PHD..is it right for me?

[mel227]

I have read numerous articles online and spoken to various people about their experiences of completing a PHD... and unfortunately a lot of people's experiences have been very negative, everyone I have asked, has reflected that looking back, given the same choice, they wouldn't do the phd again.

 

I am really lucky to have been offered a place on a funded course, with a great topic, but I am 31, and have debts.  Quite frankly im a little terrified of having the same/more debts in 4 years to come, whereas most people I know are financially secure and starting families! Im also not sure where exactly the research will take me and whether it is worth it. I enjoy working in teams and as a group, so also a little concerned about working in isolation for 3/4 years to come.

 

How have other people's experiences been? Has anyone started with these uncertainties... ? Can anyone plse share their positive experiences!

 

I have accepted an offer but I am now considering whether perhaps this might not be the right path for me... so wld be grateful for other people's comments!

 

 

[Vene]

I think some of the experiences depend on the field of study as well as personal opportunity cost. Personally, I've spent the last two years working in temporary jobs so even though I'm taking a pay cut, the opportunity cost of a PhD for me is relatively low. If I was in a career where I was moving up to a $50k salary position, a PhD would be a lot less attractive of an option.

[fuzzylogician]

It's a personal decision that we can't make for you. For me, I made the decision to do a PhD because I decided it was worth it even if I couldn't find a job in academia later. I've had a great time and worked with some really amazing people. I'd like to think that I've also made some contributions to my field. I've been getting paid for 5 years to study what I like, travel to talk about it, and meet some smart people who also care about the same things. Now that I'm graduating, I've been fortunate enough to get a good postdoc that I hope will pave the way for a faculty job, but if not I know I have other transferrable skills and that I can be employed in other jobs. I work mostly on collaborative projects with anywhere from 1 to 8 co-authors and that's something I really enjoy. I also like solo projects but my work allows for collaborations and personally I find that to be more productive and more fun. I don't know, maybe I'll be more disgruntled in 5 years and think this all wasn't worth it, but honestly that's just not the kind of person I usually am, so I doubt it. If I wasn't doing this, I'd be doing something else and I'm sure it'd have good sides and bad sides, just like the academic path does. For me, it's been a great experience both personally and professionally, though it's not the easiest path to take. I'm sure that there are easier ways to make a living.

 

If you do a PhD, I think the reality is that you'll have pretty much the same amount of debt as you do now, since you say you're in a funded program and so if you budget right there shouldn't be a need to take on more debt. That's not great but I think that's just how it is, so if it's important to you to work off the debt soon then maybe a PhD isn't for you. As for starting a family, there is no reason why you couldn't do that while in grad school. Plenty of people do, and they manage just fine. As far as your research goes, I'm sure it'll take you in directions you didn't predict--it almost always does. That's part of the fun of growing as an academic. I think you need to accept that some projects will work and others will fail, and that there will be some rejections and negative feedback, but that that's how this world works and you just work through it and come out the other side. Hopefully you're in a field where you can collaborate with others, and if so then at least the working in isolation concern shouldn't be a problem. But this is a very personal decision and if you do a PhD, it's a large investment. If there are other things you can see yourself doing and being happy at, I think it's worth taking some serious time to consider whether one of them is a better choice for you right now. Starting the process with doubts will make it hard to pull through when you hit the hard times (as everybody everywhere does, at some point or other).

[gradrunner]

Ahhh this is exactly the sentiment I'm feeling now too (unfortunately I'm two years into my program so I'm going to suck it up and stick it out). It's nice to hear though that is a common feeling among people, makes you feel less alone.

