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Any PhDs in the house?

W

walla

Senior member
My academic advisor is trying to convince me to go into the doctoral program (computer engineering).

I've never had a job in the field. Never had an internship. My resume is pretty bland. But I figure now is a better time than later. I know I could do it, and be good at it. But I don't have a grand plan for my career. Heck a year ago I didn't even see myself in grad school 🙂

Has anybody else been through a doctoral program? What was your experience like?
 
the phd for computer engineering at my school said to just get your masters if you are interested in the most money over time.
 
Unless you plan on a career in academia (as a professor), I don't know if the PhD provides that much of a tangible benefit. In fact, you'll have to live like a pauper for 3 or more years.
 
I guess I see myself getting an industrial research position. And then perhaps later, going back to academia and teaching. I think a PhD would serve me well in that way.
 
PhD here. Although that is in chemical engineering.

Being a grad student is certainly not for everyone, but it can be a great lifestyle if it fits you. You usually have lots of flexibility - when to work, how much work to do, etc. You usually get the chance to take lots of classes that interested you before but you were hampered by stupid graduation requirements. You get the opportunity to finally feel what multiculturism is supposed to be like. For example, for me, being a white American growing up in Nebraska, it is a whole new thing to be the only white American in a party or in a classroom, or in an office. Lots of nice things like that.

The drawback of course is that you get low pay for as long as you are in the program. Over time, the extra pay as a PhD typically catches you up to the lost wages, but you shouldn't expect to surpass the amount you would have earned (if you include interest and good retirement investing). Classes are more demanding, and if you are sick of school then 4-9 more years of it can really eat at you.
 
Originally posted by: dullard
PhD here. Although that is in chemical engineering.

Being a grad student is certainly not for everyone, but it can be a great lifestyle if it fits you. You usually have lots of flexibility - when to work, how much work to do, etc. You usually get the chance to take lots of classes that interested you before but you were hampered by stupid graduation requirements. You get the opportunity to finally feel what multiculturism is supposed to be like. For example, for me, being a white American growing up in Nebraska, it is a whole new thing to be the only white American in a party or in a classroom, or in an office. Lots of nice things like that.

The drawback of course is that you get low pay for as long as you are in the program. Over time, the extra pay as a PhD typically catches you up to the lost wages, but you shouldn't expect to surpass the amount you would have earned (if you include interest and good retirement investing). Classes are more demanding, and if you are sick of school then 4-9 more years of it can really eat at you.
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What you say not quite universal though. It depends on the field of study and where you go. If you are going for molecular genetics at Harvard, they will intentionally keep you as long as they can. You are a grunt. I think the OP needs to check out particular schools and ask blunt questions about how long the program takes. I know nothing about computer degrees, but in biology sometimes you get crap breaks and can spend a loooonnnggg time getting your degree.
 
Originally posted by: dullard
PhD here. Although that is in chemical engineering.

Being a grad student is certainly not for everyone, but it can be a great lifestyle if it fits you. You usually have lots of flexibility - when to work, how much work to do, etc. You usually get the chance to take lots of classes that interested you before but you were hampered by stupid graduation requirements. You get the opportunity to finally feel what multiculturism is supposed to be like. For example, for me, being a white American growing up in Nebraska, it is a whole new thing to be the only white American in a party or in a classroom, or in an office. Lots of nice things like that.

The drawback of course is that you get low pay for as long as you are in the program. Over time, the extra pay as a PhD typically catches you up to the lost wages, but you shouldn't expect to surpass the amount you would have earned (if you include interest and good retirement investing). Classes are more demanding, and if you are sick of school then 4-9 more years of it can really eat at you.
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Second-year Ph.D. student in oh -- spatial modeling -- that seems to be the easiest way to explain it. Everything Dullard said is true. If you like school, it can be fun as anything--I've finally come to actually enjoy writing papers and it's also rather interesting to actually teach college classes. It certainly gives you an interesting chance to meet some neat people. And you get the enjoyment of working on problems that no one else has solved before. It's work, but I haven't come across anything too terrible (could help that I'm a fast reader). If you want money, I wouldn't suggest it -- although in the right field, you could probably do allright. Listen to Hayabysa too--depends a lot on your program, field and advisor. Keep us posted?

