- 1,367
- 2,951
I suppose my best bet is to nudge potential master degree students into a PhD program and hopefully I’ll get some former students asking about letters of rec for law or business school.
I’ve straight up told people that if they can’t get into a PhD program with support, then they should definitely work at least 3 years before entering any academic Masters programs. I’m more case by case on advice about professional masters programs which is why I require an “interview” for anyone that asks for a rec.
I left with about 80% of a dissertation, but they still gave me the consolation prize masters. Had I known I was going to bail, I should have done so after year 2. No regrets, actually, because I enjoyed the experience of research, just not enough to make a career of it.
PhD programs are catching on to my scam, though. My wife’s program at Stern didn’t offer a Master’s to students that left the PhD program. I thought that was super petty, but they are obsessed about placement rate.