Questions tagged [graduate-school]
On schools that award advanced academic degrees, such as masters and doctoral degrees. This tag is mainly for questions about the structure and organization of a graduate school or the fundamental experience of being a graduate student. Do not use this tag for questions about research in graduate school (use [research] instead), coursework in graduate school (use [coursework] instead), gaining admissions to graduate school (use [graduate-admissions]), etc.
2,235
questions
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1answer
216 views
Do less selective institutions have a lower workload for Ph.D. students?
Is the standard for graduating lower at lower-ranked institutions? How large of a difference is this?
Computer Science, USA specifically
0
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0answers
117 views
Should I submit my math subject GRE score?
I'm a US student applying to PhD programs in pure mathematics this semester. Most of the programs I am applying to are highly ranked schools which are making the subject GRE optional this semester. ...
1
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2answers
109 views
The Professors I want to work with are almost all in a different department to the one I want to apply to, is that a problem? This is for US unis
I am in the process of contacting potential advisors at various universities, and finding out if they would be willing to take me on as a student, and then mention this in the application. However, I ...
1
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1answer
136 views
How are MS and MA programs in Mathematics different?
Most graduate programs in Math only offer a PhD program, but some provide either an MS or MA in Math. Are there any significant differences I should be aware of between the two, or are they ...
5
votes
2answers
400 views
How to Deal with Demanding Parents
I am currently a 5th year PhD student in math at an American university. I was talking with my parents recently and I told them that I had come to terms with the possibility of me not graduating with ...
1
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1answer
137 views
Graduate students funding availability in Pure vs Applied Math
Universities in the U.S. are sometimes limited in how many students they can accept by the available funding. How does funding compare in Pure vs. Applied departments? Is one generally more funded ...
2
votes
2answers
188 views
How to respond when a professor compliments you via email?
In a certain STEM graduate course, my professor made a claim and provided an solution without showing any derivations. After doing this, he mentioned that the students should derive the solution at ...
3
votes
4answers
292 views
Can I withdraw from a fully funded PhD offer from US just before joining date as I got a Job in industry and don't feel like doing a PhD anymore?
I am an international student currently working in my home country - India. I got admitted for a fully-funded PhD program in the US. Although I was very confident about doing a PhD when I applied for ...
28
votes
6answers
9k views
Should grad students accept yelling by supervisors? [closed]
In my opinion, yelling and disrespecting should not be the case between supervisor(s) and their grad students regardless of how well or poor the student is doing. Supervisors are usually holding the ...
16
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12answers
6k views
Is programming experience relevant in a pure Math graduate program?
Programming skills such as experience with Java, Python, C++ or work experience as a software developer can be indispensable for applied mathematicians. How useful is it to have such experiences as a ...
5
votes
1answer
148 views
My advisor is not letting me graduate my masters and join Ph.D in a new lab
It has been almost 3.5 years since the start of my Master's, and I want to graduate this December. My advisor wants me to stay and work with him for some more time. I don't want that. When I asked for ...
1
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2answers
122 views
Are graduate Math programs that use the quarter system more difficult?
It seems to me like 10 weeks per course may not be enough time for some graduate courses if they are not developed carefully. Do colleges using the quarter system like Dartmouth or UC Irvine have ...
5
votes
2answers
370 views
Is a 1000+ word Statement of Purpose too lengthy?
I plan to apply for an MS in CS in the United States as an international student. While some universities provide guidance on the Statement of Purpose word limit, I can see that most don't. In such a ...
0
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3answers
145 views
Do outside-funded graduate students normally have TA or grading responsibilities in the US?
Assuming a student has full funding from an outside source. Do the TA and grading responsibilities become optional?
-1
votes
1answer
104 views
Whom should I take recommendation letter from?
I am applying for a Ph.D. position in US universities. I am confused about whom should I use as one of my recommenders? One of them is from the school from which I graduated and he is the department ...
0
votes
1answer
87 views
Are modern-day classes primarily for distillation of knowledge or are they primarily for testing/examination/certification?
This is a philosophical question.
From undergrad (which I did stem), I have noticed that in some classes, the teachers taught the absolute bare minimum, almost like overviews of a topic, often times ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Is it mandatory to get professional recommendation letters from my current employer?