(By the way, I fell into it too... walked out of college thinking "this is my last final for a while..." two months later, found myself back in class.) BTW, what's your school? UM?
 
Note that grad school does give you time to post on ATOT... mostly while taking a break from running analyses on the darn computer... probably healther than getting coffee or a Coke every time though.
 
I agree that it depends on the area you are interested in. I was a grad student (MS) in molecular biology and all of your hopes hinge on an experiment and it is quite difficult to appease your committee when its time so submit your thesis. My budy got a MS in some buisness dicipline and all he had to do is write a paper and was out... no problem. In the end with a MS or higher you set yourself up as an intellectual and a person who has a higer understanding of his area than someone iwth a bachlors. Needless to say this will frighten many employers (most will be afraid to hire you since they think you sill get "bored") but will also open many doors to high-end research and prestige (I am currently employed at Argonne National Laboratory), but the road is rough so be ready for that.
 
Originally posted by: AtlantaBob
Originally posted by: dullard
PhD here. Although that is in chemical engineering.

Being a grad student is certainly not for everyone, but it can be a great lifestyle if it fits you. You usually have lots of flexibility - when to work, how much work to do, etc. You usually get the chance to take lots of classes that interested you before but you were hampered by stupid graduation requirements. You get the opportunity to finally feel what multiculturism is supposed to be like. For example, for me, being a white American growing up in Nebraska, it is a whole new thing to be the only white American in a party or in a classroom, or in an office. Lots of nice things like that.

The drawback of course is that you get low pay for as long as you are in the program. Over time, the extra pay as a PhD typically catches you up to the lost wages, but you shouldn't expect to surpass the amount you would have earned (if you include interest and good retirement investing). Classes are more demanding, and if you are sick of school then 4-9 more years of it can really eat at you.
Click to expand...

Second-year Ph.D. student in oh -- spatial modeling -- that seems to be the easiest way to explain it. Everything Dullard said is true. If you like school, it can be fun as anything--I've finally come to actually enjoy writing papers and it's also rather interesting to actually teach college classes. It certainly gives you an interesting chance to meet some neat people. And you get the enjoyment of working on problems that no one else has solved before. It's work, but I haven't come across anything too terrible (could help that I'm a fast reader). If you want money, I wouldn't suggest it -- although in the right field, you could probably do allright. Listen to Hayabysa too--depends a lot on your program, field and advisor. Keep us posted?

(By the way, I fell into it too... walked out of college thinking "this is my last final for a while..." two months later, found myself back in class.) BTW, what's your school? UM?
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No, Michigan State University. The computer engineering program here is virtually non existent. However, I was extremely lucky to get in to the grad program since my undergrad grades were not stellar.

I think the reason that I am in school is because its all I know. It's what I've been doing my whole life. When my advisor told me to consider doctoral work, I told myself "Why not?".

I love learning. Almost to the point where it doesn't really matter in what subject. I am in computer engineering because that is what I chose 4 some years ago 🙂

I guess I just want to be in a position where I can choose my career, have a dynamic environment in which to work, and always be learning something. I'd like to think PhD is the way to go.
 
Gotcha. Sounds almost exactly how I ended up here--got a degree in English and what was essentially Economics, and ended up going back to school to get a master's in Architectural History (it sounded fun at the time). Enjoyed it for a year, then got asked, "why not get a Ph.D?" I couldn't come up with a good reason, so I stayed in. Yes, there's a lot of garbage to deal with sometimes (what job doesn't have that though?), and sometimes people have hard times finding jobs -- still, though, I think that it's worth it in the end just to learn some interesting stuff. At least, as long as you can cover your (hopefully modest!) bills at the same time.

Anyway, there's sometimes a big deal made out of the challenges of academia--but sometimes I think that people don't realize the issues there are the same people face in the rest of the world.

If you're really want to go into the teaching world, or find a great place in academia, perhaps it's worth it to at least apply to the "top tier" schools--but I supopse that that's a discipline-dependent thing. Good research seems to be the key to things--at least, so I've heard from people who should be in the know.

Anyway, best of luck to you. Hope that you enjoy it! Besides, if you stay with school, someone else'll be around to keep me company for the next year or two...
 
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