cardnav Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 This was touched on in another thread, but I'm curious. Who is attending grad school immediately after getting their bachelor's and who is pursuing their Masters/PhD after a few years? Personally, I'm going straight through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dherres Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Straight through.... although it can be argued the other side, given that my break was pre-BA acquisition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gracieh Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 I took 2 years off after undergrad to make sure that grad school was the right choice for me. And thank goodness I did!! Not only did I have a 9-5 job, but I experienced life outside of academia. And it was wonderful! It definitely helped me realize my goals and aspirations, at least professionally. It was nice to go home and not have work to do and to make some $$ in the process. I have friends who went straight to grad school after undergrad and they were there the ones who were burnt out intellectually. I was definitely ready to go back to school and I did so with a better outlook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragynally Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 I think you need an in between. I only took off 2 years. Some are only taking a year. I might be in a different place then someone who took off 5 or 7 years...make sense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinM Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 I'm taking a year in between (I hope it's just one year, anyway!) - I graduated from college last May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
storiaitaliana Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 My situation is a bit different - I am going straight through, but I had a 15-year hiatus before I finished my BA. Soooo, it's not EXACTLY like I'm going straight from undergrad to grad, even though I technically am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohheygradschool Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Yay, I love polls! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthla Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Both in a way. Went to a professional graduate school straight from undergrad. Now trying to go back for Ph.D after a few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t_ruth Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 I'm really surprised so many people have gone straight through! I'd be interested in a breakdown by field... do hard science-types go straight through more than social sciencers? I had a break between undergrad and my law degree and another break between the JD and returning now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plisar Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 I'm really surprised so many people have gone straight through! I'd be interested in a breakdown by field... do hard science-types go straight through more than social sciencers? I had a break between undergrad and my law degree and another break between the JD and returning now. I think it is common for people in the hard sciences and engineering to go directly onto graduate school. The pay is better and most students who go into the job market with a bachelors never have any economic incentive to come back for an MS or a Ph.D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardnav Posted January 28, 2009 Author Share Posted January 28, 2009 On the other hand, many grad programs require (either officially or highly highly recommend) work experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonights Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 I'm only taking a year off and it wasn't by choice - it was financial necessity - so I'm not sure which to choose. I would have gone straight through if I'd had a grand for the application process as a senior in college. Alas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnlikelyGrad Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 I voted for returning after a few years because it's closest to the truth, but I'm not sure that 15 years qualifies as "a few"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polumetis23 Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Unlikelygrad, I've enjoyed a lot of your posts and your blog, but you've gotta get this chip off your shoulder about having been out of school for 15 years. Your numbers look solid and you're obviously a competitive candidate, but you're also not the only person who's gone back to grad school in their late 30s. Mentioning it in every single post just makes it seem like a hang-up, and you have no reason to be on the defensive so much. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfrost Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 I took a year off to figure things out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deianira Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Did undergrad in 3 years, worked for a year, then applied to grad school. Lasted a semester, and left to start a family. Now going back after 5 years. My last time in grad school there was a man in my psych class who was in his early-mid 40's. He had been a computer analyst professional, until he got layed off from his long-time job. So he decided to completely change his career and get a masters in psych. Just to give some perspective to those who think they are "too old" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnlikelyGrad Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Unlikelygrad, I've enjoyed a lot of your posts and your blog, but you've gotta get this chip off your shoulder about having been out of school for 15 years. Your numbers look solid and you're obviously a competitive candidate, but you're also not the only person who's gone back to grad school in their late 30s. Mentioning it in every single post just makes it seem like a hang-up, and you have no reason to be on the defensive so much. Good luck! I have fewer hang-ups about it than you may think. A lot of time I am joking when I talk about my old-lady status but that's not always obvious online. (I forgot to use the icon this time). I know a lot of people who have gone back to grad school in their late 30s, into their 40s, and even 50s. None of them, however, were involved in hard science. I'm taking classes (unofficially) right now and I definitely have a leg up over my younger classmates: I'm more focused, for one thing. I'm not afraid to learn things on my own. And I get along better with my professors, since I'm closer to them in age than the young'uns. (My PI is only 2-3 years older than I am.) Believe me, I am glad I took those 15 years off--I need every single one of them to grow up and figure out who I am. My real hang-up is that I wasn't taking time off to work in industry or do anything related to my field: I spent 15 years primarily homeschooling my kids (though I dabbled in other things). Like I said, I needed that time and put it to good use; I just don't know if admissions committees will agree. As a final note, age discrimination does exist in academia; my sister-the-professor says as much. She was only 38 or so when she hit the academic job market and even then she said some people were put off by her age. I figure that I'll be 45 when I go looking for a tenure-track position, so I really don't know how good my odds are. eta: I don't think I am too old. If you read my blog, you'll see that I consider my lack of research experience to be my primary reason for considering myself a dark-horse candidate. This might not be a big deal in some fields, but in chemistry it's huge... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nofia Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 I went straight from undergrad to what amounts to a professional degree, worked in the field that that degree was in for a few years and then started my phd program (in a field that my professional degree is related to). It was the best decision for me; I came in with more work/life experience, self confidence, and a better understanding of myself, my goals, and how the PhD relates to those goals. I also know that if things don't work out, I have another field to fall back on, which takes some of the pressure off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreams Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 A few years for me as well. It was a welcome recharger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAN Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 I'm coming back from a 5 year hiatus. I've had a lot of concerns about having a long break, but we will see how I do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tshaunprice Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I've been in academic race horse status since finishing my BA. I went straight into Grad school and am finishing my fourth Master's degree in five years this semester. Just sent off the PhD applications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gracieh Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I've been in academic race horse status since finishing my BA. I went straight into Grad school and am finishing my fourth Master's degree in five years this semester. Just sent off the PhD applications. I don't mean to be mean, but why do you have 4 master's degrees? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miratrix Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I'm taking two years off, and it really feels like nothing. I was abroad for the first year + a few months after graduation, so I've only settled down again in the last few months. I really value the experiences over that year - especially the good ones - and I'm glad to have gotten some experience of what the job market would be like if I didn't go to grad school, but I feel like to have meaningful work experience, I'd need to stay at least another year. I'm applying anyway because I'm impatient to get started, and I don't want to stay longer here only to make it more emotionally and financially wrenching when I do make the next big move, if I have to leave for grad school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pregasauraus Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I don't mean to be mean, but why do you have 4 master's degrees? And how does one afford 4 Master's degrees? Holy moly! I took a year off between my Bachelor's and my Master's degree. I finished the Master's in 2004, worked in a position not even remotely related to my academic pursuits for four years (which I don't regret), and I'm now teaching in my field. Though I love teaching, I can't wait to be back in school for my PhD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tritonetelephone Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I also graduated in May of last year, but I chose "straight from undergrad" because this is my second year applying. Also, I took 1 grad class in summer and 1 grad class in fall so I haven't been in the mentality of a "break." I miss school already! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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