most ppl today in Comp Sci or Engineering or Sci (Biostatistic/Chem/Bio) do Phd to go into the industry to do research not stuck in academia.
its certainly better to work 2yrs of so b4 embarking on your Phd. of course U do find many Phd candidates going for internship/coop.
those PRC/Indians that I come across graduating with their Phd some start working as a Senior Engineer others start off a program/project manager/researchers in Labs. when times are good Phd Biostat researchers in the US are making ~US$100K today.. more like US$70K.

U don't really need to have concrete idea to go to do Phd. many ppl I know just get into a program after a yr or 2 then start looking for topics.
again depending where u go. UK no qualifying exams to do ppl just focus on research topics. US do have qualifying exams on top of coursework. some Uni attrition rates are as high as 90%! others more like 50%. in most cases fail the exams twice and u are out of the program.

This post has been edited by patryn33: Feb 16 2010, 10:18 AM

Bsc taken at a Real good school.. rest assured your Prof isn't there to spoonfed U, going thru textbook materials.
Its extremely common to find pop quiz b4 lecture. Lecture can be conducted in the from of Q&A.

anyhow, Good Advisors actually care U pass or not!!!!
Phd isn't all on U.. Advisors and your fellow mates do help u out alittle. of course u need to mantain good relationship with them.

Kiasu type, are generally new prof.. they need U to clock numbers of paper publish.
I have met some that stick with their students in the lab into the wee hours.

anyway, depends where TS wanna go.. Phd in OZ may not be that hard to get.. 3+yrs after bach.. no qualifying exam.
head to US/Canada and its easy 6-8yrs!
I have met a few Singaporean (rejects from their local system) getting a Phd in OZ.