Something which didn't come across terribly clearly: People do end up getting money and prestige and power with PhDs, but the point I'm making in this video is that people who make it through PhDs are the people who didn't apply to get those things. They applied for the thing they would be doing during the PhD. Also I don't mean to romanticise what it's like to do a PhD or be a researcher. As I tried to impress at the start, doing a PhD is a colossal grind, and passion alone isn't enough. You need to have grit and determination, and a romantic notion of passion overcoming all is unrealistic. So perhaps a more realistic conclusion for this video is apply if you are passionate AND you are ready to do a whole lot of hard work. More depressing still, yay!
It's also to be noted that you could decide not to devote your time when you're younger to a PhD but later (when you're not as physically active or say when you're retired but still have that passion) when you have enough free time, you can decide to just go and research for the betterment of science
You're right with what you've said. There's another important topic that is worth mentioning which is about one's GPA.. In some universities, studying a simple course (mostly just memorizing it) would get you high grades, but that doesn't mean that one could have done some research on it or could understand the underlying concept.. The problem isn't only here, its when the student that cares to understand more than to bring high grades would have then less opportunities to be accepted in a respected university if he was applying to a higher degree. SO universities in general should not depend a lot on GPA as a reference to accept students.
Kind of ironic how your pursuit of a PhD gave you opportunities and information to talk about which is what gave popularity and interest in your TH-cam channel about science broadcasting, and now you are telling us not to do it. There is another TH-camr who worked as an engineer for one year, started his TH-cam channel about engineering disciplines and now he advises people to not go into engineering for social reasons. So I feel like this is kind of the same thing. I want to watch pathogens slowly die at my own hands using my own biochemical methods, not doing monotonous stuff according to company policy. Plus, in academia, I'm surrounded by many wonderful people. If I just work a normal job, I have no friends, and have no intentions of staying anywhere. I have no lover I want to mortgage a house with.
This seems like a self fulfilling prophecy really. 8 hours a day, basically a normal working day, is probably enough to complete a PhD in STEM. People also tend to get drawn into "working hard" rather than "working smart" so they end up doing another 4 hours work a day. You could even write your thesis at the beach :)
@@AmazingStoryDewd If you're paying for a PhD you're doing it wrong. Even if you're paying for a master's you're doing it wrong. You should be making enough money from your stipend to pay for tuition, living expenses, and have a little left over to treat yourself. You'll make far less money than you would have if you went into industry, but you'll be net positive. If you want to do research (even in government or industry) you need a minimum of a master's. A PhD will get you better pay and more clout as a researcher and it will (in theory) let you rise through the ranks faster to run your own lab or research team.
As a current PhD student, I’m happy I’m obtaining my doctorate degree. Is it challenging? At times did I want to give up? Absolutely! However, it has taught me profound and valuable information and knowledge in regards to infectious diseases in Epidemiology. I am graduating summer 2020 and everything I’ve worked for, is well worth it for me! 💕🙌🏾🤗👩🏾🎓👩🏾🔬🥂🍾
Couple remarks regarding what happens AFTER a PhD for those who want to go into academia. I have a tenure track assistant professor position at a mid sized university. And just to further press the: “know what you’re getting into”, here are a few more remarks: 1.A professor position is almost no different from a PhD: In fact, it’s the same thing, except substitute classes with university service. So no more 3 hour grad classes, but instead gear up for faculty senate meetings! It’s the same job, but with more pay. 2. It’s a lonely job, but it’s also a flexible one: with some exceptions, I don’t have to work any 9-5. I can work from 6-2, take a 5 hour break and work 7-11, or don’t! It’s by no means a cushy job, but it is flexible 3. The travel perks: and there are some great ones, like paid travel. I have conferences in Seattle, Salt Lake City, Boston, Toronto, and Switzerland. I have to pay for some, but my department covers a lot of it too. If you can balance work and play well, you can go to a conference for 3 days and then explore the city at night and take a day away from the conference (again, your schedule). 4. If you are passionate about it, 12 hour days are largely no issue: write about cool stuff, talk to students that find interest in what you do and want to expand their minds, helping a community/school/discipline are all what I get to do, and I love it. When you find success in these things, and you start improving on the process, even some of the more tedious activities become second nature to actually pretty fun 5. Money: in theory, you won’t make a lot of money at base salary level. But if you’re in academia, they’re basically paying you for 9 months salary. That said, if you’re creative, there are other ways to make money during the summer. Summer teaching helped me earn an extra 10k on top of my base salary. And then there’s the real money of academia: consulting. You can develop your own consultation firm for your unique specialty, and this is where an underpaid professor can actually make some serious money. It’s a ton of extra work, but if you’re creative, you can do it. 6. Benefits: not going to be a long section, but the benefits as a professor (at least in my experience) have been pretty solid. State schools can offer many programs regarding things like retirement and health. My 401k has already accrued a significant amount, and the university contributes to the fund. While far from cushy, it is typically a nice system. The PhD is a grueling process, but it’s hardly the end of the journey. Work often, play often, and always persist. The key to finishing your PhD or tenure or anything is to outlast your advisors and continue pressing. I don’t consider myself to be incredibly smart, but I am unreasonably persistent, which is how I think I earned my degree. I wouldn’t want to do it again, but everyday, I am thankful and grateful that i did.
This is all wrong. You are encouraging the bastards, not scaring them away. Please do a rewrite as there are far too many who will succeed in getting a PhD and even more who will attempt and fail.
My Ph.D. allows me to work from home online. It also allows me to teach graduate students helping them to pursue their educational dreams, which is so satisfying.
Im doing my Ph.D. for the love of Physics. Not for money, not for prestige, not for anything except my love for Condensed Matter. People who do Ph.D. for reasons beyond love will always burn out and regret.
Learning something new, doing research in a subject you love is a great thing to do. Enjoy what you study .. enjoy doing PHD.. enjoy doing anything makes you happy and a life. Prove for yourself that you can succeed in doing what you love to do. PhD is a step to the glory. You might save millions with the information you have. People who are higher than us in education, we can learn from them. People who are like us in education, we can have them as friends. People who are below us in education, we can teach them. I am 64 years old, and I feel very young, I finished my MBA from Maastricht University in Holland four years ago. The program was two years, 18 different business subjects, and the thesis was 6 months. Now I am planning to study PhD in Europe or Australia. All, enjoy life .. go for PhD selecting a subject you love .. learn something new.. life is short. Aslan.
My dad did a PhD, cons? He got married at 36 and had me at 38, me being the eldest child 🤷 as to me, I'm not interested in marrying, so I'm gonna do PhD anyway 🤷
What's the cons? My father probably didn't pass high school, married at 30 (maybe?) but had me at 45, I'm the youngest child and am majoring in chemistry, hoping for a PhD in another country cause we don't get financial aid here
I am forever thankful I got refused from all the PhDs I applied for. Ended up picking the shortest Master's possible, and left before the research semester when I got offered the job in Malaysia. Managed to finish the thesis while working. University is about learning to learn and getting a piece of paper, most of the skills you learn are on the job. I am not cut out for a PhD
Some jobs require you to have master though. I just look some Master program and some of it have one year duration so I think its not really that bad at all to have master(at least if you are still young and single). I probally go for master if I have good gpa from degree. However, I cant deny that more exp>>>master.
To anyone who wants a PhD with the goal of teaching full-time at a university, publish! You need a lot of publications to have a higher chance of obtaining a teaching position at universities, because these show what you would be able to teach at universities. Those with tons of publications under their belt may even be offered a tenured-track position right before they defend their dissertation. Don't even wait until you're in a PhD program to publish, publish whenever you have the chance, even if you're only the co-author. The university that I work at always looks at publications on a CV first before reviewing anything else when hiring faculty.
Not sure if I agree about the reason for publishing. From what I've heard universities aren't interested in your teaching ability (you do need to be able to do that of course), but more in your ability to publish and get grants, the latter two are closely linked and form a virtuous cycle; teaching ability isn't going to get you citations, publications in journals of high impact etc.
Teaching ability doesn’t matter. Pubs, and only in Scopus listed journals. PhD should be from a university ranked in top 300 in the world, preferably from US, UK or Australia and in that order. That’s what search committees look for... and, of course, if you’re a white guy then you need even higher qualifications to have a chance.
@@lollo7417 It's possible but the problem is that there is always luck involved with publications. I just finished my Bachelors degree in chemistry and I was lucky to get results which the Prof. is planning to publish. It will only be a small 2 page revision and my supervisor will do some more polishing before it can be published but I'll at least be a co-author. If I have some spare time I might even write part of the publication myself.
If your goal is to get a job teaching at a university, don’t bother getting a PhD. You will never get a return on your investment. The best Universities look for people with real world accomplishments, they don’t care about what you have published. They hire former CEO’s to teach business classes, former doctor’s to teach science class, etc. Furthermore, without any real world experience, what could you possibly publish of interest to people with it? No person, who has done their time working, respects someone who just went to school their whole lives. Experience far outweighs research.
@@lollo7417 Do you mean publish something as a main author? I don't know about that but co-author really shouldn't be dependant on your academic level. Anyone who contributes to a publication deserves to be an author.
@@alieser7770 A lot of us who live in underdeveloped countries view higher education as the pursuit for a better life. For instance: my country's currency lost 50% of its value just this month, 90% the last couple of years, being an outstanding student at university gives you the chance to earn a scholarship in a developed country or get into an interchange program, that later will give you the opportunity to leave and build a career in better terms that most.
@@RocaSeba education doesn't necisarrily mean phd. Because the question even is, will you even be able to apply a phd in one of those first world countries with your degree of your country. Because degrees aren't equal. Yes as someone from within the EU, i know my degree will pretty much be accepted in the US.
do it. My dad got a PhD because it was his only ticket out of Indonesia. He's very lucky that having a PhD in a developing country helped him become wealthy. Do it, at the end of the day you'll become more useful than wealthy
I remember watching this when I was in my honours year being like, "I'm sure it's not that bad." I am now months out of finishing my own PhD and I must admit that I stand corrected.
I have been recommended this video just after I passed my Ph.D. viva today (Physics). XD Actually, for me, it was 4 years of interesting people and 2 years of free travelling to conferences ("thanks" COVID) and Ph.D. itself felt like a part-time job. I was able to do several industry contracts parallel to the Ph.D. (so I earned well), got married in my second year, and got a dream-come-true job in the industry now. Another crucial point for me is that the Ph.D. allowed me to move from Russia to the UK with relative ease and remain in this great country. All I want to say here to someone who for some reason will see my comment, there are so much more opportunities in Ph.D. than just interesting topics. You can really have a time of your life during that, just don't miss the opportunities.
Кандидатская не сделала из тебя умного человека. Посмотрим, как тебе понравится страна, в особенности когда ты станешь отцом или эффект туриста пройдёт. Завоешь волком и вернёшься домой.
In my opinion, being someone who’s obtained a masters degree and who’s considered a PhD, if you’re not 100% passionate about a PhD then DO NOT DO IT. If you’re still considering it despite building up some artificial passion for the subject then take a step back and seriously question what you want from life. Having a brother who’s just completed one, this is a lesson I have also heard from him. PhDs are extremely specific bodies of work and deserve someone who is 100% focused on that niche subject, if that’s you then great, go for it! If it’s not, then do not do it! I’d rather be someone who is free from academia with potentially more money in my pocket and open to different opportunities at any time, than be stuck on a 4 year rollercoaster that I don’t want to be on and can’t get off whilst I’m watching the world go by and feeling like an imposter. All this can be solved if you listen to your heart and what you really want to do, it could be a PhD but if you’re not absolutely sure then it’s likely you’re making a terrible decision.
It's good to do a balanced video. To give even more perspective, I hate to be the exception, but I enjoyed the years working on my Ph.D. and was not desperate to be done with it. I did socialize quite a bit while doing my Ph.D. and made a rule (partly forced because I did not have reliable internet at home) to leave work behind at the office. I went home late every night, but when I got home, I focused my time on my family. I believe that kept me sane and helped preserve my marriage. I agree that going into a Ph.D. for any other reason than you have a strong passion that you want to pursue is a big mistake. I will point out, however, that even though a Ph.D. does not lead to a posh lifestyle (there are much better ways to make money), there are non-monetary benefits to it. Those become more apparent further along in a career. This is probably more true for the technical fields (humanities have a hard life), but Ph.D's often end up in positions where they can continue to pursue their passion. Perhaps not 100% of their time as in graduate school, but even having 10 to 20% of work hours to freely spend on whatever one wants to study is a great perk. Having a flexible schedule is something else I absolutely love. I have a say in the class schedule I teach, and I can do most of my work from home (my research is computational). Even outside of their research role, Ph.D.'s often have a lot of freedom in what projects to pick and pursue. Being at higher level jobs, we get to shape our organizations. Of course one can have those perks by opening one's own business, but the same way a Ph.D. is not for everyone, running a business isn't either. As one physics professor I knew explained, his family was from a very humble background and he did not have the means to start a business. So he went for a Ph.D., because he wanted to be his own boss. By and large, Ph.D.'s get to be their own boss. Another perk is job security. For me, that was important, as I am risk averse. I abbreviated my nomadic years as a postdoc and went into a less research intensive university position because I could quite literally not stomach not knowing where my salary would come from the following year, or where I would be. Past the uncertain, nomadic years of the postdoc, there are university or government lab positions that pay decently well and provide a good retirement (though that's going away now, as it has in the private sector - I am talking about the US). Also, let's not forget the training one acquires as a Ph.D. Even if, as mentioned in the video, employers may not see the value of Ph.D.'s it does make one's life easier. A Ph.D. can read complicated information and get the gist quickly and communicate effectively. We have our technical skills or can pick up new ones as needed easily. That's helpful in all aspects of life. Finally, I never perceived doing a Ph.D. as a lonely endeavor. It wasn't during my Ph.D., and even less afterwards. For me, being surrounded by really smart people is another thing I enjoy about having gotten to where I am today. I never lost my passion for learning and I learn a lot everyday simply from the rich, interesting, and sometimes quirky interactions I have with colleagues.
