Undergraduate, pregraduate, predoctorate?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Monique
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Undergraduate
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers around terminology for the period after earning a Bachelor’s degree and before starting a Ph.D. program. Participants suggest various terms, with "Postbaccalaureate" being a popular choice, although some debate its applicability. The term "predoctoral" is also mentioned, though it can create confusion regarding its meaning. The conversation shifts to the implications of this period on academic CVs, particularly how to categorize publications from this time versus those from graduate studies. Some participants note that chronological ordering of publications is standard practice, while others express a desire to differentiate between research conducted before and during graduate studies. The discussion also touches on the broader context of unemployment and the choices individuals make during this transitional phase, including taking classes or applying for unemployment benefits. Ultimately, there is a consensus that while specific terminology may vary, the essential understanding of the period remains clear.
Monique
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
Messages
4,211
Reaction score
68
Here's a very general question: how do you call the period after you've earned a Bachelor degree, but before you've started graduate (Ph.D.) school?

As I understand it correctly you are doing doctoral research when you are working on obtaining a Ph.D., so is the period before you start graduate school called a predoctorate?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Monique said:
Here's a very general question: how do you call the period after you've earned a Bachelor degree, but before you've started graduate (Ph.D.) school?

Unemployment.
 
I would go with Postbaccalaureate.
 
cronxeh said:
Unemployment.
:smile: but what if you publish several papers during that period. I'm working on my CV and am wondering how to logically separate the papers that were published before entering a PhD program and papers that were published as a graduate student.

Norman said:
I would go with Postbaccalaureate.
All would be postBSc, so that doesn't work.
 
Monique said:
I'm working on my CV and am wondering how to logically separate the papers that were published before entering a PhD program and papers that were published as a graduate student.

In this case, I think predoctoral would work. It gets the point across.
 
In case you missed that...

phd081810s.gif


phd082010s.gif


phd082310s.gif
 
Monique said:
Here's a very general question: how do you call the period after you've earned a Bachelor degree, but before you've started graduate (Ph.D.) school?

As I understand it correctly you are doing doctoral research when you are working on obtaining a Ph.D., so is the period before you start graduate school called a predoctorate?

Maybe "between degree programs"?
 
AFAIK there's no title for people who don't have a doctoral degree of some kind. But you said "wondering how to logically separate the papers that were published before entering a PhD program and papers that were published as a graduate student." Thus I'm guessing you were a graduate student in an MS program before you were in a PhD program. People in PhD programs are also called grad students. So can't you just use "masters student" and "PhD student?"
 
arunma; said:
Thus I'm guessing you were a graduate student in an MS program before you were in a PhD program. People in PhD programs are also called grad students. So can't you just use "masters student" and "PhD student?"
No, I wasn't a MSc student and officially I didn't even have a BSc either (I didn't attend a University, but received technical training). Basically I was just doing research, without being part of a program (so undergraduate might qualify).

Borek, I did read that comic and they are right: predoctoral can be interpreted as "before being awarded a PhD", which is causing mine confusion.
 
  • #10
What address did you put on your papers published in that period? If it was a university, or a lab, then I guess you could put it as "research at xxx under Dr. yyy", and state the papers as "publications from research at xxx" as opposed to "publications from PhD research at zzz".
 
  • #11
Monique said:
I'm working on my CV and am wondering how to logically separate the papers that were published before entering a PhD program and papers that were published as a graduate student.
Why would you want to do that? Is there some benefit to pointing out the difference? The general practice is that the publication list just be chronologically ordered.
 
  • #12
Monique said:
All would be postBSc, so that doesn't work.

I know a few people who went into post-bac programs (short for postbaccalaureate) where they took courses at a university after receiving their bachelor's degrees but prior to applying for graduate/professional school (most were non-science majors who wanted to apply to med school, see for example http://www.naahp.org/resources_Postbac_Article.htm ). So, I would agree with the use of this term. Why won't postbaccalaureate work for a BSc (short for Bachelor of Science)? Is a BSc not considered a bachelor's degree?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #13
I think cronxeh was right, in addition to being funny.
 
  • #14
nismaratwork said:
I think cronxeh was right, in addition to being funny.
That's definitely is childish as he exposes himself nakedly with others' information,
Smart but low!
 
  • #15
Overgraduate student.
 
  • #16
WalkOnBy said:
That's definitely is childish as he exposes himself nakedly with others' information,
Smart but low!

Whatchu mean others, I am unemployed
 
  • #17
Are you hungry ? being jobless might lead people to crimes; stealing, robbing etc
 
  • #18
WalkOnBy said:
Are you hungry ? being jobless might lead people to crimes; stealing, robbing etc

I got money and job offers. I think I'm going to do like most people do lately and apply for unemployment, kick it back have a cold one and take some classes, let the government pay for it. Why should I be working my butt off while what is it now 10% unemployed? Now that is clever. Why stress yourself out? Get up early in the morning and drive to work, make your boss rich, stress out.. naaah. I'm going to go for a nice long walk on the beach tomorrow and later in the day listen to hours of music, drink my cold beer, and take a long nap :biggrin:

Ohh look the PF's IRS (Internal Research Sisterhood) caught up with ya.. and you got crossed.. stress, man, it kills you :biggrin:
 
Last edited:
  • #19
Monique said:
Here's a very general question: how do you call the period after you've earned a Bachelor degree, but before you've started graduate (Ph.D.) school?

I called it "summer vacation." :smile:
 
  • #20
Gokul43201 said:
Why would you want to do that? Is there some benefit to pointing out the difference? The general practice is that the publication list just be chronologically ordered.
I did a master in between, which creates somewhat of a gap in the chronological order. I guess it's not a big deal and since there is no appropriate term that applies, I'll just keep it chronological.
 
  • #21
Postgrad up until starting a doctorate, then you become a predoc.

That's generally how it goes in the UK.
 
  • #22
xxChrisxx said:
Postgrad up until starting a doctorate, then you become a predoc.

That's generally how it goes in the UK.

I've never heard the term predoc. A graduate is someone who has finished their first degree; a postgrad is someone working towards their doctorate.
 
  • #23
cristo said:
I've never heard the term predoc. A graduate is someone who has finished their first degree; a postgrad is someone working towards their doctorate.

Postgrads can be working towards a masters too, some like to make the distinction (damnnn egos). I'm surprised you've not heard of predoctoral though, it's obviously not as common as I thought.

In reality, it doesn't matter what you call it so long as the gist is passed on.
 

Similar threads

Back
Top