Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!nrl-cmf!ukma!rutgers!att!whuts!lcuxlm!ram
From: ram@lcuxlm.ATT.COM (Miani Rich)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: Advice ...
Summary: summary of responses to part-time Ph.D. question ...
Keywords: part-time
Message-ID: <2015@lcuxlm.ATT.COM>
Date: 27 Jan 89 18:08:37 GMT
References: <2008@lcuxlm.ATT.COM> <00JuC36BGP1010IEdew@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com>
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Liberty Corner NJ
Lines: 57

In article <00JuC36BGP1010IEdew@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com>, johnm@uts.amdahl.com (John Murray) writes:
> In article <2008@lcuxlm.ATT.COM>, ram@lcuxlm.ATT.COM (Miani Rich) writes:
> > I would like some advice, opinions, past experiences, etc regarding the
> > subject of part-time graduate work. My dilemma: I would like to go
> > back to school to earn a Ph. D. in Comp. Sci. ( I have an M.S. in C.S. now)
> > but I would like to do it part-time. I realize that this will take a *very long*
> > time and that there are a number of major headaches involved. I just
> > started poking around for info and many schools seem to be opposed to this idea.


Thanks to the many people who replied. I think that the consensus is as
follows:

1) There are quite a few universities such as Columbia, Princeton, etc. that
   say flat out that you MUST be full time to pursue a Ph.D.

2) Other schools will let you, but there are many individual policies, so the
   best bet is to call someone in the CS department at the school you
   are interested in. DONT CALL anyone from the Registrar's Office as they
   often give incorrect information ( I found out the hard way :-( ). A
   sampling of schools that allow part-time : Stanford, U. Illinois UC, 
   NYU, and U South Florida.

3) Some messages suggest that if you work for a research-oriented company
   , they might be willing to support you. However, to be in a research
   oriented group, you usually need a Ph.D. to begin with. I work at  Bell
   Labs ( in software development) and this seems to be *largely* the case.
   If you can do it this way, however, it seems to the best bet ( as advised
   by all the respondees to my message ).

4) If you are working full-time while trying to do this, it has been suggested
   by a number of people that the time/work involved in thesis research can 
   kill you. ( or at least put you on the funny farm). Again, the suggestion
   is to take a leave of absence ( or quit, or work part-time) when
   thesis time rolls around.

5) There is some question as to the timetable you keep in regard to
   coursework, qualifying exams, etc. This is school-by-school dependant.

6) Good news: Several responses were from persons who managed to do it!!! Also,
   several responses from people who want to try. Very few completely 
   negative responses.

7) EVERY message warns about the time involved, so I think it is safe to
   say that this is for VERY serious students only. 

Once again, thanks to all those who responded. The input I received has helped
me a great deal.

Any questions, contact me ( or post to this group )

Rich Miani
AT&T Bell Laboratories
Liberty Corner, New Jersey

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