Agnes Kim What exactly do you mean when you say that PhDs get to "be their own boss"? This man with a PhD was unable to start a business but he still got to "be his own boss". What does this mean? What was his job, in the end? I know you want to be respectful, referring to his lack of funds as "humble" but I think, if it leads to obscuring the needed clarity for comprehension then it's gone too far.
@@lemonprime7889 I assume that refers to the flexibility and lack of top down direction. Maybe the gentleman in question became principal investigator and runs his own projects now. However, if he's old then he may have been working during the academic glory days. From what I've heard things are quite different now, there's huge pressure to publish as much as possible in the most prestigious journals and get as much grant money as possible. I hear it's pretty stressful and not much fun.
I'm a few months from defending my PhD in Computer Engineering with specialization in machine learning that is focused on industry, post-graduation, rather than academia, so I'll mostly be speaking from that specific perspective; but I think there's one aspect of my whole experience (including the 3 years I did my Masters as well) that I absolutely loved that I think doesn't gets mentioned enough: it's an opportunity to get an overwhelming amount of exposure to a wide variety of topics that you may not have known about before. When I finished my Bachelors, and even during my Masters program, I suffered from the "commitment is scary" mentality, in that I was always worried about whether or not I would be happy doing what I was doing for a prolonged period of time, e.g. potentially the rest of my life. Even though I knew I wanted to do "machine learning in general", doing my Masters and PhD exposed me to the absolute avalanche of information and sub-research topics within the realm of machine learning, a lot of which I'm 100% sure I would never have encountered at all if I'd gone straight to industry out of Bachelors/Masters, that I was able to really focus in on the topics I loved, and really become a "specialist" in areas that I specifically know are right for me and that I would be MORE than happy to work in for the rest of my life. Knowing that I explored some of the furthest reaches of research in my area ultimately gave me way more confidence in my choice of specialization with regards to if I was truly happy with it or not, not to mention that exposure helped me develop as a researcher and engineer in ways that might not have happened without the PhD grind pushing me to actually do it.
As a current PhD student who will graduate in a few months, I wanted to share some ideas, the pros and cons of a PhD: Pros: - You can dedicate several years of your time in a topic that you like/are passionate about - You can develop new theories or new applications and share your discoveries in international conferences - At these conferences, you can network with (very clever) people working on the same topic and potentially start new collaborations. - Depending on the country, you can have a good salary while doing your PhD - If you like to teach and share your knowledge, that is a big plus as you have the opportunity to supervise students and give exercise sessions. Cons: - You need to work hard to get good results in general. Either you are passionate and you will work with pleasure, or it will be a burden after a while and you will/may quit. - Very important to get a good supervisor. I have the chance to have a wonderful supervisor. I know some PhD students who had bad relations with their supervisors. All of them quitted the PhD after one or two years. - If you are interested in money and business, this is probably not the best way to go (depends on the field of course). You should always compare three or four years of research versus three of four years in the business industry. For the moment, I wish to continue in academia for two main reasons: 1. I like to teach and share my knowledge. This is very important if you want to stay in academia as it is a big part of the job. 2. I like intellectual challenges. I want to avoid a 9AM-5PM job where I do repeating tasks. By definition of research, you are always proposing something new.
I wasted my precious time and my mental health enrolling in a PhD program. I did it because I was promised a long-term teaching position and not having to pay the student loans I was granted during the postgrad career (including what I spent doing my master's). I DO love learning, I self-teach on various subjects, I love helping and seeing others learn as well, but I just couldn't stand deadlines and doing the numbers. Fuck them, I'm still in debt but at least I'm out of Academia. It's not really about learning for learning's sake but earning points, churning out research papers, to climb up the ladder. It's the opposite of making people want to learn and discover.
“Unfortunately”, I just accepted a position for my PhD. 😊 I’m getting a PhD, because I love to teach people about the human body and I enjoyed my Masters.
I am waiting to graduate from my PhD this year, and I agree with every single word in the video. Note that a PhD can take longer than expected because you can't predict what will happen along the way. Sadly, a lot of my students wanted to do a PhD just because it sounds cool when someone calls you a "Dr".
Dr Jonas I think the most important part of getting a phd should be your education. You’ll be expanding your horizons while getting a phd learning and earning grades to get a dr title. You should get a phd if you want to learn more on your passion not just for a doctor title. There is med school if you want to get a dr title without a phd
Most people won't call you doctor anyway. If you teach at a university, students will usually call you professor. Your colleagues (if you are close) will call you by your first name. Outside of the university, people will think you are a snob if you insist people address you as "Doctor." Even medical doctors don't insist on their title being used outside of work.
@@23magneta I'm sorry that you are misguided. "Doctor" means "to teach". Physician use the word "doctor" before their name to show their profession rather than their title. The same way people call Gordon Ramsay as Chef Ramsay, for example. Also, a professor is the highest rank as academic. Doesn't mean if you are a lecturer, you are automatically a professor. A junior lecturer can have a PhD. Typically, A junior lecturer becomes senior lecturer, then associate professor. You don't call an associate professor as a professor.
I'm about 3 months away from final submission. I can agree that I just want it 'over with' at this point. Even though I'm doing a topic I am very interested in, I'm eager to do something else in my life other than just study. My best advice for new PhD students: get a good supervisor. It makes your life so much easier when you know someone's got your back.
Thank you for the sharing. Congratulation on your coming close to get your PhD degree! It has long been heard that having a good supervisor can be a savior of the PhD journey. I don't understand what a good supervisor means to PhD till I'm now doing my PhD. I have a supervisor who is always patient and supportive to me, no matter how clumsy and stubborn I am. I'm grateful for his support and I really like his teaching and research style: he is the professor whom I admire the most. While it's true that doing PhD can make me sacrifice a lot of time which should have been spent with my family, I really enjoy learning something and making progress day by day and step by step. This is the very reason why I do my PhD.
Something I was told years ago (well before I even considered doing a PhD, actually) was that no matter how motivated you are at the start, or how good you are academically, there will be a point in your PhD where you seriously consider quitting. I'm right at the end of my PhD journey and the main thing I'd say to people thinking about it is to look at the most difficult part of your undergraduate degree. That part where you were struggling to keep your head above water because you've got so much coursework on top of your dissertation so you're working stupid hours and think you'll have no time to revise for exams (in my case)? You'll look back on that time fondly because it was only a few weeks of your life with a clear end point and you were with other people on your course in a very similar situation. Doing a PhD is incredibly lonely because even people in the same research group as you with the same supervisor are not having the same struggles as you. I'm right at the end of my PhD, but looking back, I would have a much better career if I'd finished my undergraduate degree, not done a masters, not taken a year out to find a PhD and then spent five years doing the PhD (it'll be five years this October and I hope to submit my corrections in about October/November). In 2013, I could have gone out into the world with a degree in physics from a great university and be about to go into my eighth year of that career, rather than still trying to get my thesis into the right shape and then think about what on earth I want to do for the next forty years (in my case, changing my field has made things more confusing rather than adding options/skills to my CV).
I share the same position, a PhD if u are not planning to enter academia, is really worthless, all the blood and sleepless nights to be the last one to be recruited, I would have love if I added 5 years to my work experience or started my own project.. For all the students I hope u think this decision through, at the time I didn't ask much about it
@Anurag Chakraborty same here been trying to get a job for 6 months now, and it's really hopeless, last job offer me 500 dollars for an 8 to 5 job, cause I lack experience and my supervisor for that job has an undergraduate degree with 20 years experience!! I didn't say yes yet, but I feel so hopeless at this point
@@CoriolanusSnow-nk1tx Thank you for the reply. So to give an update: it took me a further ~three years to fully finish my PhD. I really did not have a good time in that period. Right now I'm working at a different university supporting maths/statistics skills so I am actually doing something I enjoy and value. I don't particularly like statistics that much, but seeing that **click** on students' faces when they finally understand something is really worthwhile. My motivation comes from helping people and being valued by my team.
I have my MBA and teach as an adjunct at a small private university. I absolutely love the work and would like to transition into a full-time position, but the reality I've learned over the years as an adjunct is that universities completely ignore you for full-time employment unless you have a PhD. Yes, there are exceptions, but this is what I've seen. I work hard for the students and to represent the university well. I dress professionally every day, am always on time, never cancel classes, use the full class period, hold office hours, meet with students, get good evaluations, and am involved in other events when I have time, such as working with high school students on campus during the summer and helping with graduation ceremonies. I've never turned down an offer when my department needed me to pick up a class or learn new things. I've been an adjunct here for six years now and have put my time in. I've expressed my interests and made them clear. What I've learned is that none of this apparently matters - merit doesn't matter. Meanwhile, there are full-time professors who DON'T do the things I just listed, yet they have full-time employment. It's really bizarre. Adjuncts like myself carry the majority of the teaching load on our campus (I believe it's 55-60% of instruction) since the university can't survive without adjuncts (lower costs). They play a key role in student retention and success, which ultimately drives enrollment. Adjuncts get paid pitiful wages and are often not a concern of the university when it comes to a list of things. This "slave labor" is the dark underbelly of post-secondary education and is one reason our education system continues to become a dinosaur. It should be noted that our university has administrative bloat, too. A lot of money that could be going towards adjuncts is being wasted on poor administration and instruction. Problem is, there are established groups on campus who have vested interests in protecting their jobs and their money, and they're the ones making the decisions. It's like Congress in a way. The reason I'm making this post is because the pursuit of a PhD isn't just based on passion and interest in the subject matter. It's based on the reality of simply applying for a job. Without a PhD universities will ignore you. That's the reality of the situation. So if you're passionate about making a career in higher education, either with teaching or research, you should seriously consider getting a PhD as early/young as you can. I highly recommend transitioning into a PhD right after you complete your Masters degree.
Fingolfin3423 Hi, thank you for your post, I have been wondering about adjunct teaching so that I can also see patients. Can I ask what field, and if you're OK disclosing, what university?
I feel for you sir. I saw how my university pays and treats adjuncts while wasting their money on stupid speakers lecturing for a day. I saw some of my favorite professors leave the college and it's disgraceful how it all works.
@@joedoe4595 Is it really a micro-aggressions office? Or is it something with a broader remit to look after students and make sure they're comfortable on campus? They are one and the same thing but poles apart depending on how you phrase it.
I wanted to do a PhD because of my passion for learning and how much I value education. While working on my master's degree at Exeter, I reconsidered my plan because it turned out I didn't need a PhD to do all the things I wanted to do, including research. This let me pursue other opportunities but more importantly, start a family. Edit: In spite of the above, I still think about going through with getting a PhD. But my decision not to is something I can stand by and not regret. I would rather start a family, on my own, in the near future.
@@anastasiabelyaeva5708 I feel the same way about research and PhD. Since I'm a very theoretical person (in the field of mathematics and computer science), I think I can only be my absolute best when trying to be innovative, which mostly only happened when researching (other cases were "extreme", like trying to design my own board game, or 48h hackathons..), however, 3-4 more years after 5 or 6 years of uni just seems too time-consuming. It's healthier to have your first child before 28, and considering my situation in my country, I won't be able to raise a child before 28 as my PhD will not be finished by then
As a last-year PhD student in the UK, I have found doing a PhD as the most bitter medicine to take in order to heal your crippling zest for pushing the boundaries of knowledge and attaining prestige; the most bitter of all, indeed🤦♂️
This could not be more true. This video is extremely important for young people to think bout before accepting a PhD. I am in the final months of my PhD in molecular biology and although I love what I do (this is why I did it) the position I am in is far inferior to my master degree colleagues. I have been extremely lucky to be part of a large project with 15 enthusiastic PhD students and have developed life long friends and networks BUT the amount of work involved, the mental struggle, the lack of money, the lack of a permanent job afterwards is overwhelming at times. Great and honest video
Dear Simon, please publish this video again 3 years ago, so that past me can make better decisions. Greetings from a PhD student at the final months of suffering xD
Well, then you are almost done. A PhD is not a life's work, it's a stepping stone on the way (that hopefully gets you across a stream you actually want to cross).
As someone who left a PhD program, this is a very good video. It's also important to realize that you have very little freedom in a PhD program. You often have to live in a city or town that's not your first choice, or inconvenient for your life. Based on your research or job opportunities, you may have to move frequently, like Simon explains. It's also difficult to share your work, which you've become very excited about. My friends and family couldn't read my work because it was too technical, and that made me sad. I enjoyed teaching undergrads, but there are better, more focused avenues, if you want to pursue a career as an educator. I'm glad I tried it. There are many people who love something so much that they can be intrinsically motivated to study it alone for many years. I was deeply passionate about my topic, but the lifestyle still wasn't for me.
