I will have to agree that a PhD is not necessary for a career in
Microbiology. I would get the BS degree and obtain a Masters while working
for a good company. Most companies will pay for you to go to school and get
a Masters and even a PhD (mine does). That would save you money and student
loans and give you much needed work experience at the same time. I have a
Master's degree in Microbiology. I worked in a Clinical Lab and was a
Teaching Assistant while finishing my degree. I then worked in a lab at a
Beverage Company and 8 years later I am running the laboratory and managing
the Quality Dept. I make much more than I could have doing bench lab work or
with a PhD doing research ( and I look at jobs everyday to compare with what
I am doing. Unless you want to be a College Prof. it would be a waste
getting a PhD on your own.
----------
In article <362EA7B8.528E at earthlink.net>, Phil <jorge2 at earthlink.net> wrote:
>Chris Odt wrote:
>>>> In article <362C085C.1798 at earthlink.net>, jorge2 at earthlink.net wrote:
>>>> > Philip Smith wrote:
>> > >
>> > > hello, being a 12th grade student who is going to be attending university
>> > > next year I was just wondering what I can expect with a B.S degree and
>> > > possibly M.S degree in the field of microbiology? Is there a lot of demand
>> > > for microbiologists in the job market these days? also, all I hear these
>> > > days is how crucial it is to get a Phd degree, is that true? what would
>> > > the average salary of a microbiologist with a M.S be? any help would be
>> > > great, thanks a lot
>> >
>> > Yes, please pursue a Ph.D. In many industrial settings, the MS in of
>> > little value v. BS.
>>>> Philip:
>> Forget the PhD. Get a BS and perhaps a MS. But thats it.
>> If you apply yourself, you can get a job where you get your own research
>> projects, can publish your results, and even do the travelling to
>> conferences thing, if you wish. It depends more on how you apply
>> yourself, than on how many letters you have after your name. I cant tell
>> you how many friends I have who have regretted getting PhD's in the hard
>> sciences. Besides, the
>> job you get with a PhD takes over your life....no room for family or friends or
>> outside interests, if you care about that. And the $$ is NOT always better.
>>>> good luck, Chris
>>Chris:
>>I take exception to your statement. This is certainly not what I've
>observed. If one really wants to excell, one should do so by starting
>with education - not trying to catch up in the workplace. There are too
>many PhD's with whom you'll be in competition. Chris may be right in
>that some smaller comapnies may hire lesser degreed candidates as part
>of an overall cost savings effort that extends to their support of
>research and salaries.
>My advice is aim for the top, not the middle.
