To pursue a higher degree or not?

Question

I'm a Computer Science/Mathematics double major at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. I expect to get my Bachelor's degree Fall of 2009. I have a 4.0 GPA, and I am co-oping at a CFD research company. I do not have any research experience, and I can't decide whether I want to go to graduate school. Here is my thinking:

1. I enjoy teaching, and I think I would like to teach at a university in the future. For this I would need at least a Master's, preferably a Ph.D.

2. Since I don't have any research experience, I don't know whether I would like doing research. However, I have a strong desire to learn, and I am a hard worker. Both are qualities I have heard are essential to research. In fact, my desire to learn is probably the most compelling thing for me to stay in Academia. However, this may (at least in part) be because of not having much experience in the "working world." I also find that I look forward to going to class more than going to work.

3. It is virtually impossible for me to get research experience as an undergraduate because I don't have time as a co-op.

4. I would rather not stay at UAH. While it is a reasonably good school, I feel that I have not been adequately challenged. I am thinking of studying abroad, possibly going to England or Japan. But I know little about what these places have to offer in the way of CS graduate programs, although my knowledge of US CS graduate schools is also limited.

I realize that is a little long, but if you have the patience to read it, please share your thoughts.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Studying abroad would be quite expensive, with the weak dollar. Even though you wouldn't be going until after you graduate, there's no guarantee that the dollar will strengthen in that time.  

Have you thought about the difference in income between teaching and working in industry?  College professors are notoriously underpaid.  IT professionals can earn a lot more than professors.  

Maybe you could work for a few years after graduation in a geographic area close to a good American computer Master's program and take night classes.      

Answer 2

Since you are undecided on the direction you want to take, I'd strongly suggest that you take 1-2 years and work in your field. See how you feel. See what path appeals to you. Then pursue it. Don't jump right into a PhD program if you aren't sure, because it's a long road, and its arduous, and you'll likely make *less* as a PhD in academia than you would with a BS working.

To teach university, you need a PhD. To teach community college, you need a masters. A masters may also benefit you if you are working for a corporation. But a masters in CS is more significant, more impactful, if you've worked a year or two first. You know how to apply your knowledge, and you're often surer of which field to study after working a bit. You're also more appealing to the master's programs themselves. And if you're working, you could pursue an MS and perhaps have your company pay for it. Sweet.

If you pursue a PhD in CS, the university will pay for your tuition, plus give you a living stipend. You may need to be a research or teaching assistant in exchange. But don't consider a program if you have to pay! You should be fully funded in CS!

If you do a master's overseas, you will have to pay for it - that is, unless you go for a Fulbright, Marshall or other scholarship. Look them up. Very prestigious, and with your academics, possible. If you go for a PhD in the UK, you will be fully funded. I'm not sure about Japan.

In the UK, the best unis for MS CS or PhD CS are Imperial College London, Oxford, Cambridge, and U Manchester. In the US, it's Carnegie Mellon, MIT, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Cornell, U Illinois Urbana, U Washington, Princeton, U Texas Austin, U Wisconsin Madison, Cal Tech, Georgia Tech, UC San Diego, U Maryland College Park, Harvard, UCLA, U MIchigan Ann Arbor, Columbia U, and Purdue. Those'd be my top. Japan, I don't know as many schools. You'd need to be fluent in Japanese, but if you were, I'd have you look at the programs at Tokyo Institute of Tech and Kyoto U, which have a strong rep in this field.

But know that the best schools in your field are in the US: CM, MIT, Stanford and UC Berkeley are top four worldwide.  

Answer 3

Studying abroad is a good choice. That'll differentiate you from your BSc peers in work life too, then later on. You don't want to be a hick that's never been out of US and seen how the life is elsewhere.

Also, getting a master's before starting to earn the dough is good for your professional image if you're not in a compelling hurry (family, house etc.).

That's my 2 cents (as a person who does hiring in an IT company...)

Answer 4

Hmm.. from my understanding, just to clarify some things. Co-op is like a full time job without a degree that occur over the period of a semester. So it shouldnt have anything to do with the research time because you can take research during a sch term as the professor's "work schedule" are more relaxed then companies out there.

So I would say once you are done with your co-op, and get back to school, look for professors and ask for research, having that experience should be useful to help hone your interest too.

Having research and co-op experience under your belt after Bach is ideal for attaining a job. There are also research companies out there and it is not like you will limit your learning by entering the working population.

Working before getting a Masters can provide a more stable foundation to get hired after getting your Masters. So it is up to you. I just graduated Fall 07 and going to do my Masters part time under company funding. So it can actually be rather beneficial if you find the right company to work for.

Answer 5

First of all the fact that you are not being challenged may mean that you are at too small of a school.  But it could also mean that you are in the right field for you, and that you will only be challenged at the graduate school level.  I would be looking into going to graduate school here in the US.  There are many excellent programs in Math and Computer Science here.  Graduate school is very challenging, and I have known very smart and dedicated people who found it to be demandng.  You aren't going to get to get to do much research until your senior year which it seems like you are on.  Even then it will be limited to a course or two.  Research is for graduate school and that is where your career will start to come into focus.  Just be glad that you are doing so well, and make sure that you ace your GRE so you will be able pick your school.

Answer 6

Well, it is hard for me to say only being a freshman.  But, I do think it would be beneficial to you to get some research experience.  That would help you decide.  If I understand the co-op program correctly, you work 1 semester and then go to school 1 semester.  During one of your school semesters, try to get a part-time research job to see if this interests you.