I feel your pain on not being able to share your work. I am in a PhD program now and I got my first research published I wanted everyone to know about it because it essentially validated the previous 12+ months of my life and the long nights and weekends spent on it instead of fun things with friends. So i told everyone and everyone said "cool... what's it on again?". I tell them the title, I see their eyes glossed over, then I simplify the title into laymans terms and they just say stuff like "wow sounds boring" or "huh, I still don't get it". I offered to share it with people and no one wants to read it, because it is too technical. My mom said she wanted to, so I printed it out and read it over. I kept asking her if she read it and she kept saying she would start but couldn't get through it. I stopped asking, I dont think she ever read it. So yes, it is difficult when you get excited about sharing it and no one really is there to share it with you.
@@JAlexanderCurtis Many congrats on the publication. A lot of academic publishing is obscure, but that's OK. There are also programs like the OP-ED Project that universities are deploying essentially to teach academics how to disseminate socially relevant research to a wider public.
What I'd add to the "why not" list: even if you're academically passionate about something, examine whether you'd enjoy spending years not just on the broader field you're interested in, but in a very narrowly defined topic within the field. If you're someone who loved university because you enjoy learning about a wide range of topics, that may actually be an indicator that a Phd isn't for you. (
“A PhD is like a contract, society invests in you, and you then provide a return of that investment in the form of a better understand of something.” 1. You are passionate about something. 2. Doing that thing is the best use of your time. Thank you!
Ah but there's a important distinction to be made there! Don't do a PhD if you want the prestige of being called a Professor or Lecturer, because there are some people that just want to be seen as smart and to have the acclaim. That's different from the daily grind of research. I deliberately didn't include the caveat of doing it as a career move because you want to be a professor, because that will follow on naturally iff you love doing research
if u want to be a professor u can still be a professor of academia with a masters degree. I know a couple of masters degree students that teach classes at my university
@@christoskomsios2860 You are absolutely correct. But you will be paid far less than you would be in any other career path. You are also highly disposable in those positions, and you are treated as such. But... your career is very bright in industry if you can convince an engineering or software manager to bring you in on their projects. You can solve problems far more complex than most of your peers. Your ability to teach yourself new subjects, new techniques, and new technologies is extremely powerful.
So I've spent about 2 years mulling these questions over. It's been agonizing, and I think made even more so because the field I want to pursue a PhD in is pretty much a complete 180 from what I'm doing today and what I have already received a bachelor's in. It's scary making such a big change, but watching this video makes me more certain that this change is a path I want to take. Thanks! Especially for the interviews with professors!
I am in my final year of PhD. I have no regret in saying that I hate it even though I got 3 publications and all of them received very good remarks from the reviewers. It feels weird that even two years ago I considered myself as an academic. But now I am lost and void of motivations.
^^ phd students are the only ones who should be called doctors,those who study medicine are given the title of doctor as an honor if one stops working as a doctor,the title is lost.
It isn’t enough to get you through at the time, but it IS a very cool thing once you’re done. I definitely get a kick out of the conversation you sometimes have: “Miss? Mrs?” ...”Dr, actually.”
The isolation thing is very dependent on what department you're in. For me, there are ~30 PhD students in the department and 10 in my specific office. Never a dull or quiet moment and it would be very difficult for a day to go by without talking to anyone. But if you're one of only 2 or 3 PhD students in the department I can see how different that would be.
Very true. I transferred to a different university for my Ph.D. because there weren't enough Ph.D. students in my field where I was. I feared that it would be too lonely, and I am sure I was right.
Reason I want a PhD is because I wanna change the world and make a company that’ll change lives. I’m not initially going for the pay directly but it should be an implied benefit of the acquisition of great knowledge to put to great use by becoming extremely valuable to the marketplace. That’s my goal. I want to make loads of money just to further spend on research and create things. That’s my passion.
Hey, at least here in Finland doctors get a top hat and sword. My army friend made his phd about extracting lipoprotein. That droped extracting time from hours to minutes. So, phd can make world better place too.
I would add to this list that you must find a supervisor that you really gel with. You don't have to be bestest buddies but you do have to find someone who will be professional about their supervision (which is hard for student and supervisors alike). Either pick a professor that you have worked a lot with through your graduate program, and still you must be aware that the life as a PhD is a lot different from that of a regular student, or make sure to talk to prior PhD students or even faculty to make sure that you are not in for four years of misery. A brilliant student will get by with a rubbish supervisor, and a rubbish student will crash and burn no matter how good the supervisor is, but a rubbish supervisor will absolutely destroy your average person (like most of us are) and a good one will elevate them. Also, be aware of what type of field you are getting yourself into. If you are a computer scientist, a physicist, a chemist, or an expert in medicine, you can get jobs with a PhD that would not be open to you otherwise. If, one the other hand, you want to get a PhD in history or literature you really must be passionate about the subject as there are far far fewer jobs outside of academia for you after you are done. It's amazing that we still have people who are passionate about these areas as well, but there just are fewer jobs and less money to go around. I could talk about other pros and cons but the video covered it quite well. With all of this said -- getting a PhD is the most fun I've ever had. I did not follow any of the advice that I mentioned here but I was fortunate to get a really good supervisor anyway. Also, a PhD will let you focus on your passion as there really is very little administrative work for you compared to your tenured colleagues. If you are passionate, then go for it. Otherwise, go out and get rich in stead.
My one goal, as a kid, was to get PhD. My subscription to this channel was to live that life and, man, that's a lot of work. Thankyou, Simon, for pointing out all pros and cons, and the hardwork that's needed. Haha! I'm still doing it.
I think you don't begin for money but because your are passionated about a topic. Plus, in my field (biology) companies often hire people with a PhD because they have specific skills and are familiar with lab techniques. If you "only" have a master's degree you are stuck because most of the time companies only want senior scientists with a lot of experience. I am going to start a PhD soon and actually I am excited because I will work on a really interesting topic for 4 years which is awesome.
I loved doing my Ph.D. While I was excited to move onto a postdoctoral position afterwards, I don't remember being completely exasperated with it. I appreciate this video completely thought. It was a long several years after my Ph.D. before I found a permanent position. That situation felt more desperate and I had it easier than most. I still have several talented and well qualified colleagues that are looking for position in a thin academic market.
I decided to do PhD during my school and love an academic life. I'm excited to study for long days. I will also do lots of researches after PhD in Geomorphology.
Hey Simon, I really appreciate the honesty! I am an undergrad aspiring to a PhD in the near future, and watching your video has definitely forced me to clarify my own motives for going to grad school. Please keep on making awesome content!
I rejected several PhD offers because I felt like none of them were exactly what I wanted and they were "easy picks". It was hard to reject them, because it felt like i was missing an opportunity, until i found the perfect PhD! I finally accepted one in the UK because I'm absolutely obsessed (in a good way) and passionate about the topic, and I'm starting next week. I'm super excited!!
Best wishes!! It is a fun, stressful, insane ride. :) The best strategy is to find a support group among your peers and a few good mentor among faculty and grad school veterans and you'll be ok.
Marine's Science Café I have a question... when universities offer you a PhD, do they pay for your education? I want to get a PhD in Astronomy, but a bachelors alone is a great amount of money. So, I would be a great debt. Do they help you with financial aid?
They "offer" it to you in UK? You have to apply here in the US. You have to be reviewed and be accepted. I've never heard of a graduate degree being offered. Interesting.
Milton Perez In the UK and other European countries you end your base medical course with the Bachelor of Medicine and the Bachelor of Surgery after six years or so. After that you can either start a PhD or wait two years and then start a MD. You still are fully qualified, even without a doctor.
This is why I almost dropped out last summer. I was a pursuing mathematics/physics, and I wanted to work in my field, and I didn't want to leave my city, and I didnt want to get a PhD. The more I thought about it the harder the reality of the situation hit me that what I wanted was almost impossible. So I decided to change my major and that it would be best to read Physics/Mathematics on my own time.
@@lorax121323 a A "meme" degree. A major called multidisciplinary studies where you choose three minors and that's your "degree". My minors are applied math, physics and Management (so I could graduate faster). I graduate this semester so let's hope I can get lucky and score a decent job. If all else fails there's a masters program in Quantitative Finance that has pretty liberal acceptance requirements.
Hahahahaha NO. Heck no. I have several family members with PhDs, so I am aware of all the sacrifice and hard work it requires. I'll just stick to a Masters and when ever I get an itch for Phd I just watch your blogs to remind me why not to lol. As a side note, I am not a psychology major so maybe one can pich in here...but what does it say of us as an audience, the fact that many of us just get a kick out seen Simon suffer through his PhD? I mean the episodes in which his code wouldn't work were the best lol. Are we in an abusive relationship with Simon? LOL
I wish never invested 4 years in PhD. I could have achieved so much more redirecting my career. I made my bed and completely regret it. Thankfully redirect my career now non academic, in my career with a stable job but still paying off PhD debt.
Congratulations for your Phd. Many students are eager to learn and they look for professors like you! Personally, to feel that I am a part of this life, I will definitely transfer my experience to others through teaching in a university.
I did apply for a Phd, I did get it, it was the most amazing unforgettable incredible experience of my life... who cares about the money you get afterward! And yes, you spend days and days writing, reading, researching by yourself --: WONDERFUL! total freedom!!!! total awesomeness!
I am very passionate about research, always happy doing experiment. I have a phd, BUT I can't find job and don't have money. the world does not deserve us.
100%agreed with him. I am a PhD candidate expected to finish this December 2018 after 4yrs....yes 4yrs of Information and communication engineering... I had toughest time in my life to even sometimes question myself if I made the right move or not. I am in a job hunt since January 2018 and I am from 3rd world country in Africa...nobody want to hire me,they think I am over qualified or will waste time and that I should go to teach to University. Some say I should employ myself but I don't have capital or assets to take loan and didn't make a lot of money during my studies..all stipend spend on bills and living..not enough, yeah I am in Seoul-South Korea. Technically I am so good in networking both wired and wireless and good in web development back and front ends...still no job and broke af! The only thing drive and keep me going is that I have passion for technology and thus the reason I took PhD...80% of time in the last 4yrs I spend alone,writing papers,simulations and chasing professor's deadline and targets. I am completely destroyed and not sure what will happen from January 2019 as I wont be a stundent ,no job and broke !.... #DonttakePhD
This video has the advice that I personally would give to anyone asking about my PhD. You do it only because you love and respect your field. No less no more. A tough phd program will make you the best researcher you can be. Not everyone in business appreciate or understand this skill.
I’m doing a master’s right now and oh man I’m so done I can’t imagine having to do more that this unless I find something I’m truly passionate about. I thought I love what I got into but now i just hate it 😩
My supervisor pretty much left me alone during my PhD. No regular meetings or anything. Hands down it has made me a better scientist. Your experience as a PhD student depends on what kind of person you are. Do you like being told what to do or can you formulate your own ideas? Its been hard but well worth it. Not nearly as hard as you are describing it though.
It seems to be the whole PhD thing needs some serious reform. Honestly speaking, what you described in the video seems to be great impediments from PhD programs to attract the right candidates. How on earth do you attract the best PhD candidate if the working conditions and wages are so damn poor.
@Dex4Sure man you don't know what you are talking about , even me a fan of tech and also really involved in Programming(doing Artificial Intelligence) they are way too many people more smarter than any of those man that you praise (the list is so long that I wouldn't put it) and you're really comparing social political figures to scientist like Einstein , Feyman , Hawking ,Tesla....like wtf ?
@Dex4Sure That's funny cause I'm an entrepeneur myself and admire all the man you cited but you are delusional and have no sense of what you're talking about . I didn't even make a comparisio between Edison and Tesla u made it up on your own , I could have give unpopular name but it would be tagged to domain knowledge reason why I didnt . And the reason of the discussion was your multibillionar are smarter than those overrated scientist , you correlate money to intelligence , when you forget that becoming billionar is a combination of multiple factor and intelligence is a minor factor in it .... I could go on and on but hey what would be the point .... According to your delusional description of intelligence , I guess people like Grigori Perelman, Alexander Grothendieck,Terence Tao, Srinivasa Ramanujan.....wouldn't fit to your definition . I'll advise you to read the book Outliers by Malcom Gladwell(not just the 10.000 rules but the whole thing) , it'll help you realizing that your description of this multibillionar is erroneous.
You did the right thing. At a point, I was mesmerized by your vlogs too! This is the harsh reality and it was indeed important, you made this video. Good job.
Well, this video has actually made me want to get a PHD, but I'm nowhere near able to do that with the way my life looks right now. There are things I can do to keep that passion simmering, while getting ready though. Devoting that level of time while homeschooling young children just isn't an option. Maybe when they are older... I might even have to wait until they are graduated...
TL;DR: There are diminishing returns career wise when doing a PhD vs a masters, and a PhD will be very draining. The only valid reasons for doing a PhD are passion for knowledge/research and wanting to advance human knowledge in your field of research, which kind of the into each other. You shouldn't do a PhD because someone told your so or because you think it's a smart career move (it isn't, except for certain jobs, so look into what those jobs might be before deciding on doing a PhD).
Getting an PhD means you manage to achieve your own personal choices rather than please those who influence you. And then you are a scientist! For life rather than a qualified worker or so called nicely a graduate.
Getting my Ph.D. almost killed me but I would not trade one moment of sweat, tears, and sacrifice. Struggle makes you appreciate your life and what you have achieved.
