petitioning to get into the M.S program

[gatsby2016]

Hi, I'm a first year M.Eng student in ECE at a pretty highly ranked school. I kinda want to do a PhD later on so I'm interested in changing to a M.S (thesis) degree instead.

I talked to grad adviser of ECE and she said I don't have to apply again, I just need to file a petition (change of curriculum) form and have my thesis adviser sign it. Then a committee will review it.

I do have a faculty that want to work with me but he doesn't have funding at this time. I asked the dept about this and they seem to want to require me to get a RA. I asked if I can self fund and they are not sure. They seem to want me to have a RA, and will frown upon if I self fund. But it sound like exceptions can be made.

 

So what now? I kinda want to get a M.S so I can apply to PhD programs later on. Would it help my chance if I told them on the form that I've been attending the group meetings of the faculty last semester and we already decided on a project I can research on?

 

Honestly, don't really care about money. Just want to get some publications under my belt and apply to PhD later.

 

My grad GPA is 3.7. 

Undergrad GPA: 3.4 (not that it matters now)

GRE: 170Q 166 V (not that it matters now)

Edited February 3, 2017 by gatsby2016

[gatsby2016]

Can I get some thoughts on this?

I mean, I'm essentially looking to get published without asking for money...

[gatsby2016]

I've been talking with the Director of Academic Programs. She knows my story and what I want. I wonder how much sway she has over this "committee" that she asked me to turn the petition to. She seems to know when they meet and where. Maybe she's on the committee herself?

[rising_star]

Have you tried asking around to other professors to see if they have funding? Have you asked anyone why they want you to have a RA lined up?

[GreenEyedTrombonist]

I agree that you should find the answers to @rising_star's questions. I also would like to know why you don't want the RA.

[gatsby2016]

I asked the graduate adviser, who is the director of academic programs. She said traditionally all their M.S students are funded by RA or TA. That's the reason she gave. I'm in the M.Eng program which is pretty new so I might be the first case of trying to change to a M.S. 

I was worried about my GPA since I got a B last semester, but she didn't seem too concerned. She said "well you DO have a 3.6," as if that's a good GPA or something.

Anyway, she told me to fill this curriculum form and have my thesis adviser sign it. Even though the fact I'm self funding is new to them, I don't think it's a deal breaker. Why would they turn down someone who is self funded and want to do a little research? The only other reason is probably due to the fact that M.Eng admission standard than the M.S. But if she thinks my GPA is good enough, and my GRE is good enough, I don't see an issue. 

I think it's important that when I fill out the form, I give a convince reason why I want to do a M.S. Here are my reasons:

1. I want to do a Phd later and a MS would be a smoother transition.

2. Getting research experience in a topic I'm interested in is very important to me.

3. I'm taking a couple of 500 level courses with research projects that are highly relevant to my topic anyway.

4. I've been attending the group meetings of the thesis adviser I want to work with last semester, and we have already decided on a project.

Do you think those are convincing reasons? I guess the reason I asked here is because I want to know how to improve my petition. You guys probably understand the perspective of the school/dept. thanks

[redikulus]

As far as I know, you have a much better chance of co-authoring (your alleged goal) if you are on the RA-ship because you will be required to accomplish your claimed goal and get paid for it at the same time. Just taking the courses required for your program won't guarantee you publication, but you will be much more likely to get one if you are on an RA-ship. That's because you will either be on a research team or helping a professor out, either way, usually you get associated with the publication. I've gotten four publications just this semester, due to my RA-ship. Also, having an RA-ship alone, regardless of publication, will help you get into a PhD. Your request is a strange one, grasshopper.