In defense of graduate school

[Steven Alligood]

Dennis Muhlestein wrote:
>>  Grad school is a lot of fun. It's nothing like undergraduate work.
>>  (Well, a masters degree is perhaps closer to undergraduate than it is to
>>  PhD work) It opens doors.
>>     
>
> I think that depends a lot on your school too, and your program of
> study as well.  I just completed my MS in CS at USU.  I had a choice
> of 3 programs of study:
>  A) 24 hours of coursework 6 hours thesis+defense (30 credit hours)
>  B) 30 hours of coursework 4 hours well defined project (34 credit hours)
>  C) 37 hours of coursework.
>   
And yet, it is exactly the same degree.  Nobody will ever ask you "Did 
you go the harder route and do the thesis, or wimp out and take three 
more classes?"

As everyone has said here, if the goal is to get the degree to attempt 
more money, a better job, etc, why make life harder than it should be?

On the other hand, if your goal is the lauded halls of academia, the 
experience of a thesis might actually get you farther.

I do find it interesting in this thread how the people with graduate 
degrees (or seeking them) think the degrees are important, and the ones 
that don't have them don't think they are worth anything.  Seems to me 
that those are the reasons everyone went the way they did.

Personally, if you want the degree, get it.  If you don't, then don't.  
Each path opens and closes different doors.  And it's not about money.  
Most of my sysadmins make more than many of the PhD guys I know, 
although not all the PhD guys I know.

Find out what you love and want to be and do with life, and do what it 
takes to get there.

-Steve

Oh, and BTW, to stick to the original thread, both the schools asked 
about are good schools.  Looking at what they offer to you as an 
individual is the best advice I have heard in here.
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