MS vs. PhD advice needed. Hurry!

[Chai_latte]

Hey guys,

I really, really need your advice.  I switched from lurker to member of Gradcafe during my first year of school.  This is now my third semester and I have a serious decision to make.  I'm in the physical sciences and have a strong interest in entrepreneurship/commercialization.  Initially, I thought that my interest resided in both science ed./tech AND research commercialization (or even "intrapreneurship").  But, I've since found that my interest is MUCH more firmly rooted in commercialization/sci entrep.  

Back in 2011/2012, I moved tepidly into grad study.  I applied only to terminal masters programs because 1) I wasn't passionate about research from my (very extensive) UG experience and 2) I wanted to get out into the real world as quickly as possible and start "making waves".  BUT, now I'm wondering if my goals would be better met if I switched to the PhD.  While I don't want academia, my ideal career would rely heavily on research.

Good:  Seamless transition, AMAZING advisor/mentor (excellent track record and very supportive), nice dept. overall (though, mid-tier), degree that a lot of scientists in venture capital and intrapreneurship seem to have

Bad:  TA-ing, 900 years in school, delayed *real* income (current age: late 20s), still not passionate about research BUT I'm "cool with it"

 

I'm also  mindful of the sequester and its repercussions.  On the one hand, it would be amazing to effortlessly switch into a PhD (just in the nick of time).  On the flip side, now might be the perfect time to bolt from academe w/ its current uncertainty.

 

Oh, also I wonder if having a less specified background might be better for this sort of stuff.  Would it truly be advantageous for me to study the same thing for 5 years?  Might it be better for me to get the masters and get a job researching in industry or in another lab?  You know, for variety.

 

HELP!! I'm really torn.

 

 

*I have no interest in an MBA.  At this point, it's a waste of time/money (for what I want to do).  It's better for me to use the time utilizing my alumni networks (from grad and UG) and local entrep./sci resources*   

Edited April 10, 2013 by Chai_latte

[Eigen]

You might look into a BioInnovation type PhD program- I know our school has one that's interdisciplinary, and focuses on commercialization and entrepreneurship.If you aren't interested in bio, I think there are similar programs in other areas.

 

Also, I wouldn't look at grad school in the sciences as studying one thing for 5 years, necessarily. I've got a range of different projects within a larger field.

[iowaguy]

...my ideal career would rely heavily on research....

 

...still not passionate about research BUT I'm "cool with it"...

 

I'm not familiar with your field or interests...  But, if your ideal career would rely heavily on research - then PhD might give you more experience/credibility in research.  OTOH, if you're not passionate about research, are you sure that you would excel in a PhD program?

 

Also, if you thought you would end up with a PhD at some point in your life, this might be the best time from both a funding standpoint (sequester might make future funding tighter) and also from a time requirement standpoint (extending your current M.S. to a PhD would almost certainly be shorter route than starting brand new PhD at some point in the future).

 

Just sharing a couple of thoughts...

[Chai_latte]

Thanks Eigen! I just checked out some science/entrep. PhD programs.  There are a decent number of them.

@Iowaguy- Your first two sentences...those are the exact things that I'm grappling with!  And yes, I think the window of (PhD) opportunity is closing, and I thank the sequester for that.  So, I don't want to miss out.  uggh...I'm a lost mess.

 

Thank you both.

[fuzzylogician]

Ideal solution in my opinion: try and continue on to a PhD but make sure to get the MS along the way. Sounds like it's too late for you to apply to other schools for next Fall, but you have a chance to continue at your current school. The research/advising at your current school fits your needs and you'll probably be able to finish a degree faster where you're at now as opposed to a new school (adjustment period, classes and all). This also allows you more time to consider and re-consider this decision without repercussions, because if a year from now you decide you actually don't want a PhD, you still have the MS and not much is lost. Really the part I'm uncertain about is how it's possible to want a research job in industry but not necessarily like research in academia -- are they that different from each other? Seems to me you need to like one to do the other, and you need to think about what kind of job you'd like to have after you graduate and then what qualifications are required for that job.

[juilletmercredi]

This depends entirely on what you want to do.  As you seem to note, especially in the hard sciences there are many industry and non-academic positions in research for people with MS degrees.  Even if you are not directing the research, you can still be doing the research or working with the research.  Personally, I don't think any of the things you listed are "perks" or reasons to get a PhD.  Just because it would be easy for you to transition into the PhD program doesn't mean it's a good thing to do; just because your mentor is amazing doesn't mean it's a good thing to do, and just because your department is a comfortable place doesn't mean it's a good thing to do, either.  You say a lot of scientists in VC have a PhD.  Do most of them?  And is that what you want to do anyway?

 

I think if your goal is commercialization and the business of science, you should look for jobs with your MS and find something realted for that.  Then work for a few years.  If you are happy, you are finished.  If you still want to get a PhD and/or feel like it's necessary to get a PhD to do the work you want to do, then get one.

 

I am not a big advocate of the "try the PhD and see if you like it; if you don't, you can always drop out" approach.  Emotionally and intellectually, it is more difficult to drop out of a PhD program than most people think it is going into one.  Some people get stuck and they can't seem to extract themselves even when it would be in their best interests to do so.  Of course, that depends on your personality as well, but if you are a person who gives into guilt easily and feels social obligation often, this is not the route for you to take.  Those traits are a great way to get stuck doing what you don't want because you feel guilty.

[Chai_latte]

@fuzzy- I'm not interested in being a researcher in industry.  I just wonder if/feel like I'll need a strong research background in order to move (successfully) into the commercialization of research (where you basically integrate initial research with patents/marketing/entrepreneurship etc.). 

@juillet- VC is something that I wouldn't mind considering later on (like in 15 years, or something).  But, it's not something I want to do right now.  I guess the getting stuck thing is what's bothering me.  Yes, I could potentially get stuck in "PhD-hood", but I could also get stuck in industry with the MS (particularly if PhD options aren't bountiful in 3-5 years).  I just don't want to miss an opportunity. 

 

Thanks guys...still thinking