Neo Evil11

So biatches,

how are they hanging? Did you ever change your career plans in the last minute?

I am applying for this university in Frankfurt and now I get 2 mails from my thesissupervisor and the coordinator of my current MSc that I shouldn't do that, but go to a top-university instead, because apparently my grades are great (lol sounds funny). Problem is that those applications are closed (they are too late with their "helpful" advice). And now they will try to get me full funding for the MPhil here, which is rated a bit below the london school of economics, but still rated very highly.
My other professor, however, says I should wait a year and then apply for the best universities in the world because it will pay itself back.

I really don't know what to do and need your help Pit.

Also please share your stories about having to change your plans in the last minute.

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JackWhiteIsButts

Take a year off and then apply.

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Neo Evil11

I don't think I am mentally able to take a year off.

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ChucklesMginty

Yeah, this is the 2nd time I've had to do that and I wouldn't recommend it.

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So you want to write a fugue?

So you want to write a fugue?

You've got the urge to write a fugue

You've got the nerve to write a fugue

So you want to write a fugue?

Avedas

After hearing so many grad student horror stories I am very skeptical when I hear "it will pay itself back".

Weaponized

Take a year off and then apply.

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solo_freak

Is there any way you could get a placement anywhere for a year? Even if it's not paid it will still be useful and you won't feel like you wasted a year.

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Neo Evil11

I will be doing a PhD afterwards, and then get a research position at a university. My other option is to do their MPhil here and then hope that I can get a Phd there.

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Neo Evil11

What do you mean with "placement" exactly? I am sure I could find some job. It's not probable that this will be something I really like though.

I'm sorry if I sound like a spoiled brat, but unfortunately I am that.

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solo_freak

An internship at a company/firm relating to what you are doing, not just any job. That way you could add to your CV as well.

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Neo Evil11

I'm sure my father could get me an internship at Exxon Mobile (he's offered it multiple times). Maybe that I will look into some banking stuff.


But so no one is in favor of doing the MPhil at the Tinbergen institute? Says enough about the Dutch quality of schooling to be honest.

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Avedas

I suppose if you plan to stay in academia it shouldn't be an issue.

Neo Evil11

The gigantic debt may be an issue though. I have no idea how other people do it, or how fast I have to pay it back.

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Joshua Garcia

No, but I probably should.
Been applying for a Medical Billing & Coder position since April of 2011 and still don't have a job. Been denied soo many times because of lack of experience. Which comes from being denied soo many times. Quite the ironic circle actually.

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Neo Evil11

Is it a classic case of a catch 22?

Now I am wondering though, are your grades fine? Because I hear a lot that grades don't matter for getting accepted in a job. Which means I am ****ed too if that's the case.

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Joshua Garcia

No, my grades were fine. It's just the lack of experience. Recently, I went to a sort of job fair for this one company, spent about 30 minutes, then got denied because the standard for all applicants is a 2 year experience.

So far, I've gotten a month externship experience, and a license for passing an nationally certified test to make my resume look better. It was completely optional, but I took it. It's gotta get me somewhere eventually.

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captainsnazz

I was talking to a knowledgeable dude who has supervised like 50 PhDs last week, because I was trying to figure out whether I really need a master's to get on a PhD. You don't in England but do in France and some other places you see, but I don't want to do my PhD in England.
But the answer I got was that masters' courses are supposed to teach you a specific skill set that you'll need either for a career in industry or research, that you simply wouldn't get from your bachelor's.
So it's more about the skills you get, not where you get them. I'd do the master's at the not-as-fantastic place and do your PhD at a more fantastic place. That's my plan at the moment anyway.

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Neo Evil11

I will have an MSc by then, but I have been told that I either need a two year's degree or a research master's degree before I can get a PhD.

Mind you, Bachelor degrees here are only 3 years. I may have heard it wrong, but I thought they were 4 years in England.

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captainsnazz

Ah yeah sorry I misread something in your original post. Who told you that? Sounds pretty strict, especially considering that you have good grades. Have you actually applied for any PhDs, or at least talked to any supervisors?

Bachelors are mostly 3 years in England, although mine is technically 4 because I'm on placement at the moment. I've heard of longer ones though.

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