Dr. Simon. I followed your PhD vlog journey and you are really amazing. I dont know how you did a PhD with a full schedule of other things you do. Much respect. I also had panic attacks during my PhD. I am very close to submitting btw,in Food Chemistry
I have two comments on his: - First : I think its all about being a hardworking person. A guy with a great passion in heart but with a little will to work will always fail to get even a school degree. If you are a hard working person and you are able to walk that extra mile or push even harder you will always get PHD, Masters or whatever you want, it is just all about your will to survive. - Second: I read some piece about graduate studies and how it will be important in the future. Basically there are more people to graduate from universities with BSc degree than ever. So getting a Masters or even a Phd will definitely give you more chances to be employed.
This was on the spot. My job mostly requires a master, and promotions come every 3-5 years. Ph.D. is for specialist positions but none of those are really available. I can make just as much with a masters degree and some extra years of experience that I would with a Ph.D. I was discussing with my coworkers about a Ph.D. after finishing my masters. One of them asked, "what do you want to be an expert in?" That summed it up for me, it was about passion and what you want to be known for, even just a little. I will pursue a Ph.D. after my masters and after a break in-between. Part of the reason is I'm fortunate to have a job that helps pay for my education, but I'm also passionate about a topic I enjoy and want to be considered an expert in. But there is a misconception about getting a Ph.D. Alot of times, a masters is good enough if interested in a comfortable life.
I think one of the best parts of how PhDs work here (at least in my department at my university) is that everyone is assigned to a two person office. None of this 'days and days without barely talking to anyone' stuff. You have to basically *try* to be lonely doing a PhD here.
I want to generate new knowledge in my field, at the beginning as an MD and an MSc in Oncology I thought that was enough, unfortunately to get more funds for my research projects I need a PhD because there is not support in my country. I am looking for a PhD to reach my ultimate goal that is developing studies that can prevent and reduce cancer burden in LMIC like mine, I know it will require a lot of effort, but after a year of work and improving my CV I can say... I aspire more than ever to continue doing research 😊
What I don't get is why can't all research materials be legally open source. sci-hub is doing an amazing job at it. Information being readily available at hand would possibly give a lot more comfort to people willing to venture into that line.
Nymphfy but most of the money behind scientific publishing and paywalls goes to the editorials and not to the researchers themselves! I wonder, would crowdfunded scientific research be an alternative for many?
Crowd funding research and finding sponsorship is definitely a good idea. Researchers themselves usually get funded by universities and companies, it's the publishing houses that earn most of the money while giving our researchers a very small royalty. I'm all for open source myself and I hope that we are able to make knowledge/information more accessible
I'm a PhD student right now in my first year, and honestly the prospect that I'd be able to work on an area I'm passionate about and _not_ have to worry about Coursework + TA + RA (for a project that I'm not really passionate or remotely enthusiastic about but my study group needs done), sounds like heaven. I guess I'll need to get through the first 2 years to say whether I truly love it or not
Just found your channel, love it. I have just turned 54 and I am in my final BA(hons) year in education and professional development. I enrolled after doing my CERT ed. My academic career started as a result of quite serious mental health problems. My goal is a PHD or eDe. I will achieve it one day, not because of financial gain or to change my passport and bank details (although that would be a day to remember) but because I want to do it. If only I had started sooner... My advice to anyone, stay in education for as long as it allows, and then come back to it when ever you can. Thanks for the videos.
Great points. Most people do not understand getting Ph.D.'s, especially in nursing. When my brother learned I was getting a Ph.D. in nursing he responded, "Well, you're gonna make more money then, right?" Another person said, "Well, you'll be almost like a real 'doctor' then, right?" I already teach and the Ph.D. will provide higher rank, a higher salary, more opportunities to do research (funded by my employer), not to mention opportunities to collaborate with other like-minded nurse researchers (it's a party when everyone is a researcher who shares their passion of nursing and learning). I don't "want" to be a doctor (physician), I want to be a nurse scientist who asks and explores questions that nobody has dared to ask or tried to study. One can tell if they're in the right program by the excitement they feel in describing their work. I get excited about telling people about it all the time. Perpetual students and nerds "get it," everyone else...not so much. Don't be discouraged. BTW, "rarely" does anyone do one in 3 years. Mine is 4 (and kind of a requirement of the program, which is paid for in full, "plus" I get a stipend--I'm incredibly lucky). Many folks take 5, 6, 7 years to complete their work. It's not a quick degree, but I think it's worth it. Graduation in a little over a year...
I don't know man, sometimes you do a PhD without any expectations. In my particular case, I started my PhD cuz it looked as the next logical step. Has it been hard? Well, I separate it in two phases, pre-candidacy and post-candidacy. At pre, it is, cuz you have the pressure of passing your comprehensive and qualifier exams; I am PhD Candidate in Chemical Physics. At one point I stop giving a F at studying for the exams cuz it was too much (I was doing all the previous exercises in the corresponding topics) and decided just to face the exams with my "basic" knowledge. I passed on the first round. Post-candidacy, it has been more relax for me, but I am American and I am under the impression labs run a little bit differently here than in Europe. I am working in Energy Harvesting as the main topic, nanotechnology and material science as a subtopic to that and I gotta tell you, it is kind of hard getting results but it is fun. I have the liberty to idealize my experiments and then discuss them with my mentors and they give me direction as suggestions. I know, cuz I have a MS in Material Science and Engineering from a University in Asia, that not all mentors are this way and some basically tell you what to do instead of letting you figure it out with some direction to make it easier but fun for you, but I feel that the latter is the difference as I feel I am using my creativity and drive for knowledge instead of just following orders. I don't know, maybe I deviated from the subject. But!! Take away, I didn't know this was hard, I don't feel it is super hard, it is just demanding as anything in life, cuz success in any area isn't free. It is a constant learning curve and your mentor-student relationship plays a HUGE factor (I cannot stress enough about it). Cheers Dr. Bro!
Just got rejected from all of my applications for the second year in a row. Really started questioning my decision to pursue it, and this is a good, realistic look at what I'd be putting myself through. I'm not entirely ready to give up yet, but I do want to take a break. Thanks for the video.
Lorenzo Panetta The standard response was "we had a lot of strong applicants and not enough positions." But I got the impression that a lot of the reason was a lack of experience.
Emily M I got a lot of that too. Luckily I got into a PhD program recently and will be starting next month. I'm already a medical doctor so I'm not doing it for the title.
I am asking these same question while arriving close to the end of the Phd. Am I passionate enough about science to go through all the changing post-doc positions and insane amount of work? Still trying to figure that out. Thanks for the great video, a lot of people out there will surely appreciate it
Normally if you pursue a career in academia, because of the fierce competition and expectations, you have to be prepared to dedicate 99% of your life to work and travelling to a new country every other two years or so. I think to truly be successful in a career like that one really needs to be extremely passionate about one´s research, otherwise you might be sacrificing other important parts of your life for something you are just meh about. Working in academia can be extremely rewarding if you are extremely passionate about it, but it is true that it is not for everyone. I hope i answered your question =)
It's normal for you to have these feelings at the end of your phd. After all our inner self is always telling us not to do stuff because it's looking for rest and peace of mind. Fortunately, there is a way around it. Nowadays we are blessed with youtube and the internet. I found that looking at scientific videos on the internet helped me develop interest in multiple fields. Try on your free time to watch videos/ read articles on reddit related to your field. Then once you find something that interests you you can go read research papers on the topic and learn more. I wish you all luck
This is incredibly insightful - thank you for making this. I'm currently a second year master student and have considered going on to PhD - but I think I'm going to spend a few years developing my career and finding something specific that I'm truly passionate about before moving forward academically.
"spend a few years developing my career and finding something specific that I'm truly passionate about before moving forward academically" Literally what I am thinking of doing now! How did that go? I have heard many people tell me that if I go into industry for a while, I will probably not come back for a PhD. I don't know if they're right but what do you think in your experience?
@@yoshikagekira7600 I missed Luis' comment, so I'm glad you made my notification pop up! I am working in the industry that I thought that I would enjoy most and thankfully discovered I was right about it! I have spent the last ~2 years pursuing one aspect of my field, but have realized that I think I want to lean more into another path and am currently trying to secure my first project. I definitely do still want to pursue a PhD, but I think it will be a little later on in my career. I'm still learning about myself and my interests, it's definitely a process!
Hi! thanks for the video, it was amazing!! I want to apply for a PhD because this could help me to reach my personal goals and life purpose. If i don't apply, I'd still have a good job, money and so on, but i don´t care about that at all. And yea, you are completely right, i have an English teacher (i'm learning English) who is doing a PhD in Nursing, and he has told me the same that you shared in this video. He added that he has learned a lot from his experience through the process rather than from supervisors. I can't deny that i feel a little scared about such a huge challenge to undertake, but if i don't do it, i know i'm going to regret it later in my life. I prefer to make an attempt to apply and fail instead of not attempting it at all. Best wishes and good luck with your studies!!
Something which didn't come across terribly clearly:
People do end up getting money and prestige and power with PhDs, but the point I'm making in this video is that people who make it through PhDs are the people who didn't apply to get those things. They applied for the thing they would be doing during the PhD. Also I don't mean to romanticise what it's like to do a PhD or be a researcher. As I tried to impress at the start, doing a PhD is a colossal grind, and passion alone isn't enough. You need to have grit and determination, and a romantic notion of passion overcoming all is unrealistic. So perhaps a more realistic conclusion for this video is apply if you are passionate AND you are ready to do a whole lot of hard work. More depressing still, yay!
Vincent Pinto correlation or causation? We cannot know
It's also to be noted that you could decide not to devote your time when you're younger to a PhD but later (when you're not as physically active or say when you're retired but still have that passion) when you have enough free time, you can decide to just go and research for the betterment of science
You're right with what you've said. There's another important topic that is worth mentioning which is about one's GPA.. In some universities, studying a simple course (mostly just memorizing it) would get you high grades, but that doesn't mean that one could have done some research on it or could understand the underlying concept.. The problem isn't only here, its when the student that cares to understand more than to bring high grades would have then less opportunities to be accepted in a respected university if he was applying to a higher degree. SO universities in general should not depend a lot on GPA as a reference to accept students.
Kind of ironic how your pursuit of a PhD gave you opportunities and information to talk about which is what gave popularity and interest in your TH-cam channel about science broadcasting, and now you are telling us not to do it. There is another TH-camr who worked as an engineer for one year, started his TH-cam channel about engineering disciplines and now he advises people to not go into engineering for social reasons. So I feel like this is kind of the same thing.
I want to watch pathogens slowly die at my own hands using my own biochemical methods, not doing monotonous stuff according to company policy. Plus, in academia, I'm surrounded by many wonderful people. If I just work a normal job, I have no friends, and have no intentions of staying anywhere. I have no lover I want to mortgage a house with.
This seems like a self fulfilling prophecy really. 8 hours a day, basically a normal working day, is probably enough to complete a PhD in STEM. People also tend to get drawn into "working hard" rather than "working smart" so they end up doing another 4 hours work a day. You could even write your thesis at the beach :)
To anyone reading:
Don't base a major life decision off this or any other youtube video...
Why?
@@csb0bro cuz it's an opinion
But it is a waste of money. If you have no plans on being an academic don't do it.
Expect ones that make Sense!
@@AmazingStoryDewd If you're paying for a PhD you're doing it wrong. Even if you're paying for a master's you're doing it wrong. You should be making enough money from your stipend to pay for tuition, living expenses, and have a little left over to treat yourself. You'll make far less money than you would have if you went into industry, but you'll be net positive.
If you want to do research (even in government or industry) you need a minimum of a master's. A PhD will get you better pay and more clout as a researcher and it will (in theory) let you rise through the ranks faster to run your own lab or research team.
I just want a PhD so all my appointments are Doctor's appointments.
That's the best thing I've ever heard 😂😂😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂💀 good LAWD🤣😂🤣😂
This is the one ☝🏻 this is the comment of the year
Haha
I know I just want a PhD to brag that I have a PhD. Also so I can correct everyone that calls me Mr in a very condescending tone.
Already have a poor social life, I was meant for a phd lol.
Chishimba Mukunta lmao
Same
Lol seriously? I thought the opposite, having a poor social life means I should spend time working on that, which is important for personal wellbeing.
LOL
Who needs a social life when you have books..
As a current PhD student, I’m happy I’m obtaining my doctorate degree. Is it challenging? At times did I want to give up? Absolutely! However, it has taught me profound and valuable information and knowledge in regards to infectious diseases in Epidemiology. I am graduating summer 2020 and everything I’ve worked for, is well worth it for me! 💕🙌🏾🤗👩🏾🎓👩🏾🔬🥂🍾
Hello, I am interested in epidemiology as well, but could you share what was your major back in college so you had the requirements of doing a PhD
It's been a while, do you still feel the same?
I’m aiming for a Phd in Epidemiology but currently working on my Masters!
Best wishes to you! I would like to study Epidemiology also, but I'm about to start a Master's in Medical Lab Science for now.
Best of luck in life!
Couple remarks regarding what happens AFTER a PhD for those who want to go into academia. I have a tenure track assistant professor position at a mid sized university. And just to further press the: “know what you’re getting into”, here are a few more remarks:
1.A professor position is almost no different from a PhD: In fact, it’s the same thing, except substitute classes with university service. So no more 3 hour grad classes, but instead gear up for faculty senate meetings! It’s the same job, but with more pay.
2. It’s a lonely job, but it’s also a flexible one: with some exceptions, I don’t have to work any 9-5. I can work from 6-2, take a 5 hour break and work 7-11, or don’t! It’s by no means a cushy job, but it is flexible
3. The travel perks: and there are some great ones, like paid travel. I have conferences in Seattle, Salt Lake City, Boston, Toronto, and Switzerland. I have to pay for some, but my department covers a lot of it too. If you can balance work and play well, you can go to a conference for 3 days and then explore the city at night and take a day away from the conference (again, your schedule).
