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Do PhD programs discriminate against people with masters?

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 2:46 am
by yoyobarn
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.

Re: Do PhD programs discriminate against people with masters?

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:25 am
by owlpride
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.

Re: Do PhD programs discriminate against people with masters?

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:54 am
by yoyobarn
Thanks a lot.

Re: Do PhD programs discriminate against people with masters?

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 1:24 pm
by ANDS
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.

Re: Do PhD programs discriminate against people with masters?

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 4:35 am
by mstrfrdmx
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.