Do you think you will regret getting a PhD
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Do you think you will regret getting a PhDThe vast majority of people I've talked about this with say that they regret spending the time on a PhD and there were more rewarding prospects they had missed out for it. Do you think that will happen to you? Why do people think that? Is it because of the lack of money?
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Re: Do you think you will regret getting a PhDJust curious, do the "vast majority" of the (how many?) people you spoke to have PhDs in a similar field, or are they quite diverse?
Most of the people I know with PhDs have them in economics, and seem perfectly happy that they did them. -
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Re: Do you think you will regret getting a PhDI'm near the point of completion on my PhD and, while it's been hard and there have been times I've wanted to quit, I've never regretted choosing to do it. I've secured work in an unrelated field which would have taken me on even without the PhD but there are things that I learned during it that I feel will be invaluable to me later as well as experiences I've had that I would have struggled to get had I moved straight into a job. Even if I never move back into my PhD field, I will always have the qualification and the knowledge that I can do it when I put my mind to it, so I don't think I ever will regret it.
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Re: Do you think you will regret getting a PhDSomething that's hard to obtain, recognised at all level of society, shouldn't be regretted. Moreover, PhD graduates are much preferred for their maturity and problem solving skills by employers. Most of them now pursue careers outside academia that provide equally challenging environment. Personally, I won't regret it.
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Re: Do you think you will regret getting a PhDVaried, biology, literature(Original post by sj27)
Just curious, do the "vast majority" of the (how many?) people you spoke to have PhDs in a similar field, or are they quite diverse?
Most of the people I know with PhDs have them in economics, and seem perfectly happy that they did them. -
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Re: Do you think you will regret getting a PhDBiology can be pretty varied in what's "useful" for a PhD (as perceived by potential employers), and of course the salary that comes with it. If you're more on the drug discovery side of things, you're probably going to earn a bit more money than someone that's done their PhD on the ecology of a specific species of African fish.(Original post by bmqib)
Varied, biology, literature
Of course the fish person can go into conservation, which does produce jobs, as just one example. -
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Re: Do you think you will regret getting a PhDYou should do a PhD ONLY because you love the subject. If it leads to a decent job, that's fine; if it leads nowhere, then you have spent three or four years following your passion.(Original post by bmqib)
The vast majority of people I've talked about this with say that they regret spending the time on a PhD and there were more rewarding prospects they had missed out for it. Do you think that will happen to you? Why do people think that? Is it because of the lack of money? -
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Re: Do you think you will regret getting a PhDI can only guess, but:
- Some people may underestimate how much of a real job it is and how less of student life linked with the experience, that other students moved right into a well-paid job with free weekends and nights.
- Pay gap and the fact that the higher salary is achieved by the other people without a PHD by the work experience they got while the other did his/her PHD. (Of course that depends entirely on the field and the career you want to go into.)
- People change their minds and aims, so regretting having done a PHD is basically the same as regretting your first job etc. Grades and success aren't anything, however these persons my be perceived from outside.
- The interest declined or was overshadowed by problems with the supervisor/colleagues/work load/financial struggles.
- Not having the courage to embrace the possibility to work in a field you enjoy, just for the sake of it, without the big career jump afterwards.
- Outside academia highly scientific skills aren't allways needed, so beginning to work may seem as a shock and questioning of your hole education.
All this depends on the field and may lie in other factors, than the actual PHD. -
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Re: Do you think you will regret getting a PhDDoing a PhD was probably the best decision I ever made; it was amazing fun and left me with very good career prospects afterwards.
Its very subject dependent though, and you should do research into what the job market will be like afterwards in your subject, so that you know what you're getting into. Many disciplines are producing far more PhD students than there are permanent academic jobs. In general I would say that doing a PhD in an area that doesnt have good private sector job opportunities can be risky (even if your long-term plan is to stay in academia); it might be worth doing if you love the subject, but you shouldnt expect an academic job afterwards. Similarly you should do your best to attend a good brand name universitiy, since this adds weight to your CV if you end up having to apply for non-academic jobs.
Speaking very generally, the areas with the best job markets are those where universities have to compete with the private sector for top PhD graduates, who will happily give them very big salaries: economics, computer science, statistics, engineering, computational physics, etc.Last edited by poohat; 15-07-2012 at 18:47. -
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Re: Do you think you will regret getting a PhDyou must care a lot about other people's perceptions(Original post by TBD)
The greatest joy in life always came from doing what others said that you can't do.(Anon)
Regret nothing.
TBD -
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Re: Do you think you will regret getting a PhDThis is the most common. My tutor had a PhD in statistics and it took him seven years, he regrets not taking up work in the private sector and sticking to academia.(Original post by Nathanielle)
I can only guess, but:
- Some people may underestimate how much of a real job it is and how less of student life linked with the experience, that other students moved right into a well-paid job with free weekends and nights.
- Pay gap and the fact that the higher salary is achieved by the other people without a PHD by the work experience they got while the other did his/her PHD. (Of course that depends entirely on the field and the career you want to go into.)
- People change their minds and aims, so regretting having done a PHD is basically the same as regretting your first job etc. Grades and success aren't anything, however these persons my be perceived from outside.
- The interest declined or was overshadowed by problems with the supervisor/colleagues/work load/financial struggles.
- Not having the courage to embrace the possibility to work in a field you enjoy, just for the sake of it, without the big career jump afterwards.
- Outside academia highly scientific skills aren't allways needed, so beginning to work may seem as a shock and questioning of your hole education.
All this depends on the field and may lie in other factors, than the actual PHD. -
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Re: Do you think you will regret getting a PhD...(Original post by TBD)
The greatest joy in life always came from doing what others said that you can't do.(Anon)
Regret nothing.
TBD
I'd say:
"The greatest joy in life always came from notdoingcaring what others said that you can/can't do.(kka25)
lol.(Original post by bmqib)
you must care a lot about other people's perceptions
eek... did he say why it took him 7 years to complete it?(Original post by bmqib)
This is the most common. My tutor had a PhD in statistics and it took him seven years, he regrets not taking up work in the private sector and sticking to academia. -
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Re: Do you think you will regret getting a PhDI thought it was quite common outside of UK.(Original post by kka25)
...
I'd say:
"The greatest joy in life always came from notdoingcaring what others said that you can/can't do.(kka25)
lol.
eek... did he say why it took him 7 years to complete it? -
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Re: Do you think you will regret getting a PhDWhich part of the world? lol(Original post by bmqib)
I thought it was quite common outside of UK. -
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Re: Do you think you will regret getting a PhDUSA, never asked him why it took 7 years(Original post by kka25)
Which part of the world? lol -
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Re: Do you think you will regret getting a PhDUSA? Shouldn't it be 5 years? 2 years for coursework and 3 years for the thesis?(Original post by bmqib)
USA, never asked him why it took 7 years
Well, I don't know... -
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Re: Do you think you will regret getting a PhDmay be he had other obligations, may be he found it difficult, may be he had his reasons. who can tell(Original post by kka25)
USA? Shouldn't it be 5 years? 2 years for coursework and 3 years for the thesis?
Well, I don't know...