I wish to apply for a masters in computer science in the United States as an international student. I have around 3 years of work experience in 2 companies. It is difficult for me to get any ...
1
vote
2answers
172 views
What physics background is necessary for pursuing a PhD in Mathematical Physics? [closed]
If I wanted to do research related to the topology and geometry of space or their applications in quantum mechanics or general relativity, would it be possible to do that from a Mathematician’s POV ...
1
vote
1answer
137 views
How to study applied physics in graduate school from applied math
Upon doing background research and looking at faculty in my department, it seems that it is easy to move from studying physics to studying applied mathematics. However, I have seen few, if any cases ...
1
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0answers
69 views
If the professor says positive things about me, what are my chances of getting into the history graduate program? [closed]
I was just wondering from those who are knowledgeable about the history graduate school process — how much say do history professors have in accepting students to the program? I know they have some ...
3
votes
1answer
280 views
How good is an 18 month Masters in Computer Science?
I have plans to apply for a Masters in computer science in the United States as an international student. I see that some universities (Stony Brook etc.) have masters program which can be completed ...
0
votes
0answers
61 views
Can i get letters of recommendation from a senior software engineer?
I plan to apply for an MS in computer science in the United States. I am unable to get the recommendation letter from my manager and thus would it be fine if i take the professional letter of ...
0
votes
1answer
81 views
How hard is the comprehensive examination based masters in Computer Science? [closed]
I wish to apply for an MS in computer science in the United States as an international student. I see that some universities (UC San Diego) provide either a thesis track or a comprehensive exam track ...
-4
votes
1answer
264 views
Research on stackexchange [closed]
I have some nice research in math and philosophy but I don't know if I should share some of it in question form here. Can I still get it published in a journal if I post on philosophy and math ...
2
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1answer
2k views
Do mathematicians need logical thinking? [closed]
Do mathematicians need logical thinking? I did well in undergraduate math but I only took an axiomatic approach. I've never done logic workbooks.
2
votes
1answer
153 views
High-achieving self-written LoR vs LoR from recent collaborator
I'm applying to Ph.D. admissions in the US for Fall 2022 and need to obtain the third LoR. I have two choices:
My undergraduate college professor, with whom I've collaborated extensively for about a ...
2
votes
1answer
98 views
Is it possible to get into a phD program without research experience straight from undergrad?
A little background on myself:
I am a senior in undergrad with a major in Neuroscience and Cognitive science
and minors in biochemistry and math.
I switched my major fairly late and I never got the ...
4
votes
4answers
404 views
How do I find mathematics PhD programs that have faculty within a certain field?
So I'm interested in a PhD in math, and my research area is in set theory. Kind of a niche place to be. Forcing, large cardinals, determinacy, etc. I know that the biggest schools (Carnegie Mellon, ...
1
vote
1answer
104 views
Will studying abroad for a year during my undergraduate hurt my PhD admissions chance?
I go to a top 30 liberal arts college in the US, and I'm planning to go on a study-abroad for one year. I want to go for a Computer Science PhD after I graduate. I will be a Math major with a ...
2
votes
1answer
161 views
Is it unfair to quit PhD and leave with a masters? [duplicate]
I am a college junior looking for CS PhD programs. I actually want to go for a masters degree but it is super hard to get funding. I have had research experience, but I did not enjoy it too much. I ...
3
votes
2answers
169 views
Do I need to take GRE Maths Subject Test to compensate for bad undergraduate GPA?
I have a Bachelor's degree in Statistics from a reputed Indian college. I struggled during my Bachelor's and failed many classes and retook exams. My CGPA is 6.18/10. My Master's grades are good ...
1
vote
1answer
149 views
My recommender does not personally know any of the faculty members at the PhD programs I'm applying. Is this bad?
Basically, will my recommenders not being known to the faculty of my targetted PhD programs hurt my chances of admission? I am an undergraduate student, looking for PhD programs in CS.
1
vote
0answers
47 views
Do I need a letter of recommendation from my employer to vouch for the projects I worked on with them when applying to master's programs in the US? [closed]
I wish to apply for a master's in CS in the United States as an international student. It has been quite some time since I graduated and I currently work as a software developer.
