What made you take your decision to apply to a PhD program?

[nehs]

I am arguing with myself whether do it or not. I'm curious to listen to what you all have to say.

 

I feel I am a good candidate overall ( undergrad GPA, master's GPA, publications during my master's program, master's thesis research, might be publishing my thesis) but I SUCK at standardized tests I may most likely need the GMAT for my program, some accept the GRE too. I feel these tests may be the single most factor to screw up my application.

 

My reasons for going are (in order of preference)

-industry-level research positions

-full-time teaching at universities

-academia research/publications

 

May I hear all your thoughts as well?

 

P.S.: Does work experience help?  I am in a STEM field and the industry has much more jobs and much more growth than academia but I still feel attracted!!! I have about 5 years work -ex, including 6 months of a full-time internship.

[33andathirdRPM]

Ask yourself what it is that you truly want to do with your life. If getting a Ph.D. is a necessary step in the direction of the things that you want, you understand how the sort of work necessary to get a Ph.D. leads to that, and you accept the costs (which are more than just money), then by all means do it.

[dat_nerd]

 I may most likely need the GMAT for my program, some accept the GRE too.

What CS programs are you applying to that would require the GMAT? Or are you not applying to a CS program?

[nehs]

I plan to apply to CS as well as MIS/CIS. MIS/CIS usually falls under Business school, so the GMAT

[free_radical]

I worked in industry for a while before applying for PhD programs, I think my industry experiences helped my applications.  I talked about them in my SOP and how those experiences informed my decision to get a PhD.  I'm also in a STEM field.  

 

I had a nice job in industry, but I realized that I did want to do an independent research project, and learn how to direct my own research project...so I decided to come back for a PhD.  From a practical perspective, a PhD is necessary for some industry research roles in my field (biotech).  It seemed like this was less true in Computer Science, but I'm sure you know the field better than I do.  If you need to do it to get the job you want, then you need to do it I guess.  

[fuzzylogician]

I'd suggest some reverse engineering. Do the jobs you want to have require a PhD? If so, you probably need to get one, or find other types of jobs that you already have the necessary qualifications to obtain. if you need to get a PhD to obtain your work goals, I think you should be more worried about what happens during the five or so years it takes to get the PhD and less about the application process - do you think you're not only ready to begin, but also able to finish such a program? That is a much more serious concern than the GRE; I understand it may be difficult for you, but it's nothing compared to the actual 5 years of the PhD grunt work. Work experience will definitely count for the application, and there are ways to study for the GRE to maximize your score even if you're not a good test-taker. I don't think this test should be what discourages you from going after the future that you want. 

[juilletmercredi]

My reasons for getting a PhD were initially that I wanted to be a researcher.  I wanted to work either as an academic professor at a research-focused institution, or work as a researcher at a government agency/think tank/other place in a position that required a PhD.  When I reviewed the kinds of jobs I wanted at the time, all of them required PhDs.

 

Work experience matters in some PhD programs; depends on the field.  Public health is a very experience-oriented field, and much of the work in the field is research-related.  Thus, work experience can help a public health application even if it's not a direct research position.  But in my other field - psychology - work experience only helps if it were as a research coordinator or lab technician/manager.

 

Don't let the standardized tests keep you from applying; they are the least important part of your application.  Yes, an abysmally low score can keep you out, but they are also the easiest part of your application to improve in a relatively short period of time.