5 years and worked on cluster interconnects. During this time I have developed significant research oriented interest in this area as well as in the area of multi-core programming.

I applied for MS to a few places this year. And I got an admit from OSU. In fact the professor working in these areas, who I had mentioned in my SOP, mailed me and advised me to convert the application to PhD (direct PhD). So I am assuming my work-ex played a huge role in getting me the admit. And although it hasn't been formally mentioned anywhere but it will be safe to assume that the same professor is sponsoring my GTA and in the normal course would be the best choice to be my guide.

But I also have another area of interest, cognitive science. This I have developed over the years on my own motivation (no formal courses or work-ex). And whenever in the past I have thought about a Phd, I have only wanted to pursue this area. My reason for applying to OSU was that this is one for the few universities with a dedicated dept for cog sci (although it is not a degree awarding dept). and this dept has quite a few cross affiliations with the CS dept.

Now, I am pretty sure I want to go ahead with the PhD (leaving comfy job and signing on for academic hardships for next 5-6 years was another turmoil but i am over it now).

But I am torn between these two areas.

Cluster interconnect offers great funding, intern and job opportunities. and its not like I hate it.

cog sci, I am really passionate about and phd is something i will only do once.

I suppose usually when someone starts a Phd, they are very certain what they want to do.

But I would like to experiment initially with both areas and find out which is best for me. Will this be possible ? Is it advisable ?

[Amogh]

I have been with IBM for past 5 years and worked on cluster interconnects. During this time I have developed significant research oriented interest in this area as well as in the area of multi-core programming.

I applied for MS to a few places this year. And I got an admit from OSU. In fact the professor working in these areas, who I had mentioned in my SOP, mailed me and advised me to convert the application to PhD (direct PhD). So I am assuming my work-ex played a huge role in getting me the admit. And although it hasn't been formally mentioned anywhere but it will be safe to assume that the same professor is sponsoring my GTA and in the normal course would be the best choice to be my guide.

But I also have another area of interest, cognitive science. This I have developed over the years on my own motivation (no formal courses or work-ex). And whenever in the past I have thought about a Phd, I have only wanted to pursue this area. My reason for applying to OSU was that this is one for the few universities with a dedicated dept for cog sci (although it is not a degree awarding dept). and this dept has quite a few cross affiliations with the CS dept.

Now, I am pretty sure I want to go ahead with the PhD (leaving comfy job and signing on for academic hardships for next 5-6 years was another turmoil but i am over it now).

But I am torn between these two areas.

Cluster interconnect offers great funding, intern and job opportunities. and its not like I hate it.

cog sci, I am really passionate about and phd is something i will only do once.

I suppose usually when someone starts a Phd, they are very certain what they want to do.

But I would like to experiment initially with both areas and find out which is best for me. Will this be possible ? Is it advisable ?

Most people think they know what they want to do. They get there saying ill do whacked-out-mindbogglingly-awesome-subject1 and end up doing Also-mindbogglingly-amazing-subject2. so no worries. People don't bind you to what you say your interested in. Interest is a really temporal thing so you can't hold it as binding.

[abhi.shek]

Most people think they know what they want to do. They get there saying ill do whacked-out-mindbogglingly-awesome-subject1 and end up doing Also-mindbogglingly-amazing-subject2. so no worries. People don't bind you to what you say your interested in. Interest is a really temporal thing so you can't hold it as binding.

Thanks for your reply. I totally agree with you.

for the same reason i want to test waters in both my interests and see which boat sails better.

my concern is, these two areas area almost orthogonal and how will i justify taking such different courses.

Also i have to finalize my major and guide before the next summer. After that if i need to change it, I have to petition graduate committee or something. So will i be wasting time while I am making up my mind ?

my original plan was to do an MS first and get a feel about what I want to do. The direct PhD admit, although saves me 1-2 years and takes care of all the funding, has kind of derailed that plan.

[Amogh]

Thanks for your reply. I totally agree with you.

for the same reason i want to test waters in both my interests and see which boat sails better.

my concern is, these two areas area almost orthogonal and how will i justify taking such different courses.

Also i have to finalize my major and guide before the next summer. After that if i need to change it, I have to petition graduate committee or something. So will i be wasting time while I am making up my mind ?

my original plan was to do an MS first and get a feel about what I want to do. The direct PhD admit, although saves me 1-2 years and takes care of all the funding, has kind of derailed that plan.

I don't think any courses are actually going to help you out. You will be forced to take really varied courses already so that doesn't matter. What will help you decide is working in both the fields and then making up your mind. If you indicated in your sop that you are interested in cog science as well, or even if you did not, i am quite certain that either group (or maybe you'll find that you actually want to work in something entirely outside of these two areas! who knows?) will be welcoming and will let you dabble in some work with them before you decide. This is how most students head through PhD from the looks of it (imho).

Don't fret. You will be allowed to pursue advanced study where your interests lie. Ensure you network really well and get to know people from both groups. Things like fit into the group, your ability to work with them etc will also play a surprisingly large role in helping you make a decision when it is time.

Please take my opinion with a pinch of salt as it is a second-hand opinion accumulated from reading these message boards and not something i'v experienced firsthand.

[abhi.shek]

Thanks Amogh for your views.

Any more opinions out there ?

[frenzydude]

You can take courses from both areas but it won't be possible to work in both labs in the first year.. Just stick to working in the prof's lab who admitted you (if you like the work there, its the best case scenario). Or you may impress some professor in your other interest area who may give you a RAship after the first year.. or you may even decide to do your thesis (long-term) in an intersecting area being co-advised by both profs. Stay positive and use whatever resources are at your disposal. :-)

[csKid]

To the poster, check this. You can always look around for an year or so. What you've is most probably a teaching advisor and not a research advisor. Check with the students from your dept. about this.

[abhi.shek]

Thanks for those replies