Getting a 2nd masters or going straight into PhD if unsatisfied with current masters...

[EIA0010]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm currently in the 2nd year of my current masters program, hoping to finish sometime in the upcoming summer. However, there's something that's been on my mind consistently, but now, it's really eating me up and thus I thought I'd post here to get some feedback/advice.

 

Anyways, long story short, I kind of stumbled through my masters applications, not knowing exactly what I wanted, and only applied to 2 schools. A great school, with a professor who's research I absolutely loved (and still do), in a city I couldn't wait to move in. The 2nd place I ended up applying to was at my undergraduate school, a not so great school (at least ranking wise, and in my field, not much better). Anyways, I got accepted into the program at the school of my choice, but I ended up putting all my eggs into 1 basket with the one professor there, funding ended up not working out (found out way late into the application/admission process in about June, making it pretty impossible to find another professor in that short amount of time for the upcoming fall), and as a fallback, I went back to my undergraduate school with a professor I worked with in my undergrad. I wasn't happy about it, particulary about returning back to a not so great school, but my thought was that do a masters, see if you enjoy research, and if so, move onto a school/research of your preference for your PhD.

 

Now at this point, I feel like this masters has been in many ways, and it saddens me to say this, has been a waste. The PI is absent, runs projects and the lab in a manner that I personally don't like (some projects aren't well thought out off in the beginning, absent, rarely available for feedback/meetings, scattered with research leading to students being spread thin on various projects), the research topic is not of interest to me which I think hurts my motivation (which is my fault, since it very similar to what I thought I was doing when I first entered), and I don't like the school/department, particulary since it doesn't match with what my interests are. I also work very alone, since everyone in the lab has their own research which is very different. Thus, all the learning and work is very isolated (and I know people have told me this is usual, but I just prefer working with others). I was lucky enough to get scholarship, present a poster, and publish a small paper, but I'm very unhappy with where I am, and I know at the end of the day, this whole situation is all my fault.

 

At this point now, I'm worried about my PhD applications, and if I can get into the school/lab of my choice. I've been debating to quit for practically the entire year, but I thought I'd finish what I started, but now, in hindsight, I wish I did. I'm not going to lie, and as vain as it sounds perhaps, I really want to go to a well known and high ranked school, which undoubtedly is one of the reasons I'm currently not happy. My current research is also very different compared to what I want to go in (which I've been told isn't all that difficult, in regards to switching research), but I worry that for this to happen, its more likely if coming from a well established school/lab, with my current position hurting me. I just feel like there's been very little to build off this masters when hoping to jump to a PhD.

 

Now, I've been seriously contemplating about finishing my masters, and applying to Masters programs again, but this time at the schools of my choice, to labs I now know I would want to be a part of (from the research point of view). However, I also have the idea of my age in the back of my head bothering me. Finishing my masters next year would be put me in my mid 20s (took a year off between my undergrad and masters to work), and the idea of another 2 years for a masters, then a PhD also scares me.

 

I just feel so lost. I know where I want to go (which school I'd want to apply to, and what field of research I'd want to work in), but its how to get there (and if), which is keeping me up at night. Sorry for the long post, just thought I'd get this off my chest and see what gets sent back.

 

Happy Holidays and thanks to everyone for making this such a great forum,

 

E.I.A.

[bsharpe269]

If you want a PhD then definitely apply to PhD programs, not maters. You should have a decent grasp on your intended research area but this can be accomplished by reading relevent literature which you can do now, at your current institution. I am doing a MS also at a school that isnt super highly ranked. The prestige of your MS school does not matter much... I already have two interviews for PhD programs at great schools. Your motivation will determine your sucess in academia, not the name of your university. I am certain that I got interviews because 1) I have been reading as much I possibly can about the field which I am sure shows in my SOP and 2) I have done very well in classes (like >98% when the average is a and put tons of time in research which has led to amazing LORs.

 

I think that doing another masters would be pointless. I would read literature in your field and form a solid grasp of your intended research area. Once you have figured this out then apply to programs with professors who specialize in this area. You will be able to write a solid SOP based on your lit review and can discuss how your previous experience has helped you develop skills that will lead to your sucess in your intended research area.

[EIA0010]

If you want a PhD then definitely apply to PhD programs, not maters. You should have a decent grasp on your intended research area but this can be accomplished by reading relevent literature which you can do now, at your current institution. I am doing a MS also at a school that isnt super highly ranked. The prestige of your MS school does not matter much... I already have two interviews for PhD programs at great schools. Your motivation will determine your sucess in academia, not the name of your university. I am certain that I got interviews because 1) I have been reading as much I possibly can about the field which I am sure shows in my SOP and 2) I have done very well in classes (like >98% when the average is a and put tons of time in research which has led to amazing LORs.

 

I think that doing another masters would be pointless. I would read literature in your field and form a solid grasp of your intended research area. Once you have figured this out then apply to programs with professors who specialize in this area. You will be able to write a solid SOP based on your lit review and can discuss how your previous experience has helped you develop skills that will lead to your sucess in your intended research area.

 

Thanks a lot Latte. Over the break I was able to speak to someone who's more of a mentor, and they pretty much stated something similar, something along the lines of, "If you have a good idea of the research you want to do, don't waste time with another masters and move right into the PhD."

 

Just find it hard in my current situation though, since the process of moving on still feels so far away...Thanks again.