Grad school question...
 

So I have a bit of a dilemma, and I wanted to get some additional opinions...

I started my PhD program in Chemistry in the fall of 2004. This summer (05) I decided to pursue other opportunites, because I was very unhappy with my program. My advisor and I decided that I would finish up my research as a thesis masters, and I applied to my school's public policy program (studying science and technology policy), to start Spring 06.

Well, I got into the public policy program, but I'm not going to be done with my chemistry thesis in time.

So here are my options:

*Go non-thesis masters in chemistry, take 2 more classes, and be done.

*Quit chemistry altogether and just start public policy school (I'm not really rooting for that one cause I've spent too long here to leave with nothing).

*Ask to defer starting public policy until the fall, and ask my advisor if he will keep me on through the summer so I can finish my thesis.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

I'd see if I could defer if I were you. I think most schools now will let you defer for a year or two. I'd definitely make sure I had something to show for all your hard work!

My vote's for deferring.

I'm in a very similar situation. I'm extremely unhappy with my program, but I'm too far into it to stop. I went for the non thesis option. I take 3 more classes, and walk out with my degree.

Think about if you really need that thesis. Will the thesis help you out in the future? Or is it just to write a thesis? Obviously you don't need a thesis to get into the new program you are interested in, so why put yourself through all the work?

Re: Grad school question...
 

I was in a similar situation. I started grad school the Spring of '94 in Biochemistry and my advisor was a Chem Engr who was adjunct in the Biochem department. All was going well until the summer of '95. I think he was having family issues and a pre-mid life crisis. His habits and personality changed. Whenever I approached him about my project he got real irritated and blew me off. Then, the Monday after Thanksgiving in '95 he just came up to me and said 'your project is not working.'. I was like :confused: . After talking to others in the lab, they'd noticed a change in him too and he had approached two others in the lab with a similar comment. So, rather than be the matyr to get my PhD in his lab, I went for the non thesis MS option and graduated in the Spring of '96. I felt, and he and my committee agreed that that was the best option for me.

I started in a new grad prgram at a different school and got my PhD. The second time around was a bit better because I became 'grad school wise'. I learned all the pitfalls and mind-games that can go on in grad school.

If I were you I would go with your third option - defer and finish your Chemistry project, especially if you can get a publication or two out of it. If you have a good working relationship with your current advisor, then that should not be a problem.

Defer and possibily re-apply to another school... I know a number of PhD candidates here in Toronto that came from other schools after quiting there grad program.

If your marks/work is good enough then you should be able to split and hit up another school after a deferment.

I would also suggest trying to defer until fall so you can finish your research. This is really only if the research really interests you though... if you are struggling to get through it, I would suggest picking up to two extra classes and go for the non thesis masters...

Should I take the GREs over?
 

My school required an 850 for GRE scores

I got a 900 (540 on math and 360-verbal) I hate the verbal :(
My overall was greater than the required by my verbal is low...should I retake the test?

Re: Should I take the GREs over?
 

i would double check with the programs you've applied for. my sister got a 'low' gre score and still got into her masters program. for some the number is all relative :).

Thanks to everyone who gave such great advice!

After a long talk with my advisor, and a presentation, I discovered that I had enough done to write my thesis after all! I'm in the process of writing my thesis right now, and I'll still be able to start my new program in January.

Wonderful!!! I'm gald things are working out for you!!! :)