Is it worth doing a PhD? ( Archived) (20)

Would it be viable to have one in the field you're in? Is the economy going to facilitate applying it in the real world?

Some people like to collect qualifications like stamps, as a kind of badge of pride thing, but in my opinion if you don't apply what you learn and what you know it's useless to both you and everybody else.

If you have a real passion for a subject at a deep academic level and wish to work in a university or research environment then yes a PhD is a good option

If money is the motivation in you wish to work in a commercial environment then a Masters and good work experience the real world is better imo.

I thought about it, but in my field, getting a PhD would only work to my disadvantage, financially and in terms of time spent. Because my field is constantly changing, there's really no practical benefit unless I wanted to teach at a Uni and needed it to qualify for a post. Still, even if I were to do it, the value to the students would come from practical experience. So I decided not to pursue it.

PhD is almost like getting PmS...

Do you know what is the difference between someone with or without a PhD?

Without a PhD = people know about things.
With a PhD = People know WHY those things.
(Of course, there are exceptions)

Getting a PhD should be something that wil make you better in your field and better as a person.

I'd say it depends on the subject of the Phd but I'd be wary of becoming too focused in the current ecconomic climate.

If you are overqualified, employers would be concerned about the work load becoming tedious to you and at Phd level you really need to be specialised.

Secondly, they are not going to pay for doctorate level when a graduate will do.

So a Phd, to me, means a decision to commit to education as opposed to career so it's a sort of double edged sword when it comes to job satisfaction and security.

Now, I can't let another comment go here. If certain Phds have opted to lecture, then they have no right to whinge that their student's aren't smart enough or committed enough. It's down to the lecturer to enthuse the student on the subject.

If they're just going to throw a few acetates up on the overhead projector for an hour and collect their paycheck at the end of the week they deserve the absence of job satisfaction.

This is exactly what I was talking about when I mentioned the workload becoming tedious.

The purpose of education is to educate and if these lecturers are not committed to that goal, then they are in the wrong job. You have to teach the students at their own level and not from the top of the ivory tower or the dark corner of the santuary from life, that can be academia.