Dilemma: Tuition Waiver Plus $6000 Stipend from U of Florida

fulingee

Background:  currently enrolled as a fourth-year Ph.d. student in engineering in an U.S. university. Published 3 journal papers with overall impact factors around 25. No working experience. Had summer internship at a U.S. national laboratory.

Received two-year tuition waiver from University of Florida plus $6k stipend. The stipend is based on a two-year period so it's far from enough to cover my monthly living expenses.


Have been thinking if I should take this offer and move on for a brand new chapter of my life. Money will be an issue but I think I will still be able to make it through for the following two years with my own $15k personal savings.


Just confused right now.


Anyone got any idea? I'd like to hear what you guys think.


Thank you!

mikeyan23

don't do it. Get a job, accumulate experiences and build a life first then come back for an MBA.

爱神

15K is too little to surviving for two years.

fulingee

That's what everyone says. The fact is that once I get a job I will definitely stick there till I get a green card, which will take 1-2 years for approval plus 5 years' waiting time.

mikeyan23

first thing first, why MBA?

hubjune

What's your career goal anyway? These two options seem like totally different paths.

asimov1

Why would you spend ~ 10 years getting a PhD only to make it completely useless by pursuing an MBA?

fulingee

hubjune 发表于 2013-3-4 10:32
What's your career goal anyway? These two options seem like totally different paths.

I don't think pursing an MBA would make my phd useless. Some companies offer positions to people who have double background.

fulingee

fulingee 发表于 2013-3-4 10:15
That's what everyone says. The fact is that once I get a job I will definitely stick there till I ge ...

Why? cuz the school is paying my tuition and part of my living expenses. Some people can meet the requirement of phd within 4 years but would still like to stay in the school for another a couple of years just in order to look/wait for a job. I don't see any point of staying for 6 years while I'm able to complete my phd for 4 years and then move on for whatever opportunity comes.

fulingee

mikeyan23 发表于 2013-3-4 10:29
first thing first, why MBA?

I agree that those are two different path. Maybe I just don't feel like dealing with science for all my life time. I'd rather deal with people. Not electron transport.