MS or PhD?

[lordbadri]

Hey
I am an Indian student with an undergraduate degree in Electronics and Telecommunication from a reputed collage.
Currently i am working at IISc (Indian institute of science) (best in the country for research) as research assistant. Now after going through the replies of many post on this site i am at a dilemma now. My interest is to pursue my PhD in Astronomy in USA.I am currently trying my best to get a assistant-ship in the astronomy and physics department.I have given the subject test in Nov and awaiting its result.

My question is whether i will have a good chance of entering a PhD program after doing my MS (Astronomy or Physics) in the US or Applying to the direct PhD program in Astronomy and Astrophysics in the US?

I know that most of the top collages don't admit students for a MS program in Astronomy, i found a few that do but it would be of great help if i get a few suggestions on the universities that offer MS in Astronomy or Physics?

[TakeruK]

I don't know what universities offer terminal astronomy masters in the US off the top of my head, but you should be able to find this by looking up universities that have research which interests you. I also think you should apply to both Masters and PhD programs, there's no need to pick just one. Many schools that offer PhD programs won't offer a terminal masters by the way.

[bfollinprm]

I doubt many schools will care if you do a masters beforehand in the US, as long as you already have quality numbers associated with your applications. It might help peripherally if you get good recommendation letters from your professors there, who might be better known than your supervisors in India in the field. It will almost certainly not be a good choice in terms of forwarding your physics career; you'll end up spending two years at a school relearning things you probably already know, all for the chance of a minor thesis project that might net you a recommendation or two. If you're competitive enough to get into PhD programs, I'd focus on applying to those; though of course, as TakeruK said, it wont hurt to look at some masters programs as a failsafe.

If there is some damning numbers in your profile (subpar GPA, below 60th %ile PGRE), then you might consider doing a masters first to boost these numbers and also solidify your understanding of core physics topics. I'm assuming you're not in this case, but I wanted to put this caveat out there just in case.

[lordbadri]

Thank you so much for your replies bfollinprm and TakeruK.
The point that led to me to conclude about applying to MS rather the PhD is that, i am not form the Physics Background...My undergrad degree is in Electronics and looking at how competitive the applications are also the selection is..i thought it would be better to show good experience in physics and Astronomy by getting an admit in MS in US before applying to PhD in US...ie increasing my chances to get an admit in the top 20 for PhD.About my GPA it is >3.5 and my Phy GRE result is yet to be out....but i have performed well.
But as you suggested bfollinprm that i keep MS as a fail safe rather then considering it...i will do that.I will apply for PhD programs in Astronomy and Astrophysics. As TakeruK suggested for me to apply to both MS and PhD if the school offers for example UCD....i will do that also.I am planning to apply for PhD around 10+ universities.

Apart from that, I have found 4 such universities who offer MS for my fail safe consideration:
Central Michigan University
Washington State
University of Georgia
Sand Diego State
Please do let me know if you have more which can be suggested and kindly advice me on the prospects of the MS Degree program Towards a PhD in top 10 or 20.

[bfollinprm]

Thank you so much for your replies bfollinprm and TakeruK.
The point that led to me to conclude about applying to MS rather the PhD is that, i am not form the Physics Background...My undergrad degree is in Electronics and looking at how competitive the applications are also the selection is..i thought it would be better to show good experience in physics and Astronomy by getting an admit in MS in US before applying to PhD in US...ie increasing my chances to get an admit in the top 20 for PhD.About my GPA it is >3.5 and my Phy GRE result is yet to be out....but i have performed well.
But as you suggested bfollinprm that i keep MS as a fail safe rather then considering it...i will do that.I will apply for PhD programs in Astronomy and Astrophysics. As TakeruK suggested for me to apply to both MS and PhD if the school offers for example UCD....i will do that also.I am planning to apply for PhD around 10+ universities.

Apart from that, I have found 4 such universities who offer MS for my fail safe consideration:
Central Michigan University
Washington State
University of Georgia
Sand Diego State
Please do let me know if you have more which can be suggested and kindly advice me on the prospects of the MS Degree program Towards a PhD in top 10 or 20.

If UCD refers to University of California, Davis, they do not offer a terminal masters degree. They offer masters degrees to PhD candidates once they finish their first year of graduate school, but you can not be admitted as a masters student.

