Should I Pursue a MS or Focus on Software Development?

[robertya1027]

I posted a lot of times on reddit, because I don't think I can survive a PhD

 

[phinds]

And did you have a question or did you just need for us to know that?

 

[robertya1027]

And did you have a question or did you just need for us to know that?

Is it OK to get a MS without a PhD (in physics), I feel a little bad about myself for not doing a PhD but I don't think I have the mental capacity to do one anyways

 

[phinds]

Is it OK to get a MS without a PhD (in physics), I feel a little bad about myself for not doing a PhD but I don't think I have the mental capacity to do one anyways

Well, it depends on what you want to do. In any case, if you've done enough to get a masters then you have a good idea of what it would take to do the PhD so knowing that, if you don't think that's the right thing for you, it's hard to see how you would be wrong.

 

[phyzguy]

I cannot see myself doing a PhD​

Then don't. Most people don't do a PhD. If you don't get a PhD, you will have a lot of company.

 

[Orodruin]

Define ”OK”. It depends on what your aim is here. Obviously, not everyone does a PhD after a master and they generally get jobs. However, if your aim is to stay in academia, then a PhD would be a requirement to land most if not all jobs.

Either way, if you believe it would be too stressful for you to the point of affecting your mental health status, then doing a PhD is probably a bad idea. There is indeed quite a high incidence of mental health issues among PhD students.

If you feel your mental health is in danger, then you should contact a professional.

 

[robertya1027]

Define ”OK”. It depends on what your aim is here. Obviously, not everyone does a PhD after a master and they generally get jobs. However, if your aim is to stay in academia, then a PhD would be a requirement to land most if not all jobs.

Either way, if you believe it would be too stressful for you to the point of affecting your mental health status, then doing a PhD is probably a bad idea. There is indeed quite a high incidence of mental health issues among PhD students.

If you feel your mental health is in danger, then you should contact a professional.

What about industry?

 

[Orodruin]

What about industry?

Most industry jobs do not require a PhD and even if you do get into a company that values your PhD, it is most often better for your carreer to start working on your carreer rather than doing the PhD (as in, in the time you would have taken todo the PhD you will instead spend on advancing your carreer in the company and end up further along than the PhD will let you).

 

[Choppy]

It's far better for everyone to figure out early that a PhD is not for you. You'd much rather not start in the first place than spend several years floundering, stressed, and miserable only to come to the same conclusion.

Of course, I get the apprehension. There's a lot of pressure, even if it's only from the sunken cost effect. You've invested so much time already (assuming you're on track to complete an MSc) that it feels as though you'd be giving up on everything you've already done. You can also feel pressure from family, friends, partners, etc. because they've helped you get to where you are and opting not to do a PhD would feel like giving up on them.

The trick, really, is figuring out what you next step is. So a PhD is not for you. Alright. Good choice. But what IS right for you? Or at least, what options are you excited about exploring? Do you want to take that STEM foundation and translate that into a lucrative career in data science? Is teaching your thing? Maybe you really enjoyed your time in your campus machine shop and now want a career in 3D printing and device fabrication. You might not know what this is right away either. But it's important to have a plan for figuring that out.

 

[CrysPhys]

What about industry?

What country (a) are you now studying in, (b) do you plan to work in, and (c) are you a citizen of?

 

[StatGuy2000]

I posted a lot of times on reddit, because I don't think I can survive a PhD

@robertya1027 , I took a brief look at your Reddit posts (posted under the username u/throwRA50950), and I could surmise a few things from your post:

1. You come from a wealthy (or at least well-off) family (since according to one of your posts, your parents are giving you $80000-$100000 each year, ostensibly for your undergraduate studies).

2. In your own words, your GPA "isn't too good, but still acceptable (3.xx GPA)"

3. Almost graduating university (I'm assuming you are graduating from an American university, since you make references to GPA).

4. You are interested in working in software development/programming as a career strategy.

Am I wrong about my summary above? And is there any other information you want to share? Because any additional information will help us on PF give you better advice.

 

[robertya1027]

@robertya1027 , I took a brief look at your Reddit posts (posted under the username u/throwRA50950), and I could surmise a few things from your post:

1. You come from a wealthy (or at least well-off) family (since according to one of your posts, your parents are giving you $80000-$100000 each year, ostensibly for your undergraduate studies).

2. In your own words, your GPA "isn't too good, but still acceptable (3.xx GPA)"

3. Almost graduating university (I'm assuming you are graduating from an American university, since you make references to GPA).

4. You are interested in working in software development/programming as a career strategy.

Am I wrong about my summary above? And is there any other information you want to share? Because any additional information will help us on PF give you better advice.

1. I don't want to do a PhD because it's too stressful
2. I don't NEEED a PhD anyways

 

[phinds]

1. I don't want to do a PhD because it's too stressful
2. I don't NEEED a PhD anyways

Then why are you even stressing out about it and asking strangers for advice? Just don't get a PhD !

 

[phinds]

1. I don't want to do a PhD because it's too stressful
2. I don't NEEED a PhD anyways

 

[StatGuy2000]

1. I don't want to do a PhD because it's too stressful
2. I don't NEEED a PhD anyways

@robertya1027, I don't understand why you are posting here at all. No one told you that you need to do a PhD. It's your choice what you need to do.

You wrote in post #3:

"Is it OK to get a MS without a PhD (in physics), I feel a little bad about myself for not doing a PhD but I don't think I have the mental capacity to do one anyways"

So do you want my opinion about your quote? Because here goes:

1. It is OK to get a MS in physics, or in any other field, but this depends on what you want to do career-wise. I don't think a MS in physics will be all that useful for a career in software development (which, based on your posts on Reddit, is what you are interested in). IMO, a MS in computer science may be more useful for you if software development is what you want to do.

2. Back to #1 -- are you actually interested in software development? What kinds of jobs or careers are you interested in? This is important, as this should inform you on what next steps you should take in terms of your education or training.

 

[symbolipoint]

And Harry Callahan says,

 

[scompi]

1. It is OK to get a MS in physics, or in any other field, but this depends on what you want to do career-wise. I don't think a MS in physics will be all that useful for a career in software development (which, based on your posts on Reddit, is what you are interested in). IMO, a MS in computer science may be more useful for you if software development is what you want to do.

If he wants to do software development, I'd suggest cutting his losses and abandoning the MS altogether. Instead of switching to MS in CS and playing catch up, focus on learning actual software development via programming courses or on his own.