Should I bother with grad school?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the considerations and implications of pursuing graduate studies in physics, particularly focusing on whether to apply for a master's program and the potential career outcomes associated with such a decision. Participants explore personal motivations, career planning, and the value of advanced degrees.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about the value of pursuing a master's program in physics, questioning whether it will lead to a successful career or just a degree without practical benefits.
  • Another participant emphasizes that success in a career depends on individual characteristics and personal goals, suggesting that these factors should be considered when deciding on graduate education.
  • There is a distinction made between a master's degree and a PhD, with a participant noting that their background may necessitate starting with a master's before pursuing a PhD.
  • A participant reflects on their lack of a clear career plan, contemplating whether to pursue graduate studies in a field of interest or to wait until they have a more defined direction.
  • Suggestions are made for exploring career options through job shadowing or career exploration classes to gain clarity on future paths.
  • Concerns are raised about the significant investment of time and potential income loss associated with graduate school, with a participant noting that advanced degrees do not guarantee success or higher salaries for everyone.
  • Another participant advises that a strong passion for research and a clear understanding of the field are important factors in deciding whether to pursue graduate studies.
  • A later reply indicates a decision to hold off on graduate school and consider substitute teaching as a temporary solution while exploring career options.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the necessity and value of pursuing graduate education in physics, with no consensus reached on whether it is advisable to proceed with applications for a master's program.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the importance of personal goals and characteristics in determining the value of graduate education, but there is no resolution on the best course of action for the original poster.

MathMarvel
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I'm considering applying to get into a master's program in physics, and I'm under the impression that I will be able to get into such a program. My question is should I bother? Will I be able to land a career, or will I just eventually end up with a nice looking PhD on the wall in my cardboard box home?
 
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You do realize whether or not you will be "successful" depends on your own characteristics?
 
Should you "bother" to get a graduate degree in physics? Well, what are your goals? What is your career plan?

Also, masters =/= PhD.

Also also, this:
mr. vodka said:
You do realize whether or not you will be "successful" depends on your own characteristics?
 
Alright, I know a master's isn't a PhD, but due to my background I'd likely have to go into a master's program first with the intent of getting a PhD afterwards since I got my bachelor's degree in theoretical math. You do ask good question though, bcb. I guess I don't have much in the way of a career plan, which is why I'm wondering if I should work towards graduate degrees in a topic that interests me, or if I should just hold off until I find something that I know I want to dedicate my life to. I'm starting to think that I won't find such a thing though.
 
MathMarvel said:
I guess I don't have much in the way of a career plan, which is why I'm wondering if I should work towards graduate degrees in a topic that interests me, or if I should just hold off until I find something that I know I want to dedicate my life to. I'm starting to think that I won't find such a thing though.
Maybe you should try going on some job shadows in fields that your curious about and seeing if you like them. Or even taking a career exploration class.
 
A PhD is not going to do work for you.

For most people graduate school is a considerable challenge and a significant investment. Even for a 2 year master's degree, you're looking at 2 years of lost potential income. For a PhD it's much more. On average, advanced degrees still correlate with higher salaries, but in individual cases, there are no guarantees.

If you're really interested in learning to become a researcher, if you have a strong passion for your field and you've done some work to investigate what's involved then graduate school might be the right decision for you. If you're just doing it because you're not sure what to do with the rest of your life, this may not be the best decision.
 
Good advice, I think I'll just hold off for now and substitute teach in the meantime so I can get by until I figure something out.
 

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