multiple college degrees?[solved]

Jebus314

Not sure what to expect, but i just figured I would throw this out there and see if anyone had an opinion.. I already have B.S. in chemical engineering and I am working towards a PhD. My question is, is it worth it to go through the process and actually obtain a second degree, or are you better off just taking classes that you need when you need them. For example, lets say I do a lot of math in my research, would employers be more impressed if I had a B.S. in mathematics too? Or is it really only necessary that I am able to do the math. Does actually having the certificate do anything for me?

Chanus

It may cause you to be overqualified for a position (I'm just trying to find "cons").

Another con would be the time it takes you/money you spend to get the second degree, as opposed to just studying what you feel you need to know.

VisionOfClarity

I went straight through to my masters and found myself overqualified out the wazoo for entry level positions. Places were hesitant to hire someone for a low position with an advanced degree out of fear I would be constantly looking to find a better position elsewhere. And I don't have enough experience for more advanced jobs. It's a catch-22.

Of course I never learn and am considering law school or a second masters so take from that what you will.

And if you want to teach then the PhD is essential.

Fuzzy Cumulonimbus Cloud

I was trying to name the phenlyalkane (with some oxy sidegroups) but it is too tiny on this screen.

Anyways, get your masters first, as you have tons of job options lab tech / biotech / research that way, then specialize in a pHd when you have more experience.

Tomanta

Unless you are certain it will be helpful (and odds are it won't), I wouldn't bother with a second B.S. Pick up individual classes if you need to, though.

If you want a graduate degree and are prepared for the work / financial costs by all means go for it. You may run into the 'overqualified' issue, but I doubt that is much of a problem in chemical engineering.

Dunadan019

1) since you have a degree in engineering (and not a joke engineering degree like 'decision engineering'), your employer will assume that you can do math.

2) if you have a masters, you can still get entry level engineering positions quite easily.

3) at best 10-20% of all your education will actually be used for any starting position unless you start work as a professor or researcher.

Jebus314

Just to clarify, I am most likely planning on becoming a researcher (not in academics but in a national labs or chevron type situation). In the program here at UW you get a non thesis masters on the way to becoming a PhD, but I am pretty sure I will finish the PhD program. I know that employers will probably assume that I could do math, but is it possible that having the degree (which would imply a slightly higher level of math understanding then usual) will make me a little bit more desirable then other candidates? Has anyone had an experience where their employer admitted that they were interested in them because of an extra degree, or minor, or some sort of extra schooling?

Fuzzy Cumulonimbus Cloud wrote: »

I was trying to name the phenlyalkane (with some oxy sidegroups) but it is too tiny on this screen

It's capsaicin. I love me the peppers.

Fuzzy Cumulonimbus Cloud

Oh, I was going for the IUPAC name which is apparently (E)-N-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)
-8-methylnon-6-enamide

Fuzzy Cumulonimbus Cloud

Also, you pigeon-hole yourself as a pHd, so make sure you don't end up working 12 consecutive postdocs (glorified interns).

Dunadan019

Jebus314 wrote: »

Just to clarify, I am most likely planning on becoming a researcher (not in academics but in a national labs or chevron type situation). In the program here at UW you get a non thesis masters on the way to becoming a PhD, but I am pretty sure I will finish the PhD program. I know that employers will probably assume that I could do math, but is it possible that having the degree (which would imply a slightly higher level of math understanding then usual) will make me a little bit more desirable then other candidates? Has anyone had an experience where their employer admitted that they were interested in them because of an extra degree, or minor, or some sort of extra schooling?

Fuzzy Cumulonimbus Cloud wrote: »

I was trying to name the phenlyalkane (with some oxy sidegroups) but it is too tiny on this screen

It's capsaicin. I love me the peppers.

generally you will only gain something if it adds a skill you don't already have.

"He has a PHD in engineering and can speak Japanese? Hired!"

"He has a PHD in engineering and can do math? I'd never have guessed"

maybe someone will be impressed but I personally don't think it will gain you much for the extra time and work. unless you really really want to do it.

Zombie Nirvana

I wouldn't worry about the math degree. Chevron isn't going to care if you have a BS in Math to go along with your Chemical. I'd only do it if you just find it interesting. I can't imagine the course load would change much to get a dual in math.

Hamster_style

I'm soon to be entering graduate school in physics, so I don't know how good my advice will be, but this is one thing I plan on doing.

Find internships with companies or national labs in work that you think you may be interested in while you're in school. Summers, take a semester off, whatever. In my case, I'm in the process of taking my second out of two years off after getting a physics BS so I can do some work in astrophysics and astronomy data analysis and take some courses in plasma physics that I find interesting, but what is particularly useful for me is seeing how the things that I learn in school are actually applied to real - world situations. In my case, it's a lot of statistical analysis. In addition, I'm also seeing how a lot of things I've learned I'm NOT using.

I deeply regret not doing this more while I was an undergraduate.

In addition, you get valuable experience that potential employers or whatever can see in addition to your research work for your PhD. I feel - I may be wrong about this - that showing that you not only have the ability to use this stuff, but that you actually have used it and you know all the stupid problems that may arise in industry. Taking courses in something and actually working a job in it are quite different a lot of the time. Finally, this may help you get some offers right out of the degree mill!

These are just my two cents, and what I intend on doing in my career. Do others think this sounds reasonable?

EDIT: I realize that doesn't directly answer the OP's question, but I do think he's got an underlying question of "what will impress potential employers?" which is why I posted this.

Fuzzy Cumulonimbus Cloud

It is quite reasonable.

Jebus314

Dunadan019 wrote: »

generally you will only gain something if it adds a skill you don't already have.

"He has a PHD in engineering and can speak Japanese? Hired!"

"He has a PHD in engineering and can do math? I'd never have guessed"

maybe someone will be impressed but I personally don't think it will gain you much for the extra time and work. unless you really really want to do it.

Yeah, I suppose that makes sense.

Thanks everyone for the replies, I'm thinking that just taking the classes I want to learn is the best way to go. Although now that you mentioned it, maybe learning a second language would be sweet. :P