Stanford unfunded Master vs WPI funded PhD

[Amelia Bian]

Guys I really need some help here... I am pulling my hair out over a decision between an unfunded Stanford Master ME offer and a funded WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) Robotics PhD offer. Which one should I choose?

PhD and master are equal to me, since I love how PhD give me enough time to do research that I love, while Master starts me early into a career. I love the rich resources in Stanford, while WPI is a fairly small school. The lab that I will go to is also relatively newly established. But Stanford is not offering any funding for me, and I know how schools treat Master students like cash cows. But Stanford is just such a great place to be at. 

Any advice or suggestions are really appreciated. Thank you!

 

[thelionking]

I am not in your field so I can't speak to the strength and reputation of these programs. I did want to ask if downgrading to a master's is an option at all. Some schools allow you to do that while others frown upon it (and would not accept you into the program or offer you funding if they knew that was your intention).

If you find that the reputation and ranking of the program at WPI are not strong, nor the reputation and name recognition of your supervisor, then perhaps you could do a master's degree at WPI, do lots of good research and get publications in solid journals to ensure that you will get into a stronger PhD program afterwards.

If leaving after a master's is not an option, then I think you are in a tough position. Can you reach out to your references and respected professors at your university to get their opinions?

Edited April 4, 2017 by thelionking

[Concordia]

Cross-post:

If the opportunities are genuinely identical, then think about the opportunity cost of WPI vs Stanford.  Being out of pocket $40-60k is one thing-- missing 5 years' salary in what may be a lucrative field (I don't know at all about that) may be worse in the long run.

[ThousandsHardships]

If they were both offering you funding and it was just a matter of amount, then I'd say Stanford for sure. But if you have to pay out-of-pocket, then I would not recommend choosing any unfunded program over any funded program for graduate studies. Many (if not most) programs allow PhD students to downgrade to a master's if they change their minds along the way or can't keep going with a PhD. I have personal experience with that if you're curious and know many others who've done the same.

[Concordia]

The big unknown here is compensation afterward-- robotics is probably unlike the humanities in its salary potential, and (like a good business school) Stanford might be able to pay its way with better connections, etc. 

On the other hand, if people in this field are so highly sought-after, one MS graduate may be the same as the next.  We just don't know right now.

 

[thelionking]

If you know that you want to stop after a master's and your field is lucrative and in fairly high demand, then I think it would make sense to go to the school with the best reputation in the field, even if it means paying for tuition. But if you know for certain that you want to get a PhD, then I'd pick one of the two offers and work really hard so you can get into a strong PhD program after the master's. The school you go to for your PhD will matter more than your master's.

But it sounds like you don't know what you'd rather do right now - go for a master's or a PhD. So that complicates things a little.

Edited April 4, 2017 by thelionking

[abcde12345]

Stanford

Perhaps your advisor can offer you a stipend, TAship, RAship. I'm not sure if these only apply to PhD students.. But if you prove your diligence to your advisor, he may offer you something.

[alrightok]

if you're under the impression that a phd and masters are equal, you might need to do a bit more research about what these programs actually entail