asaris

He might need the MA, braisler, if he doesn't have the undergrad background (either in terms of major or grades or whatever) to go straight into a *decent* PhD program. This might be a difference between science and humanities programs. It can be quite difficult to get a job with a PhD in the humanities, so there's no need to compound this by going to a less than first-rate school if you don't have to.

And I'd be wary of working before going to a PhD program, especially since you're 26 already. If you start when you're 30, you'll be 35 or 40 when you're done. Not that I don't know PhD students who are that old; hell, my roommate are both in their mid-30s, and one of them is just starting. But it's probably not the ideal situation. Moreover, I know several people who went to work "just for a few years" and ended up feeling trapped by it. They didn't really enjoy what they were doing, but it takes *effort* to change your life, especially when it's a transition back to school. On the other hand, I could have benefitted from the time off. I mostly went to graduate school because, well, what else do you do with a Philo major, but as it turns out, that was the wrong choice (I'm starting law school next year). So I'm not saying definitely not to take some time of, just that it's not necessarily a good idea.

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"Die Deutschen meinen, daß die Kraft sich in Härte und Grausamkeit offenbaren müsse, sie unterwerfen sich dann gerne und mit Bewunderung:[...]. Daß es Kraft giebt in der Milde und Stille, das glauben sie nicht leicht."

"The Germans believe that power must reveal itself in hardness and cruelty and then submit themselves gladly and with admiration[...]. They do not believe readily that there is power in meekness and calm."

-- Friedrich Nietzsche