PhD..?..

[Пушкарева]

I am thinking... Should I go for it, or not?

I once shared the idea with a friend who asked whether I was planning to teach in a univeristy. I replied "no" and he said "then why do you need it?".. Since the question was asked by a smart american, I wonder whether it really does not worth it..

Well, I personally need it for 2 reasons:

1) The dream work usually requires PhD, or to state it otherwise -- it is easily to get to the organization having a PhD; and

2) Wanna be smart.

But, it is such a huge and relatively long term committment. So questions to those with or currently doing PhD: Would you recommend go for it? Why yes? Or why not?

Frida Kahlo, your female advice would be highly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Пушкарева]

Well, I am going back and forth.. Sometimes I really do want it thinking about prospective careers and expanding my mental capacity, but in other times the idea totally freaks me out. Maybe I am just living the unusually quite (post-graduation) period in my life and the "crazy" idea pops up in my mind just because I have so much free time...

I dont know.

[gentle]

If you have PhD so that means that you are really smart?
I did not know that.
So how much is it. I want to buy few. :D

[Iqbol]

Go for a PhD, if you have an idea to defend.

They say in french :" Defendre une these est defendre une idee", or "To defend a thesis is to defend an idea ( a thesis, a theory)".

But, if you start a PhD, just to have a degree and to make a career, it will be difficult to finish it. The enthusiasm, much needed to write a good thesis, can get lost very soon.

Even more, if you want to make PhD to get smarter, just forget about it. If you are deprived of intelligence from the beginning, 100 PhDs won't help...

[Пушкарева]

No, I dont have any thesis idea as of yet. I looked into TORs of that organization and they require PhD. That's why I am thinking. Its not that I am dying to go into science, I am thinking of careers (which is not academia related).

Go for a PhD, if you have an idea to defend.

They say in french :" Defendre une these est defendre une idee", or "To defend a thesis is to defend an idea ( a thesis, a theory)".

But, if you start a PhD, just to have a degree and to make a career, it will be difficult to finish it. The enthusiasm, much needed to write a good thesis, can get lost very soon.

Even more, if you want to make PhD to get smarter, just forget about it. If you are deprived of intelligence from the beginning, 100 PhDs won't help...

[Iqbol]

No, I dont have any thesis idea as of yet. I looked into TORs of that organization and they require PhD. That's why I am thinking. Its not that I am dying to go into science, I am thinking of careers (which is not academia related).


About idea, at the beginning, in can be just a vague idea or even an ideal. You don't have to have a laid out academic idea. For example, you believe in the equality between men and women or the right of women to education. Then, you start to look around you and think how you could help the situation. So, you start to think and ask "why? how? , etc", from this moment, you can start your PhD program.

[Shambles]

Nezabudka, if you have nothing to do at the moment and have an oppotunity to do a PhD, then go for it....

The reverse side of this coin is that it's not really necessary to have a PhD if you are aiming at non-academic career...

I do doubt that it will make you smarter but one thing is for sure.... a PhD will significantly widen your horizons.

[Arhimed]

Agar chetyda ish topa olmayotgan bo'lsangiz PhD qilgan maqul oilaviy sharoitiz ko'tarsa. Lekin ish topishda education 30-40% ves beradi holos, ko'proq network ish beradi menimcha

[NanOnaN]

Before going to PhD think very Deeply all possible aspects.

As a PhD student I am sometimes thinking that I would better study PhD some times later.
I have seen many guys who are doing to quit the course even they already spend 1-2 years.

I would say the most important thing is to find proper supervisor. Because many things depend on him/her.
And of course you need to have some idea, something new or less investigated.
You have to be ready to devote 3-4 yeas of your live.

From other hand, you have graduated Master's not long ago and while you have enough energy and ambitions (poka ne otvikli ot uchebi), it is good to take a deep breath and finish that course.

Good luck

[inDecision]

PhD qilish yaxshi, lekin manimcha uni sal keyinroqqa qoldirish kerak. Ya'ni biroz ishlab, tajriba orttirib qilingan PhD manimcha koproq mazmunli bo'ladi. Nanonan gapizda jon bor, o'qishdan uzoqlashib qolsa qaytish qiyin bo'ladi. Man aynan shunchun ham srazu masters qildim bacelordan keyin, lekin, Nezabudka, bilishimcha siz ham toxtatmasdan uqivossiz, shunchun sizga bilmadimu, lekin manga uqish jonga tegdi. Siz yaxshisi ish topib, working viza qilishga ko'pro kuch sarflen. Manimcha ushanda ishlab, ishlab keyinroq balki Europeda qilarsiz PhDni (diversity boladi). Ishlavurseiz uyam jonga tegadi bir vaqtlar kelib, imenno ushanda srazu uqishga qaytib kevurasiz. Lekin ikkinchi tomondan OPT vaqtida working viza qilolmaseiz, Toshkenda bekor umr utkazgandan PhDni uqigan foydaliroq. yanayam bilmadim, lekin man yana bitta thesisga dodlavorsam kere:lol:

[MegaZ]

I would think twice before considering a PhD, especially in the US. Here are the reasons:

- Getting a PhD is a very time-consuming process...it requires a lot of hard work, massive research/reading and a boatload of patience.

- Most PhD students stay in education. After 3-5 years of school (in addition to 4-7 years devoted to bachelor's/master's), it is hard to move on to a corporate environment or start fresh, because one is so used to studies, research and paperwork. It's easier to get a job offer from an institute or a university than a commercial company.

- Many organizations are not willing to hire PhD graduates because they know that PhD holders have high salary expectations. Even if this is not true, that's a common misunderstanding among recruiters and the word "Dr." in front of a candidate's name simply makes it sound expensive. Of course, there are exceptions - sometimes PhD graduates get high ranked positions, but again, it doesn't happen very often...at least compared to master's.

- Most companies in the US are interested in past experience of a candidate than his/her education (this is a fact).

- Be careful about where you want to obtain your PhD - this speaks for itself.

Of course every case is different. Some PhD graduates end up very happy. They get themselves prepped for a new life after school, come up with some great ideas and start creative projects...so on and so forth. But the majority of the crowd cannot cope with changes and prefers to stick in the same environment, devoting the rest of their lives to research and education (which is not bad either, if you like it).

MegaZ

[StU]

честно говоря, я против PhD без особых мотивов внести свой значимый (реальный вклад) в науку. И причина увеличить свои карьерные шансы мне тоже не кажется достаточной для начала академической карьеры. Слишком маленькая мотивация, к тому же сделав cost benefit analysis, нужно хорошее обоснование + профессинальный опыт, чтобы написать хорошую докторскую работу.

А не очередную писанину, которая будет пылиться в университете и никем не будет востребована (без обид). Просто я по опыту знаю кучу студентов, которые делают после учебы PhD, потому что не могут найти работу. Что называется из теории в теорию - ну что такой академик может написать, если он никогда не покидал библиотеки и не сталкивался с реальностью. По мне так - поработать в начале карьеры, стать специалистом в своей области, вот тогда можно претендовать на знания, в которыми следует поделиться.

Сорри за конструктивную критику...

[Vezunchik]

Kogda ya Videl Doktorskie (ne govarya uje o Kandidatskih) raboti` v Uzbekistane, mne pokazalos chto mnogie iz takih rabot ne zaslujivayut daje chteniya 2 stranitsi`. Nastolko zametno otsutstvie Novizni` i