UT Austin M.S. (to be followed by a Ph.D) ???

[TheDarkElf]

Hello all,

I had got an acceptance email from the ECE department at UT Austin a few weeks back. Since, I had applied for a Masters there (Not much research going on in my field of interest), I didn't pay much attention to the bit in the email stating that 'I was admitted to pursue "graduate studies"'.

Today, I got the official acceptance letter by post. I realized the damn thing actually said that they were admitting me to pursue a "Masters degree(to be followed by a PhD)". I guess I had by mistake selected the M.S. plus Ph.D option in one of the multiple applications I was supposed to submit. (One had to be submitted to the graduate school, the other to the department. The graduate school status check states that I have been admitted to the M.S. program :|). I am quite clear I don't want to do a PhD there. Can I still take up the offer, do the Masters degree and transfer? I don't really want to step on any toes there (and piss off potential recommenders). Any body ever have experience/ know someone who has done such a thing when offered an M.S. plus PhD?

Do advice folks.

TDE

[was1984]

I doubt most of the professors would care.

Just out of curiosity, why wouldn't you be willing to pursue a Ph.D. at UT? Whats your research area?

[TheDarkElf]

Hello,

Thank you for your reply. Sorry for not responding earlier... I didn't see this forum for quite a long time..Anyways I am into evolutionary computation which I want to apply to theoretical aspects of control/algorithm design. Its quite iffy whether I will do a Phd there cause there is only one Prof who does work in evo comp that interests me..

TDE

[was1984]

Well, I'm not going to be much help there because I'm completely on the opposite side of the spectrum (IC design), though I did do my undergrad at Texas.

Have you checked with the (separate) computer science department at UT? Your interest seems like it might fall more under their umbrella, but like I said, not my area.

[TheDarkElf]

@was:

Actually the Prof I want to work with is in the Comp Science school. I have applied there too.Haven't heard from them yet.

Anyways, the ECE department has told me that the M.S + PhD thing means that I can take up the offer to do a PhD there without any problems. I am also free to leave after a Masters so it sounds like a good deal at the moment to me.

Thanks again

TDE