Common Questions

Common grad school questions

 

 

What are my educational options after college?

 

 

Besides getting a Ph.D., there are other options that will allow you to pursue your interest in science.
  • You can get a master’s degree (1-3 years) in some fields of science, (bioinformatics, computer science, engineering).  In biosciences however, there are no master’s programs.  Students are granted a master’s in their respective programs if they fail to complete their Ph.D. but have enough course credits.
    • Master’s programs are easier to get into than Ph.D. programs.  They require you to take courses, complete a research project or thesis, and pass a final exam.
  • If you are interested in medicine as well as research, you can apply to a joint M.D./Ph.D. program. These programs are highly competitive and allow students to earn both degrees in a shorter period of time. 
    • M.D./Ph.D. programs require you to take both graduate and medical classes, complete thesis research, defend a dissertation, and do clinical rotations.
    • For a detailed explanation of the MD/PhD degree from a student in such a program, visit the Pomona Alumni Profiles located on the Useful Resources page.
  • If you aren’t quite ready to go back to school, you can get a research job at a company, university, or government research lab.  All three are very eager to hire students out of college as lab technicians.  However without a higher degree (masters or Ph.D.) it will be harder for you to be promoted to higher positions of authority later in your career. Thus, if you aspire to be a PI, you will need a Ph.D. to qualify you for that position.