Stanford's treatment of Masters students

[skyentist]

I was really put off by this acceptance to Stanford. I will definitely not take it the offer and be one of their "cash cows". How could anybody want to go to an institution that doesn't encourage further growth, and in fact discourages it. Is it just me, or is this kind of rude?

 

 

"Congratulations! It's our great pleasure to inform you of your admission to the Master of Science degree program in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford University beginning Fall Quarter of 2014. We wanted to contact you and let you know of your admission as soon as possible to assist you in reaching a decision about your graduate career.

 

 

As a rule, students admitted to the M.S. Degree should not anticipate receiving financial aid from our department to support their studies at Stanford. In addition, you should view the M.S. as a terminal degree at Stanford, and that it is quite rare for M.S. students to be admitted to our doctoral program upon completion of the M.S. degree. "

 

 

[GeoDUDE!]

It's pretty nice that they give you that information up front instead of trying to cull you to come.  Imagine how many people would go there thinking they had a shot of continuing on as a PhD student.

[Monochrome Spring]

To me, it just sounds like they're being forward and honest with you. They aren't preparing you for a Ph.D.; they are preparing you to go out into a career after your M.S. That's not to say that they aren't encouraging further growth. They're letting you know what your degree will actually mean. If anything, it's good that they let you know this, so you don't plan on a Ph.D. program if you accept their M.S. offer. And I was under the impression that most Masters degrees aren't funded anyway, so I wouldn't pick on that.

[skyentist]

It's pretty nice that they give you that information up front instead of trying to cull you to come.  Imagine how many people would go there thinking they had a shot of continuing on as a PhD student.

Thats a good point. At least they are honest.

 

To me, it just sounds like they're being forward and honest with you. They aren't preparing you for a Ph.D.; they are preparing you to go out into a career after your M.S. That's not to say that they aren't encouraging further growth. They're letting you know what your degree will actually mean. If anything, it's good that they let you know this, so you don't plan on a Ph.D. program if you accept their M.S. offer. And I was under the impression that most Masters degrees aren't funded anyway, so I wouldn't pick on that.

True. I thought most masters were, at least tuition waived. Thats what I have seen at schools I have been interested in such as Berkeley and UIUC.

[Icydubloon]

I got a full tuition waiver plus a TAship with stipend for their MSCS. It might vary from department to department.

[MechE2014]

The MechE department offers a small number of fellowships with full tuition waver and stipend. Could be that your department does at well or it could not be.