CalcNerd said:
I am going to buck the crowd and tell you it is possible.
Sure it's possible, not one said otherwise. It would be very difficult, with a high chance of failure, and dubious benefits if successful.
CalcNerd said:
Engineering is NOT Physics and not nearly as researched based.
Citation seriously needed. I work closely with about 15 and know at least 50 engineering PhDs. As far as I am aware, not a single one didn't publish papers and complete a research project that added to the engineering body of knowledge. Not a single one. I don't think a University that conferred a Ph.D. without an original research contribution would be accredited. It is really the entire point of the degree.
CalcNerd said:
Yes, I suspect I would have had to do research, but it would not neccessarily been lab based.
Of course, not all Physics PhDs are lab-based, either. Even if you did a software-only PhD (such as in DSP or something) it would still take forever. I worked 45-50 hours a week and it took me 7 years to get my PhD, 5 of which was full-time research.
The only people I know who have gotten a PhD part time (and I do know several) were heavily supported by their jobs with time off to do research, ability to do short sabbaticals, and so on. I knew a couple of people (two to be exact) who tried to go part time in my program partway through (they wanted jobs) and they both ended up dropping out. It was just too crushing.
CalcNerd said:
Most other programs don't have the luxury of research grant money or corporate sponsership for their programs and have to rely upon a much larger percentage of the graduates to pay their full tuition.
Are you sure about that? Engineering is notorious for making people pay for their MS degrees but I don't know if I know of any PhD student (besides the part time ones, I guess) who paid their full tuition. And where do you think the money to do physics research comes from, if not research grant money?
CalcNerd said:
With that said, I suspect most Engineering programs will make the effort to let you pursue a PhD if you're grades are acceptable (not neccessarily stellar as would be required for Physics programs) and you're willing to work (and Pay) for it.
I'm not trying to be argumentative, but why do you think so? What would be the benefit to the Professors? They wouldn't have to pay (except for their time) but they also would get an unreliable (because the person would likely quit) long-term student who may or may not actually do actual research? That makes no sense.
If someone came to me and offer to be a free part-time intern in my group and they were a mediocre student, I would likely turn them down. My time (along with most Professors) is seriously oversubscribed and a half-hearted part-time helper would end up being a time sink.