4. If you are passionate about it, 12 hour days are largely no issue: write about cool stuff, talk to students that find interest in what you do and want to expand their minds, helping a community/school/discipline are all what I get to do, and I love it. When you find success in these things, and you start improving on the process, even some of the more tedious activities become second nature to actually pretty fun
5. Money: in theory, you won’t make a lot of money at base salary level. But if you’re in academia, they’re basically paying you for 9 months salary. That said, if you’re creative, there are other ways to make money during the summer. Summer teaching helped me earn an extra 10k on top of my base salary. And then there’s the real money of academia: consulting. You can develop your own consultation firm for your unique specialty, and this is where an underpaid professor can actually make some serious money. It’s a ton of extra work, but if you’re creative, you can do it.
6. Benefits: not going to be a long section, but the benefits as a professor (at least in my experience) have been pretty solid. State schools can offer many programs regarding things like retirement and health. My 401k has already accrued a significant amount, and the university contributes to the fund. While far from cushy, it is typically a nice system.
The PhD is a grueling process, but it’s hardly the end of the journey. Work often, play often, and always persist. The key to finishing your PhD or tenure or anything is to outlast your advisors and continue pressing. I don’t consider myself to be incredibly smart, but I am unreasonably persistent, which is how I think I earned my degree. I wouldn’t want to do it again, but everyday, I am thankful and grateful that i did.
I am about to begin a PhD this year in global health, incredibly excited but screenshotting this comment to save for when times get tough, thank you!
Thank you for the insightful comments!
Thank you Sir!
This is all wrong. You are encouraging the bastards, not scaring them away. Please do a rewrite as there are far too many who will succeed in getting a PhD and even more who will attempt and fail.
Note: this largely applies to the US only. While similar, the situation in the U.K. is quite different.
Idk why I'm watching this, I failed secondary school
Get A. *Degree*
hhhh still you can make it
😂😂😂
Gold 😂👍
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂
I completed my Ph.D. in 2017. It was the most rewarding experience of my life. Yes, it was challenging; however, it was worth all of the effort.
How much worth it?
@@fakhrulzainal5384 🤣🤣🤣🤣
My Ph.D. allows me to work from home online. It also allows me to teach graduate students helping them to pursue their educational dreams, which is so satisfying.
@@fakhrulzainal5384 Worth jobless lol
What did u get as a job for it? And can u work for a job that requires master's ?
Im doing my Ph.D. for the love of Physics. Not for money, not for prestige, not for anything except my love for Condensed Matter. People who do Ph.D. for reasons beyond love will always burn out and regret.
TheGamingg33k I honestly couldn't agree more...
TheGamingg33k agreed
Incorrect. Next please.
But condensed matter is so marketable. What about string theory, quantum gravity and elementary particles?
TheGamingg33k apply quantum mechanics and you need no school or
their tools. Matter doesn't matter, only energy is!
Learning something new, doing research in a subject you love is a great thing to do. Enjoy what you study .. enjoy doing PHD.. enjoy doing anything makes you happy and a life. Prove for yourself that you can succeed in doing what you love to do. PhD is a step to the glory. You might save millions with the information you have. People who are higher than us in education, we can learn from them.
People who are like us in education, we can have them as friends. People who are below us in education, we can teach them.
I am 64 years old, and I feel very young, I finished my MBA from Maastricht University in Holland four years ago. The program was two years, 18 different business subjects, and the thesis was 6 months.
Now I am planning to study PhD in Europe or Australia.
All, enjoy life .. go for PhD selecting a subject you love ..
learn something new.. life is short.
Aslan.
aslan almatrouk amazing!
Best comment.Thanks for the spirit
My dad did a PhD, cons? He got married at 36 and had me at 38, me being the eldest child 🤷 as to me, I'm not interested in marrying, so I'm gonna do PhD anyway 🤷
What's the cons? My father probably didn't pass high school, married at 30 (maybe?) but had me at 45, I'm the youngest child and am majoring in chemistry, hoping for a PhD in another country cause we don't get financial aid here
I am forever thankful I got refused from all the PhDs I applied for. Ended up picking the shortest Master's possible, and left before the research semester when I got offered the job in Malaysia. Managed to finish the thesis while working. University is about learning to learn and getting a piece of paper, most of the skills you learn are on the job. I am not cut out for a PhD
Real Engineering I can't agree more
Though it was a bit unexpected to find you in here, big fan
Good Day.
Real Engineering Dude you in Malaysia? No waaayyyy!!!
Shortest master possible? What master do you take and how much is the duration of the study
Im not OP. But I had seen few course that can combine Bachelors Degree with Master.
Some jobs require you to have master though. I just look some Master program and some of it have one year duration so I think its not really that bad at all to have master(at least if you are still young and single). I probally go for master if I have good gpa from degree.
However, I cant deny that more exp>>>master.
To anyone who wants a PhD with the goal of teaching full-time at a university, publish! You need a lot of publications to have a higher chance of obtaining a teaching position at universities, because these show what you would be able to teach at universities. Those with tons of publications under their belt may even be offered a tenured-track position right before they defend their dissertation. Don't even wait until you're in a PhD program to publish, publish whenever you have the chance, even if you're only the co-author. The university that I work at always looks at publications on a CV first before reviewing anything else when hiring faculty.
Not sure if I agree about the reason for publishing. From what I've heard universities aren't interested in your teaching ability (you do need to be able to do that of course), but more in your ability to publish and get grants, the latter two are closely linked and form a virtuous cycle; teaching ability isn't going to get you citations, publications in journals of high impact etc.
Teaching ability doesn’t matter. Pubs, and only in Scopus listed journals. PhD should be from a university ranked in top 300 in the world, preferably from US, UK or Australia and in that order. That’s what search committees look for... and, of course, if you’re a white guy then you need even higher qualifications to have a chance.
@@lollo7417 It's possible but the problem is that there is always luck involved with publications. I just finished my Bachelors degree in chemistry and I was lucky to get results which the Prof. is planning to publish. It will only be a small 2 page revision and my supervisor will do some more polishing before it can be published but I'll at least be a co-author. If I have some spare time I might even write part of the publication myself.
If your goal is to get a job teaching at a university, don’t bother getting a PhD. You will never get a return on your investment. The best Universities look for people with real world accomplishments, they don’t care about what you have published. They hire former CEO’s to teach business classes, former doctor’s to teach science class, etc. Furthermore, without any real world experience, what could you possibly publish of interest to people with it? No person, who has done their time working, respects someone who just went to school their whole lives. Experience far outweighs research.
@@lollo7417 Do you mean publish something as a main author? I don't know about that but co-author really shouldn't be dependant on your academic level. Anyone who contributes to a publication deserves to be an author.
It's my only ticket out of Africa so I'm damn well applying for one regardless
I'm sure it's not the "only" option
@@alieser7770 A lot of us who live in underdeveloped countries view higher education as the pursuit for a better life. For instance: my country's currency lost 50% of its value just this month, 90% the last couple of years, being an outstanding student at university gives you the chance to earn a scholarship in a developed country or get into an interchange program, that later will give you the opportunity to leave and build a career in better terms that most.
@@RocaSeba education doesn't necisarrily mean phd.
Because the question even is, will you even be able to apply a phd in one of those first world countries with your degree of your country. Because degrees aren't equal. Yes as someone from within the EU, i know my degree will pretty much be accepted in the US.
do it. My dad got a PhD because it was his only ticket out of Indonesia. He's very lucky that having a PhD in a developing country helped him become wealthy. Do it, at the end of the day you'll become more useful than wealthy
Eu sucks
I remember watching this when I was in my honours year being like, "I'm sure it's not that bad." I am now months out of finishing my own PhD and I must admit that I stand corrected.
Congratulations😊
I was more passionate about science before my PhD.
🤣
PhD years were the worst years of my life for my mental health. Before doing it just make sure you want to commit.
It looks like everyone is getting a PhD in the comment section.
Because they are not stupid.
taking my first class in june. whoo hoo PhD
Doing my PhD some 20 years back was the best part of my academic life.
You enjoyed so much????????
I have been recommended this video just after I passed my Ph.D. viva today (Physics). XD
Actually, for me, it was 4 years of interesting people and 2 years of free travelling to conferences ("thanks" COVID) and Ph.D. itself felt like a part-time job. I was able to do several industry contracts parallel to the Ph.D. (so I earned well), got married in my second year, and got a dream-come-true job in the industry now.
Another crucial point for me is that the Ph.D. allowed me to move from Russia to the UK with relative ease and remain in this great country.
All I want to say here to someone who for some reason will see my comment, there are so much more opportunities in Ph.D. than just interesting topics. You can really have a time of your life during that, just don't miss the opportunities.
Thanks. How do I connect to you for more advise
Can i move to Russia from Italy? I hate the West
Кандидатская не сделала из тебя умного человека. Посмотрим, как тебе понравится страна, в особенности когда ты станешь отцом или эффект туриста пройдёт. Завоешь волком и вернёшься домой.
In my opinion, being someone who’s obtained a masters degree and who’s considered a PhD, if you’re not 100% passionate about a PhD then DO NOT DO IT. If you’re still considering it despite building up some artificial passion for the subject then take a step back and seriously question what you want from life. Having a brother who’s just completed one, this is a lesson I have also heard from him. PhDs are extremely specific bodies of work and deserve someone who is 100% focused on that niche subject, if that’s you then great, go for it! If it’s not, then do not do it! I’d rather be someone who is free from academia with potentially more money in my pocket and open to different opportunities at any time, than be stuck on a 4 year rollercoaster that I don’t want to be on and can’t get off whilst I’m watching the world go by and feeling like an imposter. All this can be solved if you listen to your heart and what you really want to do, it could be a PhD but if you’re not absolutely sure then it’s likely you’re making a terrible decision.
Thank you
It's good to do a balanced video. To give even more perspective, I hate to be the exception, but I enjoyed the years working on my Ph.D. and was not desperate to be done with it. I did socialize quite a bit while doing my Ph.D. and made a rule (partly forced because I did not have reliable internet at home) to leave work behind at the office. I went home late every night, but when I got home, I focused my time on my family. I believe that kept me sane and helped preserve my marriage.
I agree that going into a Ph.D. for any other reason than you have a strong passion that you want to pursue is a big mistake. I will point out, however, that even though a Ph.D. does not lead to a posh lifestyle (there are much better ways to make money), there are non-monetary benefits to it. Those become more apparent further along in a career.
This is probably more true for the technical fields (humanities have a hard life), but Ph.D's often end up in positions where they can continue to pursue their passion. Perhaps not 100% of their time as in graduate school, but even having 10 to 20% of work hours to freely spend on whatever one wants to study is a great perk. Having a flexible schedule is something else I absolutely love. I have a say in the class schedule I teach, and I can do most of my work from home (my research is computational).
Even outside of their research role, Ph.D.'s often have a lot of freedom in what projects to pick and pursue. Being at higher level jobs, we get to shape our organizations. Of course one can have those perks by opening one's own business, but the same way a Ph.D. is not for everyone, running a business isn't either. As one physics professor I knew explained, his family was from a very humble background and he did not have the means to start a business. So he went for a Ph.D., because he wanted to be his own boss. By and large, Ph.D.'s get to be their own boss.
Another perk is job security. For me, that was important, as I am risk averse. I abbreviated my nomadic years as a postdoc and went into a less research intensive university position because I could quite literally not stomach not knowing where my salary would come from the following year, or where I would be. Past the uncertain, nomadic years of the postdoc, there are university or government lab positions that pay decently well and provide a good retirement (though that's going away now, as it has in the private sector - I am talking about the US).
Also, let's not forget the training one acquires as a Ph.D. Even if, as mentioned in the video, employers may not see the value of Ph.D.'s it does make one's life easier. A Ph.D. can read complicated information and get the gist quickly and communicate effectively. We have our technical skills or can pick up new ones as needed easily. That's helpful in all aspects of life.
Finally, I never perceived doing a Ph.D. as a lonely endeavor. It wasn't during my Ph.D., and even less afterwards. For me, being surrounded by really smart people is another thing I enjoy about having gotten to where I am today. I never lost my passion for learning and I learn a lot everyday simply from the rich, interesting, and sometimes quirky interactions I have with colleagues.
Sufficient stipend or funding can sustain a phd
As a student recently beginning a PhD program, this was a very helpful read; thanks so much for taking the time to type this up.
Agnes Kim
Wow so happy for you.......
Agnes Kim
What exactly do you mean when you say that PhDs get to "be their own boss"? This man with a PhD was unable to start a business but he still got to "be his own boss". What does this mean? What was his job, in the end? I know you want to be respectful, referring to his lack of funds as "humble" but I think, if it leads to obscuring the needed clarity for comprehension then it's gone too far.
@@lemonprime7889 I assume that refers to the flexibility and lack of top down direction. Maybe the gentleman in question became principal investigator and runs his own projects now. However, if he's old then he may have been working during the academic glory days. From what I've heard things are quite different now, there's huge pressure to publish as much as possible in the most prestigious journals and get as much grant money as possible. I hear it's pretty stressful and not much fun.
