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Consider applying for grad school

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Re: Consider applying for grad school

#71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My experience is the opposite of yours. Oh look, we cancel out. Hurray for anecdotes and biases!

I mean, if they're coming from a different major, it's the equivalent of hiring people after sophomore year. If they haven't been programming outside that, that frankly isn't enough time to be a good programmer.

Most M.S. requires a year or two of prerequisites.

Re: Consider applying for grad school

#72
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not an unreasonable opinion, but I doubt a PhD can make up for lack of real-world experience. Likely, the best way to get better at solving global problems is by doing just that for years, preferably alongside others with more experience. IMO learn to swim in the pool.

I've wondered if working for 10 or so years and then getting a PhD could be a good strategy.

I'm trying it out now, I guess meet you back at this thread in another 10 years?

FYI for others wondering about the same, I wouldn't wait the full 10 years unless you are going to study something very industry adjacent like software engineering methodology. I've had to spend a lot of time relearning anything theoretical.

I bet the sweet spot is 2-5 years.

Re: Consider applying for grad school

#73
post #67
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not an unreasonable opinion, but I doubt a PhD can make up for lack of real-world experience. Likely, the best way to get better at solving global problems is by doing just that for years, preferably alongside others with more experience. IMO learn to swim in the pool.

The question raised by the article is, can real-world experience make up for a lack of PhD? A balance of both is perhaps best, which is what industry PhD holders have.

Corollary being: can a PhD make up for lack of real world experience?

Re: Consider applying for grad school

#74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is discouraging. As someone with a BS in something other than CS I don't feel that I get the benefit of the doubt during interviews. My CS fundamentals are weak because I never learned them and they very rarely come up in building things and I have been thinking of going back for a CS Masters

Pick up Discrete Mathematics by Knuth, Foundations of Mathematics by Sibley, Modern Operating Systems by Tanenbaum, and Computer Organization and Design by Patterson and Hennessy. You internalize those, combined with your experience, and you'll be better off than a lot of CS grads.

Thanks! Currently working through The Algorithm Design Manual, and next on my list is Introduction to Algorithms but I will add your recommendations to my reading list

Re: Consider applying for grad school

#76
I assume this refers to a PHD. The masters degree I got is also post-grad.

I'm not sure if anyone else covered it but you have to have a certain amount of money to get a PHD. I was approved to enter a doctorate program at Stanford. I couldn't afford it so I went to HP to earn some money. After the five-year approval expired I was disappointed that I could never afford it. (We're talking astronomical numbers here).

Re: Consider applying for grad school

#77
post #56

One point jumped out at me, which I haven't seen anyone respond to: > We are concerned about untrained amateurs going directly into trying to solve very difficult global problems. They can then cause harm overall, by lowering the average quality of analysis or launching ill-considered projects due to a lack of experience or understanding. A PhD reduces the risk you’ll accidentally do this. This point is operating off…

It's not an unreasonable opinion, but I doubt a PhD can make up for lack of real-world experience. Likely, the best way to get better at solving global problems is by doing just that for years, preferably alongside others with more experience. IMO learn to swim in the pool.

A PhD doesn't make up for lack of real-world experience, but it sure does augment it dramatically.

Re: Consider applying for grad school

#78
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pedantically: yes, but almost all of them have salary as a prerequisite. Practically: no, not really.

My PhD and the research I do now based on it give me a huge amount of personal satisfaction and are a big part of my quality of life. I'm comparing the work I did before my PhD (because I worked after my degree before a PhD) and seeing what my friends think about work compared to me. Yeah if you're looking for more money, maybe don't do a PhD. If you're looking for the time and space to find satisfaction by working o…

So that’s the pitch they make in the PhD programs. But what they leave out are the negative associations with a PhD. You will immediately be over qualified for large swaths of work. And unless you can immediately land that dream job by, amongst other things, beating out all competition for that work - you will enter the work force with 0 applicable work experience. Hiring managers can be downright blind about anything that isn’t direct work experience in something you’d only gain experience from already having experience in that labor market.

Re: Consider applying for grad school

#79
post #17
post #5

I was expecting reasons why now is a better climate to apply then in previous years. That would be interesting, but instead it's a list of generic reasons to apply for a phd. Yes, I know that phd's can open doors.

Same, but I read more like "if you've been considering grad school, you should just go ahead and apply!" I was hoping for some reason I hadn't considered, to consider grad school. As it stands I have no idea why I should go to grad school lol, I'm already happily employed. I guess it's not for me!

Personally, I'm already happily employed and have just started grad school (masters). My motivation, aside from being more competitive in the job market (I don't want to stay in this job forever), is that I enjoy challenges. But I prefer to meet challenges at least somewhat prepared to take them on. I see grad school as an opportunity to study my field in more depth than I realistically have time or motivation for on the job or after work. I figure this will allow me sort of level up and be able to take on more challenging work in the future.

Re: Consider applying for grad school

#80

I always wanted to get a PhD, but I don't have a BS. Is there any way I can skip the BS?

Bill Gates did it, so I guess it's possible?

Bill Gates didn't do it - he doesn't have a PhD at all. He has honorary doctorates, but that's not really what we're talking about here.
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