Do PhD programs discriminate against people with masters?

Forum for the GRE subject test in mathematics.
Post Reply
yoyobarn
Posts: 80
Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2010 7:01 am

Do PhD programs discriminate against people with masters?

Post by yoyobarn » Sat Dec 17, 2011 2:46 am

Hi,

After some consideration, I intend to do my masters in my home country first.

However, I would need to know if PhD programs in the US discriminate against students with masters degree?

I read some comments on other forums that masters is considered a "terminal degree", and such..

I can understand if applicants with master's degree have no advantage over the other applicants, but to be at a disadvantage would be counterintuitive and puzzling to me..

Thanks a lot.

owlpride
Posts: 204
Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:01 am

Re: Do PhD programs discriminate against people with masters?

Post by owlpride » Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:25 am

Foreign students often finish a Master's degree in their home country before they come to the US for a PhD. That's nothing out of the ordinary.

yoyobarn
Posts: 80
Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2010 7:01 am

Re: Do PhD programs discriminate against people with masters?

Post by yoyobarn » Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:54 am

Thanks a lot.

ANDS
Posts: 47
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2011 8:41 pm

Re: Do PhD programs discriminate against people with masters?

Post by ANDS » Sat Dec 17, 2011 1:24 pm

I'd imagine your chances for acceptance increase since they don't have to fund you for as long as they would have to fund a domestic student coming out of college.

mstrfrdmx
Posts: 12
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 3:35 am

Re: Do PhD programs discriminate against people with masters?

Post by mstrfrdmx » Sat Jan 07, 2012 4:35 am

ANDS wrote:I'd imagine your chances for acceptance increase since they don't have to fund you for as long as they would have to fund a domestic student coming out of college.
I don't think that's necessarily true; many graduate programs award master's degrees after the completion of compulsory qualifiers. Nevertheless, it seems plausible that former master's students tend to exhibit more discipline than recent college graduates.



Post Reply