[lordbadri]

Thank you so much for your replies bfollinprm and TakeruK.
The point that led to me to conclude about applying to MS rather the PhD is that, i am not form the Physics Background...My undergrad degree is in Electronics and looking at how competitive the applications are also the selection is..i thought it would be better to show good experience in physics and Astronomy by getting an admit in MS in US before applying to PhD in US...ie increasing my chances to get an admit in the top 20 for PhD.About my GPA it is >3.5 and my Phy GRE result is yet to be out....but i have performed well.
But as you suggested bfollinprm that i keep MS as a fail safe rather then considering it...i will do that.I will apply for PhD programs in Astronomy and Astrophysics. As TakeruK suggested for me to apply to both MS and PhD if the school offers for example UCD....i will do that also.I am planning to apply for PhD around 10+ universities.

Apart from that, I have found 4 such universities who offer MS for my fail safe consideration:
Central Michigan University
Washington State
University of Georgia
Sand Diego State
Please do let me know if you have more which can be suggested and kindly advice me on the prospects of the MS Degree program Towards a PhD in top 10 or 20.

If UCD refers to University of California, Davis, they do not offer a terminal masters degree. They offer masters degrees to PhD candidates once they finish their first year of graduate school, but you can not be admitted as a masters student.

oh thanks...i didn't know that.
other universities i have mentioned i am sure they offer MS terminal......for me MS is only fail-safe.

[Catria]

IMO a Canadian MS is better than an American MS (even a thesis one) because it teaches research better.

[lordbadri]

oh is it. i didn't know that
Could you please suggest me a few Canadian universities to apply for then?
How is the funding their? do they fund MS fully?

[jeffreyweee]

Miami-Ohio offers a terminal masters that is funded and is research-centric. The guy I know went there enjoyed it and was able to gain entrance into a good PhD program.

http://www.muphysics.org is their website for more information.

[Catria]

oh is it. i didn't know that
Could you please suggest me a few Canadian universities to apply for then?
How is the funding their? do they fund MS fully?

What is it that you want to do research in?

However, MS programs are fully funded (but, even so, it might not be the same as an American PhD after paying tuition).

[lordbadri]

Miami-Ohio offers a terminal masters that is funded and is research-centric. The guy I know went there enjoyed it and was able to gain entrance into a good PhD program.

http://www.muphysics.org is their website for more information.

Thank you so very much for your reply jeffreyweee

I will surely look into it and apply.
Any other such programs you have an idea of ?

[sphy]

Hey
I am an Indian student with an undergraduate degree in Electronics and Telecommunication from a reputed collage.
Currently i am working at IISc (Indian institute of science) (best in the country for research) as research assistant. Now after going through the replies of many post on this site i am at a dilemma now. My interest is to pursue my PhD in Astronomy in USA.I am currently trying my best to get a assistant-ship in the astronomy and physics department.I have given the subject test in Nov and awaiting its result.

My question is whether i will have a good chance of entering a PhD program after doing my MS (Astronomy or Physics) in the US or Applying to the direct PhD program in Astronomy and Astrophysics in the US?

I know that most of the top collages don't admit students for a MS program in Astronomy, i found a few that do but it would be of great help if i get a few suggestions on the universities that offer MS in Astronomy or Physics?

How about this:
Why don't you try for some project or internship or winter program in IUCAA or NCRA or IIA or ISRO may be and publish a paper or two (good one as first or second author) and in the mean time take another subject TEST in April, Nepal (and then in November if it's not above 950 or something). Now recommendations from these various institutes along with from your Alma mater would prove to be vital in the next fall. And by then you'd have plenty of research experience in the competitive environment which'll put at ease in US because of your experience.

The most important thing is you'll have a better chance of going in to some top 30ish school which will satisfy you (I am sure about that.). I am suggesting all these because of very poor Subject GRE score of yours, which will definitely hamper you when you will compete with other international students in the application process.

Don't take it as a waste of one year but as a gain of research experience and I am sure you will end up in a far, far better university next time. So why don't save the sweat and anxiety!!!!


[PS: i have not read other's suggestions so see if they have some good thing to tell, as a compatriot I'll tell you not to go to any as such school (you know what I mean) rather go to that school you've always dreamt of.]