Mind telling us your background, working experience, commitments, interest, etc? we cannot say anything just from these little details..

i m a fresh graduate fr bio course. i hv no working experience at all. Actually i plan 2 work 1st but is reli hard 2 get bio related job in tis market. I get fade up and tired with job hunting.I hv no interest in doing research, i dont hv much exposure towards research field, n i dunno my research interest area. but i heard that being a phd has bright future especially for bio student. Can say tat i m an academic based ppl, i got cgpa 3.9/4 for my degree study, n my friends advise me not 2 waste d chance of straight away jump fr degree into phd .

You got to have heart for PhD if you really gonna take the plunge. It need a lot of commitment I say

It is a waste of opportunity if you turn the invitation down, but if you can't commit for it, it is also a waste.
Are you sure you don't have interest in research? What type of PhD they offer you.

Anyway, for your final year project, what kind of work you did. And, from all the courses you learn during, what you like or interested the most?

Hi cvk, well my case is similar with urs, yeah i jump from degree to phd..
Well the question to do or not to do, we can only advise u, but u d one that have d answer deep inside of u. There are many reasons to do or not to do phd, well i dont know ur reason, but i can help by listing mine.

1. I do not really into "working" culture, in at 9am and go back at 5pm (im d lazy type, usually i wake up very late ) Plus i did my internship last time, and not really keen about work stuff...well its hard to say why, but let say..im not really into it.

2. Interest is d important factor, if u really interested in the topic u will be doing, then u will have joy and so much fun doing what u want. if u go to working life, doing waht company wants but not what u want, u might feel stressed out or de-motivated.

3. Money!!! For everyone money is important, no matter how hard we deny it. Well of coz if u choose working, with ur good result, i can say u will earn around 3-4k range of payment. Well with phd, u might earn an allowance around 2.5k (for Biasiswa agong), 2.3k (NSF/Mosti scholar) and around 2k for university pay. well it depends on ur situation, do u need 3-4k to live? to pay for ur car and house? For me, i receive around 2k for my phd..but it is sufficient for me.. yes my frens all driving bigger and better car than me, they might have bigger house and im still stay with my parents. Well..it is sufficient for me at the moment, im lucky to have house to stay and enuff money for my car and food. so yeah, since i dont need alot of money, i opt to pursue for phd first =) plus, phd holder can earn around 5-6k after they graduate. So yeah, i wouldn't mind living a simple and minimal life for now. because i can see brighter future ahead.


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btw thanks to highwind and sergeant pepper for backing the phd life, its hard to "talk" or negotiate with ppl that pulling PhD down by saying it is easy and stuff like that, and it is not pleasant to hear it from someone that not doing the research itself. (its like footballer listen to all the crap from the spectators and fan..haha there is a reason why the footballer is who he is and in the field playing and why the spectators/fan still remain at other side of the field )

I see...What sort of job were you looking for after your graduation? having no interest in doing research is a big taboo for postgraduate students especially PhD...
The usual time for a PhD student to finish his studies takes around 4-5 years for bio-related field...

How about your final year project? How do you find it? like it? or hate it very much?

If you are very unsure about research, lack of exposure, and don't know what is your interest yet, try look for lecturers who are willing to employ Research Assistants and give it a try...It is very risky and i would strongly recommend against taking up the offer now as you do not know what your direction is yet...

PhD is a very big decision in your life...do not rush it...take your time, think about it thoroughly before deciding...

by the way, 3.9/4 is really a strong 1st class...congratulations!!

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Added on July 18, 2010, 11:29 pmdon't mention it...i spent 1 year looking for sponsorships and scholarships with my 1st class results before i ended up in Aus...i know how hard it is to convince people to take you...

This post has been edited by highwind85: Jul 18 2010, 11:29 PM

Isn't the lecturer that takes you in might help you apply for scholarships?
Or in AUS this doesn't happen?

Cause from what I heard, in Japan, the lecturers will usually help their Masters or PhD students in getting scholarships.
And the chances will be higher, too.

This post has been edited by Dark Lord: Jul 19 2010, 12:40 AM

For me personally, my lecturer never helped me to apply for my scholarship. Monash is pretty strict about the criteria, but they're also quite transparent about it.

However, he did help me get some emergency funds for a conference as the Finance department was quite slow in processing said funds and I was supposed to fly in just a couple of days!

Depends on which type of scholarship you're talking about...if international ones like Commonwealth and Endeavour, the answer is no...the lecturer can only assist you in preparing for the application...the selection panel is from the sponsor body and is based on merit alone...so the lecturer can't help much...

If the scholarships is offered by the university, the yes, the lecturer can recommend you for that scholarship...but the decision lies with the school admin people to decide who to take...this is when 1st class comes into play to convince those admin people to take you...

Others that i have applied before are those that advertise the vacancy in their web page or university web page...those usually draw up a large pool of applicants..so the lecturer will screen and pick the candidates...again your Cover letter, CV and qualification speaks on your behalf...it's not easy though...

Not sure how it's like in ANU, but for Monash here, the decision pretty much lies with the Head of School.

Yeah...although i was told that it was the admin people, but i suspect it's the head of school or directors that make that decision...
My supervisor wanted to take a student with 2nd class honours and recommended her for the scholarship by the school but was rejected...so the supervisor can't do much to help her in the end...

ya la, like highwind said "don't mention it". I have to let go a lot of things just to continue my study, so yes, I suffered a lil, but in the end it's all worth it, I always know I want to do this...planning to take PhD one day too.

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Added on July 19, 2010, 9:16 amYa ya big taboo, you might get away with it if you do MSc by coursework, but not PhD. You really need to determine your interest before getting PhD.

My supervisor help me securing my scholarship behind my back (I love you Dr.), I'm totally unaware of it until convocation day when the award announce in convo booklet, about 2 months later. My friends said I got it because of my final year project (I work for FYP like crazy!!!), whatever it is, I'm forever thankful.

This post has been edited by Sargeant Pepper: Jul 19 2010, 09:31 AM

Better go for work and climb up the corporate ladder. It might be a waste if u can jump to phd but research is not your interest you're wasting more of your time and career by taking phd.

Other than bio related field u can also opt for a different working field. Dpeends on your luck but if you;re good, the time u spent to grad from your phd u migh already be much more sucessful in your career.

Phd not really useful in malaysia la

cool!! I sense lots of people like me here.. lets speak geek!!

lol.. this is certainly a geek meeting thread.

But not me. Im not geek

That isn't strictly true.

Malaysia will need PhD eventually if they were to develop...just like any developed country...the thing is are you willing to be part of the process or not...

This post has been edited by highwind85: Jul 19 2010, 07:41 PM

i might not even see the result of the process after i die...

The status of acedemic in malaysia is still on the bottom.. Research companies dont invest in malaysia. Even doing research in academic labs need 2 or 3 weeks for a simple reagent to arrive.

Like i say..it's either you want to be in the process of not...revolution doesn't happen overnight...
In the past, people die in revolution for the sake of their future generation...they didn't see the result when they die...
And now, you don't have to die for future generation..just do your part and be a part of the change...

guess i have no choice but to do my part.. its fate since im already stuck

ya, phd reli need lots commitment n i jus afraid tat i dont hv d capabilities n confident 2 do so. I got offer research based phd in UKM. My specialisation will b in molecular biology field.

My final year project is bout beta thalassaemia. I m using d molecular biology tool 2 study dis disease. Actually i dont hv preferences toward courses tat i studied during my degree time. I just study, study , n study oni becausei noe for bio student, gud academic result is needed 2 hv bright future.