Why a PhD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have no idea why one is valuable for the love of god dont take up space getting one.

There are what people call drive-up (or drive-by which btw sounds odd, so drive-up) doctorate programs, e.g. EdD in supervision/leadership or something like that

How about drive-through?

THAT's it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You get a PhD if you are interested in scientific research of any kind; to be a professor; for certain jobs. For example, most World Bank and IMF senior staff have PhDs in economics. You need one in psychology to be a psychotherapist. I could go on, but that’ll give you an idea

There are many degree paths to become a psychotherapist that don't require a PhD. For example, LCSW or masters degree in in counseling. In fact, if your goal is to become a therapist and not become involved in psychological testing or research, you might be better off with one of the masters-level degrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have no idea why one is valuable for the love of god dont take up space getting one.

This is accurate.

[Anonymous]

STEM PhD and have worked in STEM research for decades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:STEM PhD and have worked in STEM research for decades.

Could you do the same research if you had only a Masters in that STEM?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STEM PhD and have worked in STEM research for decades.

Could you do the same research if you had only a Masters in that STEM?

There is a glass ceiling for folks without the PhD. The research opportunities really are not the same.

The world is huge so there must be a few exceptions somewhere, but not many, at least for what I do. Someone who has a Fields Medal but no PhD would be an exception, hypothetically.

[Anonymous]

I have one. It doesn't matter what it's in. Given what I do, people assume it's in this or that. I also make bank. 500K plus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STEM PhD and have worked in STEM research for decades.

Could you do the same research if you had only a Masters in that STEM?

Not without the level of autonomy that I want.

-DP

[Anonymous]

You think you will teach, and the program that wants your money assures you that someday you will teach, but the odds are greatly stacked against it.

Generally, don't even bother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You think you will teach, and the program that wants your money assures you that someday you will teach, but the odds are greatly stacked against it.

Generally, don't even bother.

Getting tenured in an era of AI?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are you going to do with it? Will you need it in ten years?

If you want to be one of the leads of a research group in the private sector or government, you need a phD. Many top consulting groups hire pHD exclusively for certain tiers of jobs, typically the highest paid.
In the humanities sectors phd can be required for lead roles such as historical societies, art curation, others.
PhD never loses value; it has only increased the past 20 yrs and will continue to. However not all are created equal: fully funded from top universities carry moret and open more doors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STEM PhD and have worked in STEM research for decades.

Could you do the same research if you had only a Masters in that STEM?

Not without the level of autonomy that I want.

-DP

Precisely!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You think you will teach, and the program that wants your money assures you that someday you will teach, but the odds are greatly stacked against it.

Generally, don't even bother.

Getting tenured in an era of AI?

AI will not replace tenured professors. AI will replace entry level jobs in certain sectors, roles that are assistant roles to those with more experience and higher degrees. Bachelors willbe less important over time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STEM PhD and have worked in STEM research for decades.

Could you do the same research if you had only a Masters in that STEM?

In the sciences a Masters degree usually means you flunked out of a PhD program. It's a black mark and designates that they thought that you don't have the intellectual chops for research. You won't be considered for roles leading research projects. You can be a researcher in a lab, but you'll never be in charge.

-chemistry PhD

[Anonymous]

My godson gets paid to think about theoretical physics for the next 4 or 5 years. Seems cool!