While I have worked ...
3
votes
3answers
413 views
How to deal with too many interfering unnecessary questions from professors about my career plans?
In my department, there is a professor who is not my advisor who constantly asks me about my career plans and how is it going with my research, how far I went in my research, and what did I do in that ...
-2
votes
1answer
455 views
My friend got into Johns Hopkins and UVA Math program with (almost) zero undergraduate research experience. How is that possible? [closed]
I am a rising junior, looking to apply for Ph.D. programs in Math or CS when my time comes. I heard that my friend got into the two prestigious universities for a Math Ph.D. program without much ...
0
votes
6answers
1k views
What age is too old for research advisor/professor? [closed]
I feel like I wouldn't want to work with >70 years old professors because they're too old and have less chance of coming up with new ideas. is this a reasonable concern?
15
votes
8answers
8k views
Is it bad for professors/supervisors to have their PhD students drop out?
Does it hurt the professor's career in any way if their students drop out? Assume a PhD student gets the professor's funding and publishes an adequate amount of papers. They then decide to quit (maybe ...
1
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1answer
89 views
Should I contact potential PhD advisors as an undergraduate applicant?
I've heard that people interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in the US contact potential Ph.D. advisors to ask if they have space available in their labs. Does this apply to undergraduates (students with ...
0
votes
1answer
134 views
Two different gre scores
so I gave my gre for the second time and got a score of 160 in quant and 146 in verbal. However first time I got 158 in quant and 150 in verbal. Which score do I send to the university or do I send ...
2
votes
1answer
172 views
Switching Phd topic (and advisor)
I am a PhD student in computer science. My current advisor was also my masters advisor, and I stayed with him for a PhD because back at the time the research I did under him was interesting for me.
...
0
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1answer
97 views
Recent vs overall GPA in graduate school admissions
This is an extension of my previous question. I'm applying to CS Ph.D. programs in the US. From my perspective, I have a strong profile (compared to my previous post, 1 more first-author paper and ...
8
votes
2answers
3k views
Do you ask for a certificate of participation as a poster presenter in a conference?
I participated in some prestigious conferences as a poster presenter but, these conferences do not issue certificates so, when I list them in my CV, what is the proof for the reader that I did ...
1
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0answers
56 views
How should I ask my Supervisor for a reference letter?
I am a stem cell biology masters student in Japan and the lab I am in is a good lab. However, I have had struggles with my day to day life here in Japan. I find myself sad and even get depressed from ...
1
vote
2answers
323 views
I've pigeonholed myself into machine learning and I'm applying to PhD programs
I'm applying to phd programs after being out of school for a couple of years working as a software engineer. The problem is that all my research and work experience has been in machine learning, but I'...
12
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4answers
4k views
Having lunch with my advisor and his wife after graduation [duplicate]
I have a lovely professor who I've become very close with over the past three years. I am an international student and we are both from the same original culture.
I recently finished my master's and ...
6
votes
4answers
632 views
Should one pursue a Ph.D. with non-tenure track professors?
Are there any disadvantages with working for non-tenure track professors? Is it possible that they get fired and you need to restart with someone else? Do they have less funding? Any other drawbacks?
...
0
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1answer
145 views
Does it make sense to do two PhDs? Sociolinguistics and History
Dear academic community ,
I am currently enrolled in a PhD program in the discipline of Sociolinguistics. Even though I like my topic of research and I am doing quite well, I cannot get over the fact ...
3
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2answers
786 views
Is September too late to start sending emails to prospective advisors for PhD in the US?
I am planning to send emails to potential Ph.D. supervisors in my area of research at the start of September. I recently found out that most of my colleagues have already sent out these letters as ...
-1
votes
2answers
194 views
How much research experience do I need for PhD programs in the USA?
I am a rising junior, looking to apply to PhD programs in Statistics in a couple of years. I go to a liberal arts school and there is almost no research going on during the semester. I did research (3 ...
5
votes
2answers
224 views
Is it reasonable to have both a TAship and an internship during grad school? If not, what to consider when choosing between them?
I'm attending grad school out of state, paying upwards of $17K/semester. Over the summer, I was offered an internship (40 hrs/week). A couple of fellow students were also interested in this internship,...
