this post was submitted on 16 Sep 2023
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You can get any graduate degree, masters or Ph.D. in whatever you want. What do you choose?

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[–] vrighter@discuss.tchncs.de 77 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I'm european. That's already how these things work.

[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

Same. * high fives *

[–] Fleppensteijn@feddit.nl 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago

True, only in the GOOD parts πŸ˜›

[–] PetDinosaurs@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

In the US, PhDs, in STEM at least, are fully funded. Either by research or teaching assistanship. This is the same as in Europe and students are frequently exchanged.

You'll only be paying for yourself if you're in art history or something stupid like that (even then you could get a TA) or you haven't demonstrated that you're smart enough to get a PhD.

Edit: it's so weird how this completely factual statement has been so controversial. I actually went through this process.

That’s wonderful. I’m glad education is accessible.

I’m going to go cry in the back corner now, because haha… America #1… in student loan debt.

[–] otter@lemmy.ca 35 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm dreading the thought of more school :(

I already did my time

[–] LewsTherinTelamon@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I already did my time

Out of context, this sounds like you went to prison πŸ˜†

[–] PetDinosaurs@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It gets like that.

Once you're a few years in, you can't really leave without starting over or being ABD, which is a really bad resume blemish (because it usually happens to people who aren't smart enough for a PhD and get kicked out with the consolation prize).

Although, there is a really prominent researcher in my field who only has a master's. It's like, you know if I were on your committee, you could just staple a few of your papers together, and I would sign off on a PhD.

[–] Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

Just make sure you get someone to give you tutorial answers the first day or you'll become the one giving someone else the answers.

[–] starman@programming.dev 33 points 1 year ago

The government is offering advanced degrees

You can get any graduate degree, masters or Ph.D. in whatever you want.

That's how it works in my country

[–] jeffw@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I don’t think I’d want to do a PhD because it’s too much work. I just like studying and learning, not writing a fuckin dissertation.

I’d just stay in school forever and learn about everything

[–] PetDinosaurs@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

By the time you've done enough learning to get a PhD, writing a dissertation is not much trouble.

It's been over ten years, do you want me to talk about mine? For a solid week? Unprepared?

No problem. I already have.

This is the way

I’d just stay in school forever and learn about everything

Me, too!

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[–] DrQuint@lemm.ee 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It took me 6 seconds to realize OP's statement was an hypothetical.

The answer would be nothing. The best day of my life was the moment I exited my last exam room.

[–] Caligvla@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I want a PhD in procrastination and busywork.

You just need a bachelor's in finance or accounting, and then go work for the government.

[–] Spliffman1@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I gotta clean my contacts, I read this the first time and saw 'the government is offering advanced dangers... "... And it seemed logical

[–] andrewta@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Marine Corp : You called? How can we help you?

[–] PM_ME_VINTAGE_30S@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

PhD in electrical engineering. Only thing stopping me is that I can't afford it.

[–] PetDinosaurs@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Umm.

PhDs in things like engineering are typically fully funded. They paid me while I did mine. It's not much, but it's enough to live on.

Art history, sure, you pay for yourself.

In STEM, you would get an RA or at least a TA.

[–] PM_ME_VINTAGE_30S@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't have a masters, just a bachelors. My school basically requires you to have a masters degree to get a PhD, which I would be 1000% willing to do if I had financial support. I think it is unlikely that I would get any kind of help from the school considering my GPA when I left (~2.8) and that I for certain pissed off instructors I would be working with. I had trouble the last few semesters because I was running out of money all the time and couldn't really focus.

Also, I literally don't have the money to fill out the application for a masters degree. I literally have about $3. My parents won't give me the money for that because they want me to get a job. I have applied for well over a hundred positions, and had zero offers and about four total interviews.

Like I would be literally thrilled to go back to school, but I would be surprised if the school were interested in helping me. So as I write this out, I'm realizing that it's not just a money issue...

[–] quicksand@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

What's your degree in? And general location? I might be able to help you out.

Edit to add: Just keep spamming applications. It's incredibly hard to get your foot in the door, but it's a numbers game. Eventually you'll get an interview, do well and get hired. Hang in there, friend

[–] PM_ME_VINTAGE_30S@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What's your degree in? And general location? I might be able to help you out.

Electrical Engineering in New Jersey.

[–] quicksand@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

I don't know of anything in New Jersey, but upstate NY, Arizona and Oregon are available as far as I know. I think there's some positions near Austin as well. If you're willing to relocate or just want to do someore targeted applications let me know.

[–] Grayox@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hey! When I was little, I wanted to be botanist.

[–] confluence@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Neuroscience... probably computational

[–] Octospider@lemmy.one 5 points 1 year ago

Do you still need prerequisites? Not like I could do an advanced PhD in physics even if it was free.

[–] CptInsane0@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Degrees don't mean much to me and you can learn almost anything for free these days. Now, having good mentors would be cool, but I went to college and there weren't any there either.

[–] lol3droflxp@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

People underestimate the quality of a good teacher/mentor. Not saying that this is necessarily found at an institution.

[–] CptInsane0@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Yeah I've only had one or two "good" teachers in any schooling I did. I wouldn't consider any of them as mentors. Definitely had a bunch of crappy ones too.

[–] throwaway389430@lemmy.cafe 3 points 1 year ago

system analysis

[–] judgeholden@hexbear.net 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

if I'm guaranteed some kind of job as well - history PhD probably

[–] Granixo@feddit.cl 2 points 1 year ago

Either computing science or psychology.

[–] mke_geek@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If there was a course in carpentry, I would take that.

[–] Aggy@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I started to learn some of that during the pandemic. With a good square, circular saw, and drill you can get started. I've gotten into building some relatively simple furniture now and am basically just using those tools still.

[–] mke_geek@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have a circular saw, a miter saw, a small table saw, an oscillating saw, a square, and a drill. (Among other tools.) I've been able to learn how to install trim and flooring, replace deck boards, and build shelving.

At some point I'd love to learn how to make a bench.

[–] PetDinosaurs@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

I learned how to make some very fancy furniture off of YouTube. There's lots of excellent videos in techniques.

I remember woodworking for mere mortals being good when I was a beginner. (I'm still a beginner compared to plenty, but I can definitely design and build a bench on my own).

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.one 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Kinda need my undergrad first...

[–] PeepinGoodArgs@reddthat.com 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] jordanlund@lemmy.one 1 points 1 year ago

Dunno. I dropped out 30 years ago.

Wanted to teach high school.