Hi Joan, thank you for bringing this up. PhDs are the most worth it if you gain value from the process of doing one! I have personally been asked this question hundreds of times, and most people who ask, tend to ask in context of what one does after the PhD. This is almost the exact wrong way to get value out of a PhD. If you think about the PhD as a career on its own (a bounded research career), then ask yourself if you will enjoy it and gain value out of it - you’ll know if it’s worth it. To me, the top 4 reasons to do a PhD are: 1) You have an irrational LOVE for research A PhD is and always will be a devotion of some of your best years to research. So you better love it. I mean really love it. There will be several late nights where you are breaking your head over what to do next, or trying to get a piece of equipment to work. I have seen only one thing truly motivate grad students out of those slumps, their desire to discover. 2) You enjoy challenging assumptions The most successful PhDs I know have always worked on projects that are fundamentally challenging an assumption in their field. Essentially, these people have such a strong desire for the truth, that unless it breaks a thermodynamic law, they believe it is possible! Needless to say, this is how great discoveries happen, and how we have technologies that can do insane things, like controlling a living mouse with just light (if you don’t know about optogenetics yet - google it!). 3) You have a desire to invent This is distinct from the first point, where I say it is import to love research. There I am referring to the process. Here I am pointing at the result - the invention. A PhD is one of the best ways to have intellectual freedom to invent things you are passionate about. I have been fortunate to have had this opportunity several times and trust me, it’s an awesome feeling. If you are lucky, you invent something so critical that the marketplace licenses it from you and your impact translates from lab to the ‘real world.’ While this does not always happen, having the desire to produce is instrumental in having a successful PhD. 4) You enjoy the learning-teaching process. Being a graduate student means you are constantly either teaching someone or learning something. Unlike other jobs, where you acquire a skill and produce a lot based on that skill. Research is quite different in that you have to constantly stay updated, read papers, learn new techniques or ideas, and so on. So even if you don’t want to be a professor after the PhD, you have to enjoy the process. I can think of only one job that actually requires a PhD, being a faculty (i.e. producing PhDs). So in general you should expect that it isn’t worth it from an outcome perspective. If you think of the PhD as the goal, and it excites you, it’s worth it without a shadow of doubt!
You shared my exact thoughts! I even made a video 2 years ago stating why I won't be doing a PhD and people thought I was insane. I am doing a master's at Wits University and I honestly don't see how a PhD would fulfill me or enhance my master's especially since I'm not hoping to be a researcher nor do I want to go into academia. The only perk would be getting the fancy title of "Doctor" and I don't see myself going through the pain just for that. So glad I stumbled on your channel,one Cameroonian to another haha. God bless
This is a good one, Joan. Thank you. Started my Master's and quickly switched to working. I am looking forward to continuing someday. This Vlog is very helpful. Thank you.
I'm a year and a half into my PhD, studying part time while working full time. Just got a scholarship, so will be going full time next month! It's a little daunting, but I'm looking forward to it! It's been very challenging juggling everything, so hopefully having this focus will be good.
Hi Joan, as child of University lecturers the pressure is immense. I am a Molecular Biologist and the job market requires that we have a PhD but I hate the teaching portion. Thank you for the vlog, I will reevaluate my decisions.
I can relate with you, as I have the same background as well, surrounded by academics lecturing as well. I'm glad the vlog provided some insight and wish you all the very best in your career exploits 😊. I hope to share more about how I tried to navigate around lecturing to now doing what I'm passionate about 😊
😂 Haha. It's the honesty for me. Thank you Kandy B! I myself am beginning to think and really be sure of why I'm doing something before I get into it. Kind of picturing the end before the beginning.
Hi Joan, thank you for bringing this up.
PhDs are the most worth it if you gain value from the process of doing one!
I have personally been asked this question hundreds of times, and most people who ask, tend to ask in context of what one does after the PhD. This is almost the exact wrong way to get value out of a PhD.
