I have been in conversation with a number of current and potential Ph.D. students over the last few weeks, and it is application season, so I figured I would make a few toots in consideration for getting a Ph.D. over the next few days.
Will start with a few thoughts about "should I pursue a Ph.D.?"
Would love to hear from others as well.
These thoughts are entirely my opinion and I emphasize the nuanced, individual, and variable response and considerations to the question.
An additional caveat is that I focus on Ph.D. programs here as those housed in top research universities in the US as i am most familiar with those. These would be ~5 year programs, fully funded and providing a TA or RA stipend.
I think a central consideration is "is the Ph.D. worth it?" And that raises a few questions in no particular order.
1) what would earning a Ph.D. mean to me, my family, my community?
2) what career opportunities will be opened to me if I have a Ph.D.? If any?
3) what might I learn and become a leading global expert on during the Ph.D. program?
4) what might I learn or how might I further my career through other pathways, including working during the 5 years I would be in a Ph.D. program?
5) What is the long term financial cost/benefit of a Ph.D.? That is what is the income gain/loss during the 5 years and what is the potential lifetime additional earnings with the Ph.D?
What questions/considerations would others raise?
