After learning about the tortuous journey of a PhD candidate (and if you haven’t then read Part 1 of the PhD Process Series here), it makes many wonder, what is the incentive? The PhD has to undergo many difficulties and frustrations, and a shocking 50 percent of them do not even graduate with their degree. If you are one of those unsure, read these brief tips before you make a choice.
Getting a PhD Is Not Right For You If…
- You are only getting it for the prestige. It is true that you can get prestige with a PhD. However, aiming for status for status’ sake has never made anyone happy, especially if, in order to achieve it, you are working 60-hour weeks and endlessly researching and writing with few job prospects at the end of the day.
- You are looking for a stable profession. A PhD is no sure-fire guarantee of a job. In fact, many real-life companies may even hold it against you. They may believe you will not understand life outside academia or will be “too smart for your own good.” Also, keep in mind getting a PhD is a fast track to one thing: professorship and academic research*. If you are not interested in those as careers, than it is best to explore other options.
- You like people. Unfortunately, due to the nature of research, you will be by yourself for most of your doctorate; studying, reading, writing, researching, etc. Also, this solitary confinement isn’t going to last just one semester – it is going to last for, more or less, five years.
Getting a PhD is Perfect For You If…
- You absolutely, completely, without a smidgen of a doubt, adore your subject. If you feel like you can’t imagine a life not researching your favorite topic, than getting a PhD will give you total fulfillment. However, be forewarned, you are going to beat your research topic to death, resurrect it, and beat it to death again and again by the end of the process. If you truly love what you are studying, you will still love it after all that, but if not, the process is not worth it.
- You want to be a professor, lecturer or researcher with all your heart. You were inspired by your professors in undergrad or graduate school, and you can’t imagine a happier life than likewise enlightening nubile young minds with the intellectual triumphs of brilliant academics. Or you love research, the lab and the library, or other place of learning. You love digging into ancient tomes or the newest digital research tools. You are happiest when finding that perfect essay that makes you think of things in a totally different light or finally get the lab result you have been looking for. You love spirited, advanced intellectual debate. You don’t mind the bad job market for professorship, and you don’t mind that you will spend much of your future finding funding for your projects, because, in the end, it is all worth it to push the limits of your field to as far as you can possibly go.
If you are still sure you want a PhD after knowing all the hardships you have to undergo, you are likely a perfect candidate. Go for it, and read “How To Keep Motivated While Getting Your PhD; Part 3 of The PhD Process Series”.
*The exceptions being professional PhDs, such as nursing or physical therapy PhDs.