If you think about the PhD as a career on its own (a bounded research career), then ask yourself if you will enjoy it and gain value out of it - you’ll know if it’s worth it. To me, the top 4 reasons to do a PhD are:
1) You have an irrational LOVE for research
A PhD is and always will be a devotion of some of your best years to research. So you better love it. I mean really love it. There will be several late nights where you are breaking your head over what to do next, or trying to get a piece of equipment to work. I have seen only one thing truly motivate grad students out of those slumps, their desire to discover.
2) You enjoy challenging assumptions
The most successful PhDs I know have always worked on projects that are fundamentally challenging an assumption in their field. Essentially, these people have such a strong desire for the truth, that unless it breaks a thermodynamic law, they believe it is possible! Needless to say, this is how great discoveries happen, and how we have technologies that can do insane things, like controlling a living mouse with just light (if you don’t know about optogenetics yet - google it!).
3) You have a desire to invent
This is distinct from the first point, where I say it is import to love research. There I am referring to the process. Here I am pointing at the result - the invention. A PhD is one of the best ways to have intellectual freedom to invent things you are passionate about. I have been fortunate to have had this opportunity several times and trust me, it’s an awesome feeling. If you are lucky, you invent something so critical that the marketplace licenses it from you and your impact translates from lab to the ‘real world.’ While this does not always happen, having the desire to produce is instrumental in having a successful PhD.
4) You enjoy the learning-teaching process.
Being a graduate student means you are constantly either teaching someone or learning something. Unlike other jobs, where you acquire a skill and produce a lot based on that skill. Research is quite different in that you have to constantly stay updated, read papers, learn new techniques or ideas, and so on. So even if you don’t want to be a professor after the PhD, you have to enjoy the process.
I can think of only one job that actually requires a PhD, being a faculty (i.e. producing PhDs). So in general you should expect that it isn’t worth it from an outcome perspective.
If you think of the PhD as the goal, and it excites you, it’s worth it without a shadow of doubt!
You shared my exact thoughts! I even made a video 2 years ago stating why I won't be doing a PhD and people thought I was insane. I am doing a master's at Wits University and I honestly don't see how a PhD would fulfill me or enhance my master's especially since I'm not hoping to be a researcher nor do I want to go into academia.
The only perk would be getting the fancy title of "Doctor" and I don't see myself going through the pain just for that. So glad I stumbled on your channel,one Cameroonian to another haha. God bless
This is a good one, Joan. Thank you.
Started my Master's and quickly switched to working. I am looking forward to continuing someday. This Vlog is very helpful.
Thank you.
Thank you Derick😊😊. Its been a while 🙈
Welcome back Dr. Joan🤗
Thank youuu 😊❤❤
I'm a year and a half into my PhD, studying part time while working full time. Just got a scholarship, so will be going full time next month! It's a little daunting, but I'm looking forward to it! It's been very challenging juggling everything, so hopefully having this focus will be good.
Congratulations on your scholarship! I wish you the very best in your research endeavors 😊😊
Here for the vlog. I hv no thoughts concerning the topic at hand, but I am taking mental notes
Thank you Rose! 😁😁
Hi Joan, as child of University lecturers the pressure is immense. I am a Molecular Biologist and the job market requires that we have a PhD but I hate the teaching portion. Thank you for the vlog, I will reevaluate my decisions.
I can relate with you, as I have the same background as well, surrounded by academics lecturing as well. I'm glad the vlog provided some insight and wish you all the very best in your career exploits 😊. I hope to share more about how I tried to navigate around lecturing to now doing what I'm passionate about 😊
@@JoanSweet Thank you 😊
I like your balanced view
God is with you
Amen ❤😊😊
Beautiful vlog. I have always wanted to do a PhD and honestly, I haven't really reflected on why I need a PhD. 🤣🤣
😂 Haha. It's the honesty for me. Thank you Kandy B! I myself am beginning to think and really be sure of why I'm doing something before I get into it. Kind of picturing the end before the beginning.
my take off from this is Before getting a PhD you need to answer the "WHY". This will determine your course through it .
Precisely 😊👌🏽👌🏽
Joan you can paint?😂 chaiii this woman
😂😂amateur things! 😁😁
Him, shy??? 🤣🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