Dennis: I agree entirely with what you say (repeated below). I also think that a student can make these decisions and evaluations at any point in their career (be they in an MS or phD degree). Being in a primarily MS granting program, I can see many adnvantages of getting an MS degree. My comments were along the lines of Grossman's comments regarding strategies to hit the fast track to a faculty position.
A MS degree provides a point at which a number of >things can happen and a number of decisions can be made. First, the >student can assess whether they want to continue with graduate school, >period. Second, a student can use a MS degree as a point at which to >assess whether they want to continue with the program and/or advisor under >which they are working (if that is an option). Third, and perhaps most >importantly (at least by the discussions that have been generated here), it >provides a clear point at which a student can generate a publication or two >early in their career. For a variety of reasons (including these), I >decided to pursue a MS degree before my PhD degree, and found that it >provided a great number of benefits to me professionally. I have felt >strongly that it was the best decision that I could have made at the time. >
******************************************************************* Matthew S. Grober Assistant Professor of Physiology Department of Life Sciences Arizona State University West Phone: (602) 543-6939 4701 W. Thunderbird Rd. FAX: (602) 543-6073 Phoenix, AZ 85069-7100 E-mail:[log in to unmask]
http://lsvl.la.asu.edu/zoology/faculty/grober.html
"No human being was ever so free as a fish." John Ruskin *******************************************************************
|