Is it viable to apply to a PhD program only to dropout and end up with a Masters, essentially gaining the latter for free? Basically I don't want to be PhD cuck, however a Masters (thesis) based is exactly what I want. That is, a good mix of scientific work but without pigeonholing myself to academia and wasting 5 years of my youth. Not only that but Masters in the US or even Canada have exorbitant tuitions whereas PhD programs have tuition wavers. IDGAF if this is "unethical" I was born in a 3rd world shithole in LatAm and can't afford 30k a year in tuitions.