how much more does doing a thesis with your masters help in getting accepted into a Phd program or does it not matter, as many programs do not even require a completion of a master's degree for entry? I want to hear some opinions on this.

8/13/2012 6:05:58 PM

Similar thread is here before.

8/13/2012 7:29:11 PM

whats your field of study?

also, beware of roar.

[Edited on August 13, 2012 at 10:53 PM. Reason : -]

8/13/2012 10:53:09 PM

criminal justice and I am only interested in the top ranked Phd programs like Maryland, Penn State, Florida, etc.

my other credentials will be superb though (GPAs, GRE scores, etc.)

roar??

8/13/2012 11:20:14 PM

just do the thesis, pussy

8/13/2012 11:45:13 PM

This question would be best answered by contacting the faculty at those programs that you wish to work for and get their opinions on the matter. After all, they're the ones that will be evaluating your application to determine if they want to recruit you into their groups.

8/14/2012 2:22:23 AM

Quote :

"Penn State receives accreditation warning"

[Edited on August 14, 2012 at 12:54 PM. Reason : user "shoot" either dropped out or almost dropped out of his phd program because his advisor roared ]

8/14/2012 12:53:31 PM

Yeah PSU degrees are pretty much worthless now unfortunately and it is a top 50 school too.

I didnt know I could contact the faculty at the schools since I am not a student. would they even answer me?

I am in a professional MS program and the closest thing it has to thesis is a policy analysis project in your last semester but that does not require the amount of research a thesis does

[Edited on August 14, 2012 at 2:24 PM. Reason : ]

8/14/2012 2:19:16 PM

Yeh, contact the schools and ask.

FWIW, I know people that have skipped master's degrees and gone straight to PhD, but they also got their undergrad in the same department and the professors knew them. They were told repeatedly to get a master's first, but in the end, they're getting/got their PhD.

A thesis certainly helps and it better prepares you for the type and amount of work. Just my opinion, but I think outside departments/schools would be at least a little hesitant to bring you on over someone who has done a thesis, though in most circumstances, it's probably not a huge deal (unless the PhD program is very competitive).

8/14/2012 3:04:55 PM

Quote :

"Maryland, Penn State, Florida, etc."

jesus christ are those really the top schools for criminal justice?

anyway, professors who do research for a living would rather hire students that have already successfully done research.

8/15/2012 12:56:56 AM

I'm in engineering. I did a non-thesis masters through NCSU's distance program while fully employed, and not, originally, intending to do a PhD. When I applied for PhD programs, I was rejected in 2 weeks from UM College Park. I was accepted, with funding, at NCSU and my Alma Mater, and accepted without funding at another major school near my Alma Mater. I had excellent GRE scores and Graduate GPA, interesting employment relevant to my field, and okay undergraduate grades.

Nothing about my MS indicates it is distance or non-thesis. Those are only things that will be learned by a school/employer with further questioning.

8/15/2012 10:45:16 AM

The thing is aren't you doing research in in your master's coursework anyway? I think that's why a lot of schools don't require a submission of a thesis plus you would have barely started it by the time you had to apply

The schools are just your typical state schools and the thing is they are not very competitive, at least the criminal justice phd programs- some of their students went to unranked Tier 2 universities or liberal arts colleges no one has heard of (far worse than NC ST), or they have irrelevant undergraduate majors, and GRE scores are not high. do you think a thesis there would mean more than someone who went to a more quality institutions, had relevant majors, near perfect GPAs and GRE scores, etc.?


When I apply i expect to have above average GRE scores, a 4.0 GPA in my MS program from a big ten university, rec letters from Graduate school professors and will have my 3.9 GPA from undergrad as well but no thesis

[Edited on August 15, 2012 at 11:22 AM. Reason : ]

8/15/2012 11:10:34 AM

^^MS = thesis, so your resume/transcript should say Mxx for a non-thesis masters.

MSCE = Master of Science in Civil Engineering (thesis)

MCE = Master in Civil Engineering (non-thesis)


[Edited on August 15, 2012 at 11:12 AM. Reason : ^]

8/15/2012 11:11:14 AM

^ That may be true in some instances, but is not universally true. I hold an MS from NCSU, and I did not do a thesis.

Your mileage may vary, this is just my, single, data point.

8/15/2012 11:17:55 AM

well that's a new one on me. thought degree labels were standardized, at least on the university level. What program?


[Edited on August 15, 2012 at 11:23 AM. Reason : .]

8/15/2012 11:22:35 AM

I'm in Aero, see below for the screenshot from mypack portal.

Degree names, while often similar, are not standardized. An interesting example is my undergrad, which awarded me a BS in Engineering, the same degree given to all its Civil, Mechanical and Electrical engineering students. See also MIT, which awards SM and MEng along the lines you've suggested, but also a graduate Engineer's degree, which takes twice as long.

8/15/2012 11:38:04 AM