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Lubbock, Texas | well not exactly go postal, but I do have some disgust with the way the whole university and research system works
creativity is out the window....it is all about GPA and how easy you will conform to being cranked through the graduate system.....the idea that you can "contribute to a body of knowledge in a field of study" while basically being pushed around like a serf and conforming to your mentors way of thinking is lost on me
second IMO a masters is the kiss of death......no arrogant PhD respects one if you stick around universities and experiment stations.....and any PhD that is still human would respect you if you were homeless and could support your arguments......and coming out of a school right now in most fields with a masters just means you are behind the guys that left school with a BS and went to work
what I am saying is that in AG consulting or sales you will be respected by those you deal with based on what you show them you know......many people can get a BS degree and use that broad based knowledge to expand their field specific knowledge as well as any sales, marketing, or research knowledge
with a masters......now you know research (and grunt work and conforming), but do you really know more of the basic knowledge that a consultant would need......maybe......but probably less if you had been in industry instead of getting a masters
A masters will help going into research in industry......but you WILL need to be prepared to work IN THE LAB........workers WORK in the fields.......with a PhD you will go to a lot of meetings and run your lab.......for a LONG time....until maybe you get high enough you get to fly around and look at others research......by then you will be tired of travel
my advice if looking to go the crop consultant route is go to a place where you can start out at the level they will offer you.....tell them you would like to go to school as well.......try and make work the first priority.....while keeping grades decent for appearances.......get the real field experience while picking up a piece of paper......go into consulting or sales with the knowledge that your field experience is what will be paying off for you at first.....and the degree.....down the road if ever
a job at any crop consultant or even better at any experiment station while in school will quickly open your eyes up to where and how you gain respect, who makes what money, who does and DOES NOT do particular jobs, and what will be expected of you with any advanced degree
by the time you have a 4 year degree if you have worked with enough consultants and PhDs you will then know if you want to keep on working out of school with the BS degree or if you want to go towards a masters (and probably a PhD as well because of the masters not bringing a lot more to the table) and what jobs you will do and NOT do with a PhD
sorry to come off so bad before.....but it is frustrating when you have worked with people that need HARD work done AND they need someone to do it that also brings KNOWLEDGE.....but because that knowledge is not backed up by paper that demonstrates conformity through a system (a system that claims to push the boundaries of knowledge)......you basically make the same money as labor and have the added responsibilities of being......knowledgeable and responsible and able to learn new things fast.....while laboring as well......when the PhD would have a heart attack if they had to do half the labor.....or they flat ass can't do some things.....because they never tried or no one ever showed them or they don't care to learn because that is for others.....even though they have a big opinion on how and how fast it should get done
PS Mr. and Ms. PhD persons.......your grunt workers don't control the weather.....and just because it is "research".......when it is "research" on a farm it is also FARMING......and FARMING does not go according to how you had it laid out on a power point demonstration and your spread sheets
WORK in what you think you want to do while in school......this will show you what is going on out there
also if you are going to get a masters in the future.......make sure that BEFORE you get your undergrad degree......if you are getting ANY FREE MONEY.....like Pell Grants specifically.......make SURE that you get ALL of your Pre-Reqs or leveling courses for ANY masters program that were not required for the BS degree (like a semester statistics possibly) BEFORE you actually get the BS degree.......because once you get the BS degree the free money like Pell Grants dries up and you need to have other funding........even if not sure you will want the masters......if you have the time and are getting free undergrad grants (like Pell Grants) then knock out all you can towards a masters before actually pulling the trigger on the BS degree......keep the free money rolling in right up until you are in a position to go right directly into Masters classes that count towards the degree instead of wasting time (without pell grants ect) on pre-reqs and leveling courses on your dime that could have been paid for another way | |
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Looking to the Agronomists here...