 

I do agree the isolation is a big problem that I didn't see coming, and I didn't realize just how much I need to interact with people until I had no interaction. I've realized you just have to make an effort to seek out opportunities to engage with other people (for me I've started volunteering at the hospital, about to start being a wellness coach for undergraduates, as well as random meetups (through meetups.com). I also just try to make friends with anyone who seems cool in classes which has worked out pretty well so far. My family's far from me and I didn't know anyone in the city I moved to for grad school so I have no shame, I'm happy to meet anyone)

I kind of agree, given what I know now about how much grad school sucks, that I wouldn't necessarily do this degree again, but at the same time I do think I'll feel proud once I have it so hopefully it makes it all worth it. I don't know if you ever really regretting furthering your education. As they always say that's "something people can never take away from you". I guess I'm just doing it more for myself than for career prospects? I'm curious to know what you decide though! Please do let us know. I think you should just do it, you're funded so at least won't add to your debt and you only live once so why not. It's a pretty cool thing to have that degree (I'm just trying to make myself feel better here too)


http://justkeepswimming.blogspot.com/

Edited April 25, 2014 by gradrunner

[mel227]

Thanks so much for the feedback.. really helpful and great to hear some positive experience... this has been one of the hardest decisions ever... gradrunner what is your field of study?

 

I have decided to let it go this time... my mind tells me if im not 100% and already have doubts...then the program is probably not for me.. I'm also not sure a future in research and academia is what I want.

 

I have decided to focus more on practical work... (assuming I can get it!!) and which I think I will enjoy just as much... and if a phd is really for me, I will reapply in the future when I am 100% and more financially secure. Perhaps I will regret it.... !!

 

Best of luck to you though... sounds like your a great part of the way through...and it's true... when you finish, no one can ever, ever take it away from you!

[gradrunner]

I'm in nutrition. Honestly I probably would have made the same decision as you too (if it's not something you definitely need and can see absolutely helping you out in the future it's probably not worth it) my undergrad is nursing and I've decided what I really want to do is be a nurse practitioner, however getting the PhD will (I'm hoping!) allow me to collaborate in some clinical research as well. I definitely don't think this degree will be my main focus for a job, more like an enabler to let me do a bunch of random things I don't think I would get to do otherwise.

 

Still have to get the NP now though too. Boo.

 

Good luck to you too!! Everything usually works out exactly how it's suppose to so I have no doubt you'll find something totally fulfilling that you love exactly with the route you chose to go

Edited April 25, 2014 by gradrunner

[spectastic]

I'm currently working in industry making pretty good money. The job has plenty of upward mobility, but it's not that intellectually engaging, because most of it is politics. I'd like to stick to the technical side as much as possible, get my hands dirty in the lab, and keep up to date with the latest research, and I feel like a PhD is my ticket there. I believe I've had plenty of exposure to academia in my undergraduate career to not have any doubts about my decision. I've yet to understand why exactly so many people wash out, but I know that if it's what I want to do with my 9-5, I might as well get started.

 

The decision becomes a little more complicated when the offer is unfunded. I'm not going to blow my savings on my first year of a program in a different state, just for a shot at getting integrated into a research group. There's a lot of uncertainty there.....

[fuzzylogician]

I'm currently working in industry making pretty good money. The job has plenty of upward mobility, but it's not that intellectually engaging, because most of it is politics. I'd like to stick to the technical side as much as possible, get my hands dirty in the lab, and keep up to date with the latest research, and I feel like a PhD is my ticket there. 

 

Not to be a downer or anything but if you're interested in a PhD/academia to get away from the politics, you may be in for a rude awakening. 

 

"In any dispute the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the issues at stake." By way of corollary: "That is why academic politics are so bitter." (Sayre's law)

[spectastic]

politics can't be escaped. that much I know.

[juilletmercredi]

Also just want to warn you that the exposure to academia in undergrad is totally different from grad school, unless you had a pretty unique undergrad experience.  Professors view you as more of a junior colleague in graduate school, especially in a doctoral program.  Therefore, they show you a different side of them and it can get pretty...interesting.

[danieleWrites]

Slate has a thing hijacked from a book about this very question. Should you go to grad school? A Choose Your Own Adventure:

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/education/2014/05/whether_or_not_grad_school_is_right_for_you_a_choose_your_own_adventure.html

It made sense for me.