By the way, krokondile and Tricky can I ask you what are your PhDs about? Where are you doing them?

Even so, I think all of you guys here have helped me in giving some clarity to my turbid mind For now, I am going to enquire about entry requirements and try to find out what value has my degree and my work experience when it comes to a applying to any sort of postgraduate education and then from then I think I will be able to make a better decision. It is going to be a tough one and more considering my lack of initiative when it comes to decision-making times, but hopefully I will be able to survive! Anyways, can any of you guys tell me what are the best and worst things about your PhDs? Are you living the great excitement of your life or just cruising through one more stage in life? Do you know what you would be doing once you are done? Why are postdocs so craply paid?

Cheers everyone!

Juan

Hello everyone

Thanks a bunch for your replies! Well I think my 2.1 is "low" (notice the inverted commas) because it is a lower 2.1 instead of upper so in many cases it is not as considered for a PhD (if at all). The good thing is that I have my work experience but as kronkodile mentions there is a big difference between a RA and a PhD student, which in my case was made obvious since I started here with my bosses forcing me to leave early and not allowing me to overwork. It is also because of this that I really want to end up doing a PhD (via a master or not) because I want to have my own project, be able to give my whole to something that feels mine, which is why I don't think I will have much problems with the commitment that it represents. That is the reason why I feel forced to think that I need to be ready beforehand (skills wise) and know exactly what I want, so that I can give it my best and not live miserably with something I don't like for 3 years.

Thanks for that!

I want to apply to a top university, which is why I thought that enhancing my degree with a master would be the best thing, as my 2.1 doesn't give me the biggest prospect when applying for a PhD. Sure I have my work experience but I am not sure how much it could help me as I would probably end up doing someting that is not related to what I am currently doing. But you know what, after reading your links (very appreciated!) and following your advice I think I am going to give it a go at contacting them and see if I am up for consideration with what I have right now.

I still feel strongly about doing a master before a PhD in order to be better prepared, but it would be good to know whether I will have a chance at it if I was to "jump into the river" straight away.

Thanks again

Yes I know, but what I am trying to gain from the master is new skills, time to think about which way to go and for it to allow me to apply to higher PhD's as I would try to aim for more than a pass in it! (I already did enough slacking for most of my undergraduate degree)

I don't want to jump into a PhD as I don't believe I am ready for it or have enough skills, but on the other hand if I was stay here I don't know if I will be able to boost up my CV much more as I don't really have time to learn more skills (plus my bosses are not very prone to teaching) and I want to have my own project...what can I do? Make the big jump (is my grade and experience enoughl?); settle for a Master and give me some time to think and gain skills; or stay here one more year, have time to think and hope to increase my lab skills? (my bosses seem to want to have me learn new things, but the busy schedule says the opposite)

PLEASE HEEEELP!! :)

First, sorry that I am using you guys as councillors to my problems without expecting the "per hour" fare, but I am kind of puzzled at the minute. I am currently working as a RA in a Developmental Genetics lab in Oxford after graduating from Birmingham a year ago. I've always wanted a career in research and for that the path through a PhD is inevitable, but due to my "low" degree (2.1) I thought work experience and/or a Master would help me enhance it and give me time to know what PhD would be the best for me. I am currently doing the former but my contract is finishing in 10 months and I don't really think I have gained all the lab skills I was hoping for with it, so I have been considering a Masters. The thing is one of my bosses thinks: Master = waste of money and time, so I don't know what to do.

HELP!!!
I am currently working as a Research Assistant in a Developmental Genetics lab in Oxford after graduating with a 2.1 last year from Birmingham. My contract will be ending in July 2008 and even though I had the fixed idea of doing a masters in order to boost up my CV, learn lab skills and help me make up my mind into doing (the right) PhD, now I am unsure. I have spoken to one of my bosses and she thinks doing a master is a waste of money and time and she is willing to extend my contract and teach me more (and more valid) skills. What shall I do? I want to have a project for myself instead of helping and due to the work frenzy in here I might get stuck still doing the same stuff if I continue, but on the other hand this is a top lab and the work experience that I can keep gaining can help me quite a lot and my bosses are fond of my work...what shall I do? Any suggestions welcome!(PLEAAAASE! :) )