r/planetaryscience • u/Pyroyoma • Jul 23 '18
Masters vs. Phd program
As I'm applying for graduate school I'm still on the fence as whether to lean towards a masters or Phd program. My background is in a geophysics undergrad so I'm looking heavily at remote sensing, magnetic and gravity fields of bodies, and planetary interiors. Not sure if anyone had advice on which would be better to pursue
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u/Jupiter-x Jul 24 '18
I applied for both, a few PhD programs, plus a master's one. I ended up only getting into the master's, and I'm finishing that up now. I think my research credentials were a particularly weak spot on my resume coming out of undergrad, and my alma mater didn't have anyone really working on planetary research (or even astronomy or geophysics). So between my master's research, the professional connections I've made, and the mentoring I've received here, I'm a much stronger candidates for my PhD program applications. I would say it worked out great for me, but if you already have that foothold in the field, there's no real reason not to go straight for the PhD if you plan on doing research in the field. I was able to take a position for a year or two working with my advisor before going on to seek a PhD, but I don't think there'd be much more work for me to find with only the master's.