======= Date Modified 19 Jun 2011 11:42:35 =======
Hi ShrugsLova,

IMO, I would take the industry job. You say that you have no interest in being in education, and the reason why the PhD is attractive to you is the salary after 3, 4, or 5 years in the program. If you have no interest, then maybe it may not be very enjoyble for you to do. Who knows, you might end up liking it. But if your interest is not there, chances are you wouldn't.

I think if you start at the junior level, you would be able to become a senior engineer after 3,4,5 years of experience. I don't know how long exactly. With 5-7 years of experience, you may be a middle-level manager. More than that you can move up higher. I guess it depends on you and the company. But the point is the entry/junior level job will just as well lead to your career objective. Having the company-specific and industry-specific experience would be an advantage.

Be careful who you get your information from. The lecturer who told you that you will get a senior post in an MNC after a PhD may have his own interest in mind. It may well be that he said that to you to attract you to the program. Research his past PhD students, especially those that graduated last year and this year. See where they are now. Talk to them about their career goals prior to the phd, and ask how the PhD helped them.

My guess would be, there is a difference between applied engineering and "theoretical" engineering. So even if you have the PhD, your research skills might lean towards the non-applied part. I don't know this exactly, but the best would be to ask other engineering PhDs.

Goodluck, and congratulations for gettin the offer. Would like to hear about your decision some time in the future.

(up)(up)

======= Date Modified 18 Jun 2011 13:34:36 =======
Wow, given that your rommate used a description such as "hit by a baseball bat", and you're even wondering to take time off or not, you have got to be a very conscientious person! Take it easy, you'll be more efficient at work when you take some time off.

Get well!

======= Date Modified 17 Jun 2011 18:20:51 =======

Well done Treefrog! I'm very pleased to hear the news. Must be a relief. Imagine those moments when we didn't know how things would turn out.

I'm really happy to hear a positive news, gives us hope :-) There's light at the end of the tunnel, indeed. Savor the moment!

Hello

The brief and general answer to your question would be "it depends where you do your phd, and in what field/programme you are in" For some programs, it looks like this:

1. The first two years are usually when the students complete a coursework. This may be theory-focused, method-focused, or even writing-focused. Each course requires examinations, in which you get a grade. In some places grades are no big deal, publication is the big deal. I don't know how computer science phds do theirs.

2. Most students use the first two years to prepare their papers. So they compose their lit reviews, narrow down the research, etc...

3. After the first two years, you go the quals, or make your transer to continue to the followong years as a phd.

4. There's teaching work, assistantship work, etc...

5. There are conferences to be attended, with different schedules. Some conf occur in the spring, some in winter.

6. You do all these while you write your thesis. So writing up is your main work, and you do 1-5 as you go along.

Hope this is useful.

That's good news Keenbean! I mean I read your thread about the funding and the earlier submission date, a bit of a glitch there. But the good news is you have the chance to apply for the funding, so you get the chance to secure your position in the academia bit more long term.

I'm sure you'll do just fine:-)

I would definitely email them. You have got nothing to lose by sending them a reminder :-)

Congratulations to you all. Very inspiring!

Yay!!!!!! Hats off to you!

Been thinking about you Pine and Sozaboy too. Really wish it went well. Couldn't log on earlier to send goodluck, I'm sorry. Looking forward to your thoughts or just anything you would like to share about it.:-)

Ouch Keenbean. Oh well "it's all a part of it" that's what they say. But I totally get you. It is so frustrating!!!

yay!!!!(up)

I think your sup meant very fair in an academic way, it's a positive message i suppose. It's so different from "your external examiners will grind you to pieces" which was actually said to me by my sup. Goodluck!

Hi Clairette,

Did you manage to get it done?

I finished my nth draft, but still no reference list yet. I prefer to write without Endnote/Zotero, as I find they distract the flow of my thoughts everytime I need to insert a citation.

In any case hope you caught up with some sleep. See you around!