MIT MechE PhD without S.M.?

[fforeffort]

Hi all,

This is my first post! I want to just confirm if MIT's MechE PhD program doesn't accept applicants who don't already have a masters degree? Thanks.

[ktel]

Sounds right to me

[CrazyRedHead95]

Don't listen to this past guy. (no offence ) You can get into a Ph.D. program immediately after your B.S., it just takes a longer period of time. It's also ALOT harder. It'll take you about 2.5 to 3 years to complete if you go immediately to a Ph.D.

[ktel]

^ Don't listen to me? You're a 16-year-old who has no experience with any of this. I have researched MIT's program and know for a fact that they require a Master's first, which is unlike most other American programs. Also a PhD takes 4-5 years...

[Ouroboros313]

Don't listen to ktel. You can get into the PhD program without an MS. I did. They'll consider you an MS student up until you pass quals, but they'll expect you to do things as though you were preparing for a PhD, i.e. join a lab doing PhD level research.

[MCS_aspirant]

^ Don't listen to me? You're a 16-year-old who has no experience with any of this. I have researched MIT's program and know for a fact that they require a Master's first, which is unlike most other American programs. Also a PhD takes 4-5 years...

It wouldn't hurt to be nice to other people.

[ktel]

It wouldn't hurt to be nice to other people.

I am nice to other people, I don't see how what I said wasn't nice. It was true.

[ericrusso]

Hey guys, I guess I'm just trying to chime in here. I've also applied to MIT Aero-Astro program for Fall 2012. I emailed back and forth with a gal named Beth Marois who is the graduate program director. She said admissions decisions will be released NO LATER THAN MARCH 1!!

And I will only have my B.S. by the time I'm ready to start, but if I remember correctly, on the application it asks us to specify a short-term degree objective (obviously an M.S.) and also a long-term degree objective (Ph.D.). It seems that from what I've read here, that they WILL accept someone who just has a B.S. That makes sense too, because otherwise why would they have us waste our time (and money) on the application process? So I guess my question here is: does anyone know how long it will take (approximately) to go from the B.S. to Ph.D. ?? Thanks guys!

Oh, and does anyone know if financial aid decisions are released with admissions decisions?

Edited January 17, 2012 by ericrusso

[impulse_nerve]

It wouldn't hurt to be nice to other people.

Hey, MCS_aspirant,

...nothing to do with this thread really but I see you already heard back from U Mich for the Aero PhD. Congrats! I was wondering how you heard from them/how you found out.

Thanks

[Ouroboros313]

Ericrusso: BS to PhD typically takes on average 5-6 years, and MIT funds all of their graduate students at a standard rate (PhD-seeking ones, at least. Not sure about MS only students). In fact, most PhD programs (in engineering, at least) will fund their students (cover their tuition and pay a stipend) so no financial aid is needed nor required. Sometimes the acceptance letter will also include an offer for special funding such as scholarships and fellowships, so you should find out your funding situation when you get your acceptance letter.

[ericrusso]

Ouroboros313, thanks for the reply. Sorry for taking so long to respond but I've been so busy with school that I haven't had time to come back. I guess being so busy trumps the stress of waiting for grad school responses...that's one reason to be thankful for so much work!