I'm a few months from defending my PhD in Computer Engineering with specialization in machine learning that is focused on industry, post-graduation, rather than academia, so I'll mostly be speaking from that specific perspective; but I think there's one aspect of my whole experience (including the 3 years I did my Masters as well) that I absolutely loved that I think doesn't gets mentioned enough: it's an opportunity to get an overwhelming amount of exposure to a wide variety of topics that you may not have known about before. When I finished my Bachelors, and even during my Masters program, I suffered from the "commitment is scary" mentality, in that I was always worried about whether or not I would be happy doing what I was doing for a prolonged period of time, e.g. potentially the rest of my life. Even though I knew I wanted to do "machine learning in general", doing my Masters and PhD exposed me to the absolute avalanche of information and sub-research topics within the realm of machine learning, a lot of which I'm 100% sure I would never have encountered at all if I'd gone straight to industry out of Bachelors/Masters, that I was able to really focus in on the topics I loved, and really become a "specialist" in areas that I specifically know are right for me and that I would be MORE than happy to work in for the rest of my life. Knowing that I explored some of the furthest reaches of research in my area ultimately gave me way more confidence in my choice of specialization with regards to if I was truly happy with it or not, not to mention that exposure helped me develop as a researcher and engineer in ways that might not have happened without the PhD grind pushing me to actually do it.
how did it go plz tell me
As a current PhD student who will graduate in a few months, I wanted to share some ideas, the pros and cons of a PhD:
Pros:
- You can dedicate several years of your time in a topic that you like/are passionate about
- You can develop new theories or new applications and share your discoveries in international conferences
- At these conferences, you can network with (very clever) people working on the same topic and potentially start new collaborations.
- Depending on the country, you can have a good salary while doing your PhD
- If you like to teach and share your knowledge, that is a big plus as you have the opportunity to supervise students and give exercise sessions.
Cons:
- You need to work hard to get good results in general. Either you are passionate and you will work with pleasure, or it will be a burden after a while and you will/may quit.
- Very important to get a good supervisor. I have the chance to have a wonderful supervisor. I know some PhD students who had bad relations with their supervisors. All of them quitted the PhD after one or two years.
- If you are interested in money and business, this is probably not the best way to go (depends on the field of course). You should always compare three or four years of research versus three of four years in the business industry.
For the moment, I wish to continue in academia for two main reasons:
1. I like to teach and share my knowledge. This is very important if you want to stay in academia as it is a big part of the job.
2. I like intellectual challenges. I want to avoid a 9AM-5PM job where I do repeating tasks. By definition of research, you are always proposing something new.
" you can network with (very clever) people working on the same topic "
Lets hope those very clever people know how to use brackets (it's important).
I’m 15 and this helped me so much.... thank you!
@@bush696 I smell some big insecurities right there..
The definition is good...only the definition.
As a PhD student I pretty much agree to all of your points
I wasted my precious time and my mental health enrolling in a PhD program. I did it because I was promised a long-term teaching position and not having to pay the student loans I was granted during the postgrad career (including what I spent doing my master's). I DO love learning, I self-teach on various subjects, I love helping and seeing others learn as well, but I just couldn't stand deadlines and doing the numbers. Fuck them, I'm still in debt but at least I'm out of Academia. It's not really about learning for learning's sake but earning points, churning out research papers, to climb up the ladder. It's the opposite of making people want to learn and discover.
“Unfortunately”, I just accepted a position for my PhD. 😊
I’m getting a PhD, because I love to teach people about the human body and I enjoyed my Masters.
Physionic Congratulations!!!
Hello darkness my old friend
ajith xxx Thank you! I’m certainly excited. :)
It suprises people. Its the highest qualification you can recieve. Theres alot good about a PhD aswell.
Truide No doubt!
I am waiting to graduate from my PhD this year, and I agree with every single word in the video. Note that a PhD can take longer than expected because you can't predict what will happen along the way. Sadly, a lot of my students wanted to do a PhD just because it sounds cool when someone calls you a "Dr".
Facts
Dr Jonas I think the most important part of getting a phd should be your education. You’ll be expanding your horizons while getting a phd learning and earning grades to get a dr title. You should get a phd if you want to learn more on your passion not just for a doctor title. There is med school if you want to get a dr title without a phd
Most people won't call you doctor anyway. If you teach at a university, students will usually call you professor. Your colleagues (if you are close) will call you by your first name. Outside of the university, people will think you are a snob if you insist people address you as "Doctor." Even medical doctors don't insist on their title being used outside of work.
@@23magneta I'm sorry that you are misguided. "Doctor" means "to teach". Physician use the word "doctor" before their name to show their profession rather than their title. The same way people call Gordon Ramsay as Chef Ramsay, for example. Also, a professor is the highest rank as academic. Doesn't mean if you are a lecturer, you are automatically a professor. A junior lecturer can have a PhD. Typically, A junior lecturer becomes senior lecturer, then associate professor. You don't call an associate professor as a professor.
Agreed!
I'm about 3 months away from final submission. I can agree that I just want it 'over with' at this point. Even though I'm doing a topic I am very interested in, I'm eager to do something else in my life other than just study.
My best advice for new PhD students: get a good supervisor. It makes your life so much easier when you know someone's got your back.
Keep going! I remember that particular stage vividly - it sucks!
Thank you for the sharing. Congratulation on your coming close to get your PhD degree! It has long been heard that having a good supervisor can be a savior of the PhD journey. I don't understand what a good supervisor means to PhD till I'm now doing my PhD. I have a supervisor who is always patient and supportive to me, no matter how clumsy and stubborn I am. I'm grateful for his support and I really like his teaching and research style: he is the professor whom I admire the most. While it's true that doing PhD can make me sacrifice a lot of time which should have been spent with my family, I really enjoy learning something and making progress day by day and step by step. This is the very reason why I do my PhD.
why am i watching this when i’m not even aiming for a Masters degree
Something I was told years ago (well before I even considered doing a PhD, actually) was that no matter how motivated you are at the start, or how good you are academically, there will be a point in your PhD where you seriously consider quitting.
I'm right at the end of my PhD journey and the main thing I'd say to people thinking about it is to look at the most difficult part of your undergraduate degree. That part where you were struggling to keep your head above water because you've got so much coursework on top of your dissertation so you're working stupid hours and think you'll have no time to revise for exams (in my case)? You'll look back on that time fondly because it was only a few weeks of your life with a clear end point and you were with other people on your course in a very similar situation. Doing a PhD is incredibly lonely because even people in the same research group as you with the same supervisor are not having the same struggles as you.
I'm right at the end of my PhD, but looking back, I would have a much better career if I'd finished my undergraduate degree, not done a masters, not taken a year out to find a PhD and then spent five years doing the PhD (it'll be five years this October and I hope to submit my corrections in about October/November). In 2013, I could have gone out into the world with a degree in physics from a great university and be about to go into my eighth year of that career, rather than still trying to get my thesis into the right shape and then think about what on earth I want to do for the next forty years (in my case, changing my field has made things more confusing rather than adding options/skills to my CV).
@Anurag Chakraborty You r not alone!
I share the same position, a PhD if u are not planning to enter academia, is really worthless, all the blood and sleepless nights to be the last one to be recruited, I would have love if I added 5 years to my work experience or started my own project.. For all the students I hope u think this decision through, at the time I didn't ask much about it
@Anurag Chakraborty same here been trying to get a job for 6 months now, and it's really hopeless, last job offer me 500 dollars for an 8 to 5 job, cause I lack experience and my supervisor for that job has an undergraduate degree with 20 years experience!! I didn't say yes yet, but I feel so hopeless at this point
Woow, thanks for sharing
@@CoriolanusSnow-nk1tx Thank you for the reply. So to give an update: it took me a further ~three years to fully finish my PhD. I really did not have a good time in that period.
Right now I'm working at a different university supporting maths/statistics skills so I am actually doing something I enjoy and value. I don't particularly like statistics that much, but seeing that **click** on students' faces when they finally understand something is really worthwhile. My motivation comes from helping people and being valued by my team.
To late , started in February
haha me too !!
Best of luck.
Carlos Bornes 🤣
Carlos Bornes
Lol,,, Congratulations
Sarah Ne Congratulations!!!
I have my MBA and teach as an adjunct at a small private university. I absolutely love the work and would like to transition into a full-time position, but the reality I've learned over the years as an adjunct is that universities completely ignore you for full-time employment unless you have a PhD. Yes, there are exceptions, but this is what I've seen. I work hard for the students and to represent the university well. I dress professionally every day, am always on time, never cancel classes, use the full class period, hold office hours, meet with students, get good evaluations, and am involved in other events when I have time, such as working with high school students on campus during the summer and helping with graduation ceremonies. I've never turned down an offer when my department needed me to pick up a class or learn new things. I've been an adjunct here for six years now and have put my time in. I've expressed my interests and made them clear. What I've learned is that none of this apparently matters - merit doesn't matter. Meanwhile, there are full-time professors who DON'T do the things I just listed, yet they have full-time employment. It's really bizarre.
Adjuncts like myself carry the majority of the teaching load on our campus (I believe it's 55-60% of instruction) since the university can't survive without adjuncts (lower costs). They play a key role in student retention and success, which ultimately drives enrollment. Adjuncts get paid pitiful wages and are often not a concern of the university when it comes to a list of things. This "slave labor" is the dark underbelly of post-secondary education and is one reason our education system continues to become a dinosaur. It should be noted that our university has administrative bloat, too. A lot of money that could be going towards adjuncts is being wasted on poor administration and instruction. Problem is, there are established groups on campus who have vested interests in protecting their jobs and their money, and they're the ones making the decisions. It's like Congress in a way.
The reason I'm making this post is because the pursuit of a PhD isn't just based on passion and interest in the subject matter. It's based on the reality of simply applying for a job. Without a PhD universities will ignore you. That's the reality of the situation. So if you're passionate about making a career in higher education, either with teaching or research, you should seriously consider getting a PhD as early/young as you can. I highly recommend transitioning into a PhD right after you complete your Masters degree.
Fingolfin3423 Hi, thank you for your post, I have been wondering about adjunct teaching so that I can also see patients. Can I ask what field, and if you're OK disclosing, what university?
Administrative bloat is too real. Just wanted to let you know our respectable university has a micro-aggressions office. It's pure insanity.
I feel for you sir. I saw how my university pays and treats adjuncts while wasting their money on stupid speakers lecturing for a day. I saw some of my favorite professors leave the college and it's disgraceful how it all works.
Your concerns seems like a great dissertation topic maybe you should explore a Ph.D program.
@@joedoe4595 Is it really a micro-aggressions office? Or is it something with a broader remit to look after students and make sure they're comfortable on campus? They are one and the same thing but poles apart depending on how you phrase it.
I wanted to do a PhD because of my passion for learning and how much I value education. While working on my master's degree at Exeter, I reconsidered my plan because it turned out I didn't need a PhD to do all the things I wanted to do, including research. This let me pursue other opportunities but more importantly, start a family.
Edit: In spite of the above, I still think about going through with getting a PhD. But my decision not to is something I can stand by and not regret. I would rather start a family, on my own, in the near future.
May I ask how you can go into research without a PhD? I’m interested in research but I’m not quite sure about doing a PhD
@@anastasiabelyaeva5708 find a research project you are interested in and simply reach out, my dear. They will be happy to hear from you.
@@anastasiabelyaeva5708 I feel the same way about research and PhD. Since I'm a very theoretical person (in the field of mathematics and computer science), I think I can only be my absolute best when trying to be innovative, which mostly only happened when researching (other cases were "extreme", like trying to design my own board game, or 48h hackathons..), however, 3-4 more years after 5 or 6 years of uni just seems too time-consuming. It's healthier to have your first child before 28, and considering my situation in my country, I won't be able to raise a child before 28 as my PhD will not be finished by then
that sounds like a very good decision! Family is super important.
I am exactly in this situation where I am thinking I should get a job and not proceed with the PhD
Doing a masters degree made me know I would never want to do a phd
Same
As a last-year PhD student in the UK, I have found doing a PhD as the most bitter medicine to take in order to heal your crippling zest for pushing the boundaries of knowledge and attaining prestige; the most bitter of all, indeed🤦♂️
Passion should not be made to work 12 hours days and ruin your life for no money
16 hour days
48 hours a day
If you're passionate about something, you'd be willing to sacrifice for it.
Army Aviation coward
Actually it's not life ruining at all.
This could not be more true. This video is extremely important for young people to think bout before accepting a PhD. I am in the final months of my PhD in molecular biology and although I love what I do (this is why I did it) the position I am in is far inferior to my master degree colleagues. I have been extremely lucky to be part of a large project with 15 enthusiastic PhD students and have developed life long friends and networks BUT the amount of work involved, the mental struggle, the lack of money, the lack of a permanent job afterwards is overwhelming at times.
Great and honest video
Dear Simon, please publish this video again 3 years ago, so that past me can make better decisions. Greetings from a PhD student at the final months of suffering xD
What is your PhD in and how much longer?
At least you're in your final months.. Yay! Go Musa!! Do not give up. You got this. :)
Goodluck!!!! You can do this!!
Well, then you are almost done. A PhD is not a life's work, it's a stepping stone on the way (that hopefully gets you across a stream you actually want to cross).
Just use this moment as a life lesson.
As someone who left a PhD program, this is a very good video. It's also important to realize that you have very little freedom in a PhD program. You often have to live in a city or town that's not your first choice, or inconvenient for your life. Based on your research or job opportunities, you may have to move frequently, like Simon explains. It's also difficult to share your work, which you've become very excited about. My friends and family couldn't read my work because it was too technical, and that made me sad. I enjoyed teaching undergrads, but there are better, more focused avenues, if you want to pursue a career as an educator.
I'm glad I tried it. There are many people who love something so much that they can be intrinsically motivated to study it alone for many years. I was deeply passionate about my topic, but the lifestyle still wasn't for me.
I feel your pain on not being able to share your work. I am in a PhD program now and I got my first research published I wanted everyone to know about it because it essentially validated the previous 12+ months of my life and the long nights and weekends spent on it instead of fun things with friends. So i told everyone and everyone said "cool... what's it on again?". I tell them the title, I see their eyes glossed over, then I simplify the title into laymans terms and they just say stuff like "wow sounds boring" or "huh, I still don't get it". I offered to share it with people and no one wants to read it, because it is too technical. My mom said she wanted to, so I printed it out and read it over. I kept asking her if she read it and she kept saying she would start but couldn't get through it. I stopped asking, I dont think she ever read it. So yes, it is difficult when you get excited about sharing it and no one really is there to share it with you.
@@JAlexanderCurtis Many congrats on the publication. A lot of academic publishing is obscure, but that's OK. There are also programs like the OP-ED Project that universities are deploying essentially to teach academics how to disseminate socially relevant research to a wider public.
What I'd add to the "why not" list: even if you're academically passionate about something, examine whether you'd enjoy spending years not just on the broader field you're interested in, but in a very narrowly defined topic within the field. If you're someone who loved university because you enjoy learning about a wide range of topics, that may actually be an indicator that a Phd isn't for you. (
Not gonna lie, as a PhD student this stressed me out!!
But I really liked your conclusions and couldn't agree more!
same
“A PhD is like a contract, society invests in you, and you then provide a return of that investment in the form of a better understand of something.”
1. You are passionate about something. 2. Doing that thing is the best use of your time.
Thank you!
There’s a contradiction though:
“Do a PhD if you want to go into research”
“Don’t do a PhD as a career move”
I want a career in research :0
Ah but there's a important distinction to be made there! Don't do a PhD if you want the prestige of being called a Professor or Lecturer, because there are some people that just want to be seen as smart and to have the acclaim. That's different from the daily grind of research. I deliberately didn't include the caveat of doing it as a career move because you want to be a professor, because that will follow on naturally iff you love doing research
I just was to change food production! I would want to keep the PHD a secret from all but a couple close friends
sameeeeeee
if u want to be a professor u can still be a professor of academia with a masters degree. I know a couple of masters degree students that teach classes at my university
@@christoskomsios2860 You are absolutely correct. But you will be paid far less than you would be in any other career path. You are also highly disposable in those positions, and you are treated as such. But... your career is very bright in industry if you can convince an engineering or software manager to bring you in on their projects. You can solve problems far more complex than most of your peers. Your ability to teach yourself new subjects, new techniques, and new technologies is extremely powerful.
Case Study: A mixed analysis of the impacts on clickbait in participants under the age of 35.
😂😂
PhD= permanent head damage
LOL!!!
pizza hut delivery
This was a good one :D
lol
Silent Wolves-Thenu2004 *_* no academia - permanent headache.
PhD ? More like PhDon't, amirite ?
PhDo not do it twice not even once after your first time
You're the t reason why we can't have nice things. Terrible pans
rose fragment good one bro. Got 'em
Seeing as you are too lazy to even type out full words, I doubt you will ever have to worry about making this decision.
@@40isfab87 How so? A phd is only useful for very few careers/subjects...
I'm doing a masters atm and thank you for saving 4 years of my life.
Eddy La mood tbh
🤣🤣🤣
Oh good, I was kinda sad when I just saw the title :)
PolyMatter I love your channel man
Keep up the awesome work PolyMatter!
You sure did play on the psychological factor by having a black man as a cover pic.
that was the point, it's cancer avoid....
yo poly matter do you have a phD?
So I've spent about 2 years mulling these questions over. It's been agonizing, and I think made even more so because the field I want to pursue a PhD in is pretty much a complete 180 from what I'm doing today and what I have already received a bachelor's in. It's scary making such a big change, but watching this video makes me more certain that this change is a path I want to take. Thanks! Especially for the interviews with professors!
I am in my final year of PhD. I have no regret in saying that I hate it even though I got 3 publications and all of them received very good remarks from the reviewers. It feels weird that even two years ago I considered myself as an academic. But now I am lost and void of motivations.
The only reason why I would want a PhD is because they would call me doc.
Marwan AH Useless titles.
Unless you have an M.D. I am not calling Doctor lol
^^ phd students are the only ones who should be called doctors,those who study medicine are given the title of doctor as an honor if one stops working as a doctor,the title is lost.
It isn’t enough to get you through at the time, but it IS a very cool thing once you’re done. I definitely get a kick out of the conversation you sometimes have: “Miss? Mrs?” ...”Dr, actually.”
karieltheone When you get a PhD, your title becomes doctor. When you have an MD, your job title is doctor.
The isolation thing is very dependent on what department you're in. For me, there are ~30 PhD students in the department and 10 in my specific office. Never a dull or quiet moment and it would be very difficult for a day to go by without talking to anyone. But if you're one of only 2 or 3 PhD students in the department I can see how different that would be.
A very good point! There's a whole spectrum of what a PhD can be like, socially
Very true. I transferred to a different university for my Ph.D. because there weren't enough Ph.D. students in my field where I was. I feared that it would be too lonely, and I am sure I was right.
I can relate to that...
Good, I was never planning to
William Macleod - I'm moping the floor of my local strip club as I'm watching this on my phone.
@@TheEgg185 lmfao
Gonna receive my PhD degree in four weeks time
Does that include the stipend?
@@sakanablesakanable it includes fullfillment for him/her.
Reason I want a PhD is because I wanna change the world and make a company that’ll change lives. I’m not initially going for the pay directly but it should be an implied benefit of the acquisition of great knowledge to put to great use by becoming extremely valuable to the marketplace. That’s my goal.
I want to make loads of money just to further spend on research and create things. That’s my passion.
Hey, at least here in Finland doctors get a top hat and sword.
My army friend made his phd about extracting lipoprotein. That droped extracting time from hours to minutes. So, phd can make world better place too.
A change of paradigm in this case.
That's incredible.
I would add to this list that you must find a supervisor that you really gel with. You don't have to be bestest buddies but you do have to find someone who will be professional about their supervision (which is hard for student and supervisors alike).
Either pick a professor that you have worked a lot with through your graduate program, and still you must be aware that the life as a PhD is a lot different from that of a regular student, or make sure to talk to prior PhD students or even faculty to make sure that you are not in for four years of misery.
A brilliant student will get by with a rubbish supervisor, and a rubbish student will crash and burn no matter how good the supervisor is, but a rubbish supervisor will absolutely destroy your average person (like most of us are) and a good one will elevate them.
Also, be aware of what type of field you are getting yourself into. If you are a computer scientist, a physicist, a chemist, or an expert in medicine, you can get jobs with a PhD that would not be open to you otherwise. If, one the other hand, you want to get a PhD in history or literature you really must be passionate about the subject as there are far far fewer jobs outside of academia for you after you are done. It's amazing that we still have people who are passionate about these areas as well, but there just are fewer jobs and less money to go around.
I could talk about other pros and cons but the video covered it quite well.
With all of this said -- getting a PhD is the most fun I've ever had. I did not follow any of the advice that I mentioned here but I was fortunate to get a really good supervisor anyway. Also, a PhD will let you focus on your passion as there really is very little administrative work for you compared to your tenured colleagues. If you are passionate, then go for it. Otherwise, go out and get rich in stead.
My one goal, as a kid, was to get PhD. My subscription to this channel was to live that life and, man, that's a lot of work.
Thankyou, Simon, for pointing out all pros and cons, and the hardwork that's needed.
Haha! I'm still doing it.
How did it go?
Wow, genuinely expected this video to be extremely discouraging but it ended up reassuring me in my career choice...thanks!
I think you don't begin for money but because your are passionated about a topic. Plus, in my field (biology) companies often hire people with a PhD because they have specific skills and are familiar with lab techniques. If you "only" have a master's degree you are stuck because most of the time companies only want senior scientists with a lot of experience. I am going to start a PhD soon and actually I am excited because I will work on a really interesting topic for 4 years which is awesome.
Hey how's the PhD going?
I loved doing my Ph.D. While I was excited to move onto a postdoctoral position afterwards, I don't remember being completely exasperated with it. I appreciate this video completely thought. It was a long several years after my Ph.D. before I found a permanent position. That situation felt more desperate and I had it easier than most. I still have several talented and well qualified colleagues that are looking for position in a thin academic market.
I decided to do PhD during my school and love an academic life. I'm excited to study for long days. I will also do lots of researches after PhD in Geomorphology.
Hey Simon, I really appreciate the honesty! I am an undergrad aspiring to a PhD in the near future, and watching your video has definitely forced me to clarify my own motives for going to grad school. Please keep on making awesome content!
Anyone else who completely missed the PhD vlog series, but was still recommended the negative addendum video by TH-cam??
I rejected several PhD offers because I felt like none of them were exactly what I wanted and they were "easy picks". It was hard to reject them, because it felt like i was missing an opportunity, until i found the perfect PhD! I finally accepted one in the UK because I'm absolutely obsessed (in a good way) and passionate about the topic, and I'm starting next week. I'm super excited!!
Marine's Science Café Great! What will your PhD be and where will you study?
Best wishes!! It is a fun, stressful, insane ride. :) The best strategy is to find a support group among your peers and a few good mentor among faculty and grad school veterans and you'll be ok.
Marine's Science Café I have a question... when universities offer you a PhD, do they pay for your education? I want to get a PhD in Astronomy, but a bachelors alone is a great amount of money. So, I would be a great debt. Do they help you with financial aid?
Lina Barrera Most universities offer fully or partly funded PhD programs. However, that depends on your country.
They "offer" it to you in UK? You have to apply here in the US. You have to be reviewed and be accepted. I've never heard of a graduate degree being offered. Interesting.
imo , if You pursue a career in science , A PhD is A Must , But Something Like Engineering medicine or even Law Masters are more than enough .
Ed I dont want my doctor to stop at a masters.
Milton Perez u don't , in fact Getting Masters is Way Easier Than A PhD
Milton Perez In the UK and other European countries you end your base medical course with the Bachelor of Medicine and the Bachelor of Surgery after six years or so. After that you can either start a PhD or wait two years and then start a MD. You still are fully qualified, even without a doctor.
This is why I almost dropped out last summer. I was a pursuing mathematics/physics, and I wanted to work in my field, and I didn't want to leave my city, and I didnt want to get a PhD.
The more I thought about it the harder the reality of the situation hit me that what I wanted was almost impossible. So I decided to change my major and that it would be best to read Physics/Mathematics on my own time.
@@lorax121323 a
A "meme" degree. A major called multidisciplinary studies where you choose three minors and that's your "degree". My minors are applied math, physics and Management (so I could graduate faster).
I graduate this semester so let's hope I can get lucky and score a decent job. If all else fails there's a masters program in Quantitative Finance that has pretty liberal acceptance requirements.
Hahahahaha NO. Heck no. I have several family members with PhDs, so I am aware of all the sacrifice and hard work it requires. I'll just stick to a Masters and when ever I get an itch for Phd I just watch your blogs to remind me why not to lol.
As a side note, I am not a psychology major so maybe one can pich in here...but what does it say of us as an audience, the fact that many of us just get a kick out seen Simon suffer through his PhD? I mean the episodes in which his code wouldn't work were the best lol. Are we in an abusive relationship with Simon? LOL
I wish never invested 4 years in PhD. I could have achieved so much more redirecting my career. I made my bed and completely regret it. Thankfully redirect my career now non academic, in my career with a stable job but still paying off PhD debt.
Congratulations for your Phd. Many students are eager to learn and they look for professors like you! Personally, to feel that I am a part of this life, I will definitely transfer my experience to others through teaching in a university.
I did apply for a Phd, I did get it, it was the most amazing unforgettable incredible experience of my life... who cares about the money you get afterward! And yes, you spend days and days writing, reading, researching by yourself --: WONDERFUL! total freedom!!!! total awesomeness!
You crazy
Get a husband
what is wrong with you two 😂
I am very passionate about research, always happy doing experiment. I have a phd, BUT I can't find job and don't have money. the world does not deserve us.
You’re funny in a cute way.
100%agreed with him. I am a PhD candidate expected to finish this December 2018 after 4yrs....yes 4yrs of Information and communication engineering... I had toughest time in my life to even sometimes question myself if I made the right move or not. I am in a job hunt since January 2018 and I am from 3rd world country in Africa...nobody want to hire me,they think I am over qualified or will waste time and that I should go to teach to University. Some say I should employ myself but I don't have capital or assets to take loan and didn't make a lot of money during my studies..all stipend spend on bills and living..not enough, yeah I am in Seoul-South Korea. Technically I am so good in networking both wired and wireless and good in web development back and front ends...still no job and broke af! The only thing drive and keep me going is that I have passion for technology and thus the reason I took PhD...80% of time in the last 4yrs I spend alone,writing papers,simulations and chasing professor's deadline and targets. I am completely destroyed and not sure what will happen from January 2019 as I wont be a stundent ,no job and broke !.... #DonttakePhD
Cox Lee you can probably teach at a community college in the US as a last resort
hang in there buddy getting a job is a job in itself
Cox lee I would really like to get an update of what your life has been like
I am also interested to hear an update with you. I hope you made it somehow.
Friend, How is it going? I have no money either, and one of the main reasons I wanted to apply for a PhD was that it is a fully funded program
This video has the advice that I personally would give to anyone asking about my PhD. You do it only because you love and respect your field. No less no more. A tough phd program will make you the best researcher you can be. Not everyone in business appreciate or understand this skill.
I’m doing a master’s right now and oh man I’m so done I can’t imagine having to do more that this unless I find something I’m truly passionate about. I thought I love what I got into but now i just hate it 😩
Michelle O. I feel that
Me too, after my MSc, I am done with all this hustle
My supervisor pretty much left me alone during my PhD. No regular meetings or anything. Hands down it has made me a better scientist. Your experience as a PhD student depends on what kind of person you are. Do you like being told what to do or can you formulate your own ideas? Its been hard but well worth it. Not nearly as hard as you are describing it though.
It seems to be the whole PhD thing needs some serious reform. Honestly speaking, what you described in the video seems to be great impediments from PhD programs to attract the right candidates. How on earth do you attract the best PhD candidate if the working conditions and wages are so damn poor.
@Dex4Sure man you don't know what you are talking about , even me a fan of tech and also really involved in Programming(doing Artificial Intelligence) they are way too many people more smarter than any of those man that you praise (the list is so long that I wouldn't put it) and you're really comparing social political figures to scientist like Einstein , Feyman , Hawking ,Tesla....like wtf ?
@Dex4Sure That's funny cause I'm an entrepeneur myself and admire all the man you cited but you are delusional and have no sense of what you're talking about .
I didn't even make a comparisio between Edison and Tesla u made it up on your own ,
I could have give unpopular name but it would be tagged to domain knowledge reason why I didnt .
And the reason of the discussion was your multibillionar are smarter than those overrated scientist , you correlate money to intelligence , when you forget that becoming billionar is a combination of multiple factor and intelligence is a minor factor in it ....
I could go on and on but hey what would be the point ....
According to your delusional description of intelligence , I guess people like Grigori Perelman, Alexander Grothendieck,Terence Tao, Srinivasa Ramanujan.....wouldn't fit to your definition .
I'll advise you to read the book Outliers by Malcom Gladwell(not just the 10.000 rules but the whole thing) , it'll help you realizing that your description of this multibillionar is erroneous.
You did the right thing. At a point, I was mesmerized by your vlogs too! This is the harsh reality and it was indeed important, you made this video. Good job.
Well, this video has actually made me want to get a PHD, but I'm nowhere near able to do that with the way my life looks right now. There are things I can do to keep that passion simmering, while getting ready though. Devoting that level of time while homeschooling young children just isn't an option. Maybe when they are older... I might even have to wait until they are graduated...
I agree. PhD is a calling. You don’t do it for money later on. It is
a laborious work
ur not my dad dont tell me what to do
Angela Cook What is he "telling" you to do exactly?
Angela Cook how do you know he is not your dad? #simondoapaternitytest
karieltheone you're onto something! 😂😂😂
Zerox Raka I think she made what's called a "joke" sir
Sounds like something Sheldon would say 😂😂😂
TL;DR: There are diminishing returns career wise when doing a PhD vs a masters, and a PhD will be very draining. The only valid reasons for doing a PhD are passion for knowledge/research and wanting to advance human knowledge in your field of research, which kind of the into each other. You shouldn't do a PhD because someone told your so or because you think it's a smart career move (it isn't, except for certain jobs, so look into what those jobs might be before deciding on doing a PhD).
Getting an PhD means you manage to achieve your own personal choices rather than please those who influence you. And then you are a scientist! For life rather than a qualified worker or so called nicely a graduate.
Getting my Ph.D. almost killed me but I would not trade one moment of sweat, tears, and sacrifice. Struggle makes you appreciate your life and what you have achieved.
Why have a PhD when you can just use Skillshare
It is different.
@@ninetynine5293 Really? Thanks man
Dr. Simon. I followed your PhD vlog journey and you are really amazing. I dont know how you did a PhD with a full schedule of other things you do. Much respect. I also had panic attacks during my PhD. I am very close to submitting btw,in Food Chemistry
I have two comments on his:
- First : I think its all about being a hardworking person. A guy with a great passion in heart but with a little will to work will always fail to get even a school degree. If you are a hard working person and you are able to walk that extra mile or push even harder you will always get PHD, Masters or whatever you want, it is just all about your will to survive.
- Second: I read some piece about graduate studies and how it will be important in the future. Basically there are more people to graduate from universities with BSc degree than ever. So getting a Masters or even a Phd will definitely give you more chances to be employed.
This was on the spot. My job mostly requires a master, and promotions come every 3-5 years. Ph.D. is for specialist positions but none of those are really available. I can make just as much with a masters degree and some extra years of experience that I would with a Ph.D. I was discussing with my coworkers about a Ph.D. after finishing my masters. One of them asked, "what do you want to be an expert in?" That summed it up for me, it was about passion and what you want to be known for, even just a little. I will pursue a Ph.D. after my masters and after a break in-between. Part of the reason is I'm fortunate to have a job that helps pay for my education, but I'm also passionate about a topic I enjoy and want to be considered an expert in. But there is a misconception about getting a Ph.D. Alot of times, a masters is good enough if interested in a comfortable life.
I think one of the best parts of how PhDs work here (at least in my department at my university) is that everyone is assigned to a two person office. None of this 'days and days without barely talking to anyone' stuff. You have to basically *try* to be lonely doing a PhD here.
I want to generate new knowledge in my field, at the beginning as an MD and an MSc in Oncology I thought that was enough, unfortunately to get more funds for my research projects I need a PhD because there is not support in my country.
I am looking for a PhD to reach my ultimate goal that is developing studies that can prevent and reduce cancer burden in LMIC like mine, I know it will require a lot of effort, but after a year of work and improving my CV I can say... I aspire more than ever to continue doing research 😊
What I don't get is why can't all research materials be legally open source. sci-hub is doing an amazing job at it. Information being readily available at hand would possibly give a lot more comfort to people willing to venture into that line.
Anjishnu I totally agree. Have you looked up the Open Access movement? Cheers!
Nymphfy but most of the money behind scientific publishing and paywalls goes to the editorials and not to the researchers themselves!
I wonder, would crowdfunded scientific research be an alternative for many?
Who Will pay for the research?
Crowd funding research and finding sponsorship is definitely a good idea.
Researchers themselves usually get funded by universities and companies, it's the publishing houses that earn most of the money while giving our researchers a very small royalty.
I'm all for open source myself and I hope that we are able to make knowledge/information more accessible
For astronomy and physics, the most widely used, open repository is arxiv.org.
I'm a PhD student right now in my first year, and honestly the prospect that I'd be able to work on an area I'm passionate about and _not_ have to worry about Coursework + TA + RA (for a project that I'm not really passionate or remotely enthusiastic about but my study group needs done), sounds like heaven. I guess I'll need to get through the first 2 years to say whether I truly love it or not
Just found your channel, love it. I have just turned 54 and I am in my final BA(hons) year in education and professional development. I enrolled after doing my CERT ed. My academic career started as a result of quite serious mental health problems. My goal is a PHD or eDe. I will achieve it one day, not because of financial gain or to change my passport and bank details (although that would be a day to remember) but because I want to do it. If only I had started sooner... My advice to anyone, stay in education for as long as it allows, and then come back to it when ever you can.
Thanks for the videos.
Great points. Most people do not understand getting Ph.D.'s, especially in nursing. When my brother learned I was getting a Ph.D. in nursing he responded, "Well, you're gonna make more money then, right?" Another person said, "Well, you'll be almost like a real 'doctor' then, right?" I already teach and the Ph.D. will provide higher rank, a higher salary, more opportunities to do research (funded by my employer), not to mention opportunities to collaborate with other like-minded nurse researchers (it's a party when everyone is a researcher who shares their passion of nursing and learning). I don't "want" to be a doctor (physician), I want to be a nurse scientist who asks and explores questions that nobody has dared to ask or tried to study. One can tell if they're in the right program by the excitement they feel in describing their work. I get excited about telling people about it all the time. Perpetual students and nerds "get it," everyone else...not so much. Don't be discouraged. BTW, "rarely" does anyone do one in 3 years. Mine is 4 (and kind of a requirement of the program, which is paid for in full, "plus" I get a stipend--I'm incredibly lucky). Many folks take 5, 6, 7 years to complete their work. It's not a quick degree, but I think it's worth it. Graduation in a little over a year...
I don't know man, sometimes you do a PhD without any expectations. In my particular case, I started my PhD cuz it looked as the next logical step. Has it been hard? Well, I separate it in two phases, pre-candidacy and post-candidacy. At pre, it is, cuz you have the pressure of passing your comprehensive and qualifier exams; I am PhD Candidate in Chemical Physics. At one point I stop giving a F at studying for the exams cuz it was too much (I was doing all the previous exercises in the corresponding topics) and decided just to face the exams with my "basic" knowledge. I passed on the first round. Post-candidacy, it has been more relax for me, but I am American and I am under the impression labs run a little bit differently here than in Europe. I am working in Energy Harvesting as the main topic, nanotechnology and material science as a subtopic to that and I gotta tell you, it is kind of hard getting results but it is fun. I have the liberty to idealize my experiments and then discuss them with my mentors and they give me direction as suggestions. I know, cuz I have a MS in Material Science and Engineering from a University in Asia, that not all mentors are this way and some basically tell you what to do instead of letting you figure it out with some direction to make it easier but fun for you, but I feel that the latter is the difference as I feel I am using my creativity and drive for knowledge instead of just following orders. I don't know, maybe I deviated from the subject. But!! Take away, I didn't know this was hard, I don't feel it is super hard, it is just demanding as anything in life, cuz success in any area isn't free. It is a constant learning curve and your mentor-student relationship plays a HUGE factor (I cannot stress enough about it). Cheers Dr. Bro!
Just got rejected from all of my applications for the second year in a row. Really started questioning my decision to pursue it, and this is a good, realistic look at what I'd be putting myself through. I'm not entirely ready to give up yet, but I do want to take a break. Thanks for the video.
Why did you get rejected?
Lorenzo Panetta The standard response was "we had a lot of strong applicants and not enough positions." But I got the impression that a lot of the reason was a lack of experience.
Emily M I got a lot of that too. Luckily I got into a PhD program recently and will be starting next month. I'm already a medical doctor so I'm not doing it for the title.
Congratulations!
I am asking these same question while arriving close to the end of the Phd. Am I passionate enough about science to go through all the changing post-doc positions and insane amount of work? Still trying to figure that out. Thanks for the great video, a lot of people out there will surely appreciate it
Sea&me - Marine stuff with Maria what kind of work would you be doing to do your post doc?
Normally if you pursue a career in academia, because of the fierce competition and expectations, you have to be prepared to dedicate 99% of your life to work and travelling to a new country every other two years or so. I think to truly be successful in a career like that one really needs to be extremely passionate about one´s research, otherwise you might be sacrificing other important parts of your life for something you are just meh about. Working in academia can be extremely rewarding if you are extremely passionate about it, but it is true that it is not for everyone. I hope i answered your question =)
It's normal for you to have these feelings at the end of your phd. After all our inner self is always telling us not to do stuff because it's looking for rest and peace of mind. Fortunately, there is a way around it. Nowadays we are blessed with youtube and the internet. I found that looking at scientific videos on the internet helped me develop interest in multiple fields. Try on your free time to watch videos/ read articles on reddit related to your field. Then once you find something that interests you you can go read research papers on the topic and learn more. I wish you all luck
Sea&me - Marine stuff with Maria you should make a video about that Maria!
ಹಾನ್. ಬಹುಲ್
This is incredibly insightful - thank you for making this. I'm currently a second year master student and have considered going on to PhD - but I think I'm going to spend a few years developing my career and finding something specific that I'm truly passionate about before moving forward academically.
"spend a few years developing my career and finding something specific that I'm truly passionate about before moving forward academically" Literally what I am thinking of doing now! How did that go? I have heard many people tell me that if I go into industry for a while, I will probably not come back for a PhD. I don't know if they're right but what do you think in your experience?
just commenting in case of any of you two replies. 😅 i am currently undergraduate prefinal year 😕
@@yoshikagekira7600 I missed Luis' comment, so I'm glad you made my notification pop up! I am working in the industry that I thought that I would enjoy most and thankfully discovered I was right about it! I have spent the last ~2 years pursuing one aspect of my field, but have realized that I think I want to lean more into another path and am currently trying to secure my first project. I definitely do still want to pursue a PhD, but I think it will be a little later on in my career. I'm still learning about myself and my interests, it's definitely a process!
Developing mental health problems during PhD. That’s why it’s abbreviation for permanent head damage.
Hi! thanks for the video, it was amazing!!
I want to apply for a PhD because this could help me to reach my personal goals and life purpose. If i don't apply, I'd still have a good job, money and so on, but i don´t care about that at all. And yea, you are completely right, i have an English teacher (i'm learning English) who is doing a PhD in Nursing, and he has told me the same that you shared in this video. He added that he has learned a lot from his experience through the process rather than from supervisors. I can't deny that i feel a little scared about such a huge challenge to undertake, but if i don't do it, i know i'm going to regret it later in my life. I prefer to make an attempt to apply and fail instead of not attempting it at all.
Best wishes and good luck with your studies!!
You should have released this video 2 years ago.
why?
Jack T I wouldn't have signed up.
why dont you like it?
Jack T watch the video again
Damn right !