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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]A certain intelligence level is a necessary, but not sufficient condition for a Ph.D. Different level for the different disciplines.

After that I'd say you need resilience and motivation - some of it is persistence, sure, the work is grueling in any program worth its salt. But it also helps to be interested in the subject you are working in. And most importantly, it takes a certain level of resilience once you have attached yourself to an advisor to understand that for a few years you depend completely on that person's approval and s/he can literally destroy you.

I had my choice of 12 highly regarded PhD programs, all with full fellowships (tuition plus living stipend; never pay for a Ph.D.). I chose one, with a highly regarded advisor. First two years was mostly coursework and preliminary projects, and the advisor was an excellent teacher in the classroom, charming, well-read, a dream. Once I had "signed" with him, turned out to be a sick bastard. Managing him over the next three years was nothing short of a Sigfried and Roy tiger performance, until I managed to get his signature on the final product. Excellent life lessons learned there, but boy was I jealous of some of the less impressive, yet genial and supportive advisors some of my friends had.[/quote]

I agree with all of this.

I divorced my advisor after he made a move on me.  The experience was terrible, and one of the reasons I left academia (ultimately, I did get my PhD). [/quote]
Just wanted to add about a similar experience. So uncomfortable. [/quote]There are plenty of crazy STEM advisors too.  Mine had me do his laundry and dust his office.  He had me come into the office at 3 AM to fix a paper jam in the printer.  I invited him to my wedding and he assigned me a project on my wedding night, due the next morning.  He was mad that I'd taken a couple of days off to get married.  He also liked to walk through the labs, quiz students and fire those whose answers he didn't like.  My PI wasnt interested, but several others in our dept were sleeping with students.  Par for the course.
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