After you already have a master's degree in that field.
The direct-to-phd programs are 4.5+ years usually.
I'm planning to go for a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering right out of undergrad.
1) I'll make much more money with a Ph.D. than I will without. I'll easily make up the lost wages over the course of my career.
2) It'll be free (to me), I'll just have to live like a student for 4 more years.
3) It'll open up new job opportunities to me (main reason I'm going for it).
4) I'll be able to introduce myself as "Dr. Frank" (the real main reason I'm going for it).
1) I'll make much more money with a Ph.D. than I will without. I'll easily make up the lost wages over the course of my career.
2) It'll be free (to me), I'll just have to live like a student for 4 more years.
3) It'll open up new job opportunities to me (main reason I'm going for it).
4) I'll be able to introduce myself as "Dr. Frank" (the real main reason I'm going for it).
Born2bwire
Diamond Member
- Oct 28, 2005
- 9,840
- 6
- 71
a) Most science PhDs will not cost you anything except time
b) If you want to be a professor, you need a PhD
c) A PhD program is supposed to be training you to teach others at an advanced level
d) Why does someone major in any number of potentially useless bachelor's degrees?
e) Tenure FTW
b) If you want to be a professor, you need a PhD
c) A PhD program is supposed to be training you to teach others at an advanced level
d) Why does someone major in any number of potentially useless bachelor's degrees?
e) Tenure FTW
There are grants for pretty much whatever kind of research you want. If you can get it published that's usually good enough to keep your tenure.
Your tax dollars are used in cow fart research. That is not a joke.
At my university there have been PhD students that were here from 2-17 years before obtaining their PhD. It's not like graduating with a BS in which you are handed your degree after you pass the right courses. You can be there as long as you like.
Yeah, I've met quite a few people who generalize too. You know how it is, label a group of people and expect the rest to follow suit. Ah well, back to work.
Salary requirements. Many companies/schools/etc have pay grades assigned to degrees. So basically, if you have a PhD, they have to pay you $x, whereas someone with a masters would only require $0.8x.
It's not even a matter of what you, the degree-holder requires: it's what's defined on the payscale by the potential employer. By holding a PhD, you can rule yourself right out of the job.
Fenixgoon
Lifer
- Jun 30, 2003
- 33,318
- 12,896
- 136
i'm also gonna try for my PhD after undergrad (at least that's the plan). the reason i want it is because i want to achieve as much as possible in school. my interest is in R&D + application, not just the R&D part, so i'd definitely be going industry.
I got my PhD because my lifelong dream was to be a university professor. I was in the field for all of two years, though, before moving on to something else.
As for why others would get their PhDs, especially in fields with few to no real jobs (i.e. most liberal art majors) I think it is just wanting to be at the top of of your chose field-- no different than a ballplayer wanting to make it to the pros.
As for why others would get their PhDs, especially in fields with few to no real jobs (i.e. most liberal art majors) I think it is just wanting to be at the top of of your chose field-- no different than a ballplayer wanting to make it to the pros.
Scarpozzi
Lifer
- Jun 13, 2000
- 26,392
- 1,780
- 126
Some people have high enough grades that the opportunity presents itself. I know of a guy that is currently 26 or 27...he's working on his and he's getting grant money to pay for it. When he finishes his Phd, he will have a job waiting for him that pays around $125,000 / year. He'll be doing research work. It just goes to show that if you don't mind having zero social skills, you can do anything.
I'm just kidding... sort of. I was talking more to the people who are in the "regular" workforce. In that arena, not only is a PhD somewhat worthless, it can actually work against you. Now, in research it's a totally different matter and I don't pretend to understand what's going on behind those doors.
However, I do admire people who can dedicate such a large part of their lives to their education. I think that having an internal fire that drives you to be the absolute best at what you do is admirable.
Because degrees aren't about employability (or at least they don't need to be). They're about personal accomplishment, intellectual enrichment, psychological advancement, societal contribution, etc.
There's a hell of a lot more to life than jobs and/or money; getting a PhD often shows that you've learned that.
Well, actually, it pretty much does make them smarter than at least most other people. It gives them more knowledge and keeps their minds exercised. That's not to say its the only way, but its a darn good one.
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