MS Degree from elite university. PhD from low university worth it? 11

[WindTunnel866]

BACKGROUND:

I received an MS degree from an elite engineering university (Stanford). I then started a PhD at that university but left the program after a job offer. Ever since then I always wanted to work toward a PhD but it was never feasible. I work as an engineer.

My current employer has given me an offer to pay for a Part-Time PhD at a local university while I continue to work for them. The reason is the research project intersects with my current work, so we can basically pick up a PhD while working on the project. Their are a number of other mutual interests between the company and university so it made sense.
Normally a Part-Time PhD is not feasible but my position is unique in which my work will intersect with research, and because I've worked for a number of years, becoming very good at my job such that I can take on another task.

PROBLEM:

The reality is that the only universities near me are low and/or unranked universities. My company has a very good relationship with these universities, allowing for many engineers at the company to work towards a PhD from them on a Part-Time basis. There is no elite university near by, with exception of one. And this elite university, just like most top universities, will not allow a part-time PhD enrollment. So the only feasible option is a PhD at a bottom ranked (or unranked) university.

QUESTIONS:

1) Is it counterproductive to add a PhD to one's resume if the PhD is from a substantially lower ranked (or unranked) university? I wonder if this could hurt my resume...
2) What impression would you get from a professional who had a BS/MS from an elite university but a PhD from a bottom ranked (or unranked) university? It may be more effective not go for a PhD at all, and have my record just have the elite universities on it.
3) Does your final degree erase your prior degrees? Is it considered over the other prior degrees?
4) If you were me, what would you do?

CONCLUSIONS:

I want to do a PhD, and I have no desire to do receive a doctorate from a top ranked elite university. But I would prefer that the university at least be a mid-ranked Top 50 program, or close to that threshold. That fact that the only options are low ranked universities makes me reconsider if this is a worthy pursuit. I would love to hear any opinions on this.

 

[Lomarandil]

What is your field? And what's the motivation for the PhD -- continuing in your career, changing career fields, academia, because you can?

In some fields, perhaps having a PhD from an elite university will add credibility & prestige.

In other fields, it may make you near un-employable (overqualified, overly academic) -- elite or not.

----
The name is a long story -- just call me Lo.

 

[hokie66]

Rankings of universities are subjective, and the quality of offerings varies widely with the field. You indicate your field as electrical, so I would pick a university with a good reputation in that field. I wouldn't consider Stanford to be elite in structural engineering, but others would disagree.

 

[rotw]

At the end, you make the value of your PhD. If you make outstanding content (research), does not matter the name of the container. Does not matter either if other people will like it or not, you would know your worth and also you would have sharpen your mind and that is to your own benefit and decision in life.
Certainly the coaching/supervision may be little deficient but you can turn it around by doing the extra mile. So actually it is an incentive to do better and stand out.

 

[IRstuff]

Agreed, I would be concerned whether you're a Hamlet type, i.e., a professional student, or just someone who might be too enamored with the academics.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
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[zdas04]

I've gotten degrees from two different slacker schools and I've had potential employers and clients skip right over the school name to the specialty of my degrees, never any question about the University of Arkansas being a decent high school or wondering if anyone at the University of Colorado was ever not stoned. They often ask about my MS in Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, or about my Thesis, or wonder why I majored in Industrial Management as an undergrad. A high school friend of my son's got a BS in IT from Harvard and the only job he could find out of college was the Geek Squad. The engineers I've worked with from the Ivy League have been middle of the pack at best and the MIT/CalTech types have been hopeless as Oil & Gas Field Engineers.

If you list a PhD from the University of Evansville, most people looking at it will ask you "what was you dissertation on?". Sounds like you've found a sweet deal and would be a true idiot for thumbing your nose at it because the available schools are not "elite". Might matter in Art History, or Angry Women's Studies, or Ethnic Diversity, but in Engineering we want to know your contribution, not your pedigree.

[bold]David Simpson, PE[/bold]
MuleShoe Engineering

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist

 

[CWB1]

I concur with Dave's statement above. Your success in life is not based on where you went but how well you learned and can apply the material. Most engineering managers could care less where you went bc after a few years your work speaks for itself, you're either a significant contributor to major projects with patents and papers published or you're not.

FWIW, I also wouldn't rate Stanford's ME program above most smaller state campuses.

 

[MintJulep]

Your company apparently considers it worthwhile, else they would not be providing the opportunity to you.

You're business card will read Dr. WindTunnel, PhD. Not Dr. WindTunnel PhD.(from a crappy school).

If your company resume is used in proposals it will read the same.

You're personal resume can of course have whatever you want on it, but why would you have more than title, name and credentials at the top.

 

[lacajun]

I want to do a PhD

To me, that's your answer. Some of the answers will be found in how HR, in other companies, view a Ph.D. from an unranked university. An HR Director was not impressed with my undergrad from McNeese but was impressed with my MS from Pitt. Somehow, it demonstrates intellect. Who knew?

I would get the Ph.D. from the local university that your employer supports. And, if your fortunes change in the future allowing you to attend a ranked school, get another Ph.D. But, by that time, you may not have that desire having fulfilled it already at the local university.

I understand the allure of learning as it is quite enticing. I think others will understand it, too.

All the best!

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC
NSPE-CO, Central Chapter
Dinner program:

http://nspe-co.org/events.php

 

[jari001]

If your heart is in it to get the PhD, take the deal! I'd only consider refusing the deal if the University doesn't take its own program seriously and doesn't expect quality work because it isn't "elite". Your experience getting the PhD and what you do with it will be what matters in the long run (the same advice for any level of degree) and if you do good work, you will have confidence to stand on the merit of the work and not the name of the institution. You'll meet other people who are degree snobs, but if your work is better than theirs, that's all that matters in the working world.

The only thing that would give me pause is if you want to go into Academia.

 

[Maui]

How long do you expect it to take you to earn your Ph.D. by attending college on a part-time basis?

 

[TenPenny]

You want to do a PhD, and your employer will fund it.

Not sure why there's a question around this.

 

[Mr168]

If they hem and haw over where a PhD is from, just correct them next time they say your name - "I hate to interrupt, but it's DOCTOR WindTunnel866". It's probably not a place you want to work, anyways.

 

[GregLocock]

Well, as we always remind my brother in law, a PhD isn't a real doctor.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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[MotorCity]

In my opinion, any education is a good education regardless of where its from. Education is knowledge. If you want to get a Phd to increase your knowledge and for personal benefit, it should not matter where its from (especially if your employer is picking up the tab). Its like the old adage, whether you get an "A" or a "C", you're still a doctor. Likewise, if you go to Harvard or XYZ college, you're still a doctor. Its not so much how or where you obtained the education, its what you do with it.

 

[lacajun]

Monday I attended the Order of the Engineer ceremony at Colorado School of Mines. I went early to take a gander at their text books. They're teaching the same stuff I was taught with the exception of more recent material in the digital world. The only difference then is the caliber of student admitted. Their standardized test scores are much higher than my undergrad alma mater. Pitt doesn't quite measure up to CSM.

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC
NSPE-CO, Central Chapter
Dinner program:

http://nspe-co.org/events.php

 

[rotw]

My personal observation is that nowadays students have - in general - much higher score and success rate than approx.2 or 3 decades ago. I mean here increase by many folds.
So the question to me is, is it (1) the level of educational excellence that is getting higher and higher every years, (2) is it the brain of the younger people that is getting sharper and sharper every year (social media, GMO food) or (3) is the difficulty of the examination (the ultimate safeguard) that is silently being relaxed to boost the numbers [e.g continuous evaluation replacing instead of single fail/pass exam, soft skills oriented content instead of sharp maths / physics..(engineer vs. MBA)]? Again might be biased...just my take on it.

 

[GregLocock]

Grade inflation is a well known phenomenon.

http://www.gradeinflation.com/

Cheers

Greg Locock


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[Terratek]

Sounds like a good deal. The only people who are going to care about phd rankings will be academics. It just limits where you can teach, not where you can work. Having a phd would make you a shoe-in for teaching at the community college (or a candidate to teach at some universities) if you desired - could be a fun way supplement retirement income.

If you are scared that someone won't a phd when you need to find a job, leave it off your resume. Though that would be a stupid thing to do since anybody worth working for would be highly interested in a phd with real experience.

You're overthinking it...so...probably really should go for the phd.

I have a master's degree in engineering from a university far less prestigious than where I got my bachelor's, but still decent and well respected in the region where I live. I'm currently getting an MBA from the same school. It's no Harvard, that's for sure. But it's paid for by my employer, it's logistically convenient and it's better for me than watching TV.

 

[Dave442]

The measure of a PhD is the academic output.

did you publish your work?
if so, did you publish in well-regarded, peer-reviewed journals?
if so, has the work had an impact - has it been cited in well-regarded, peer-reviewed publications?

Doesn't matter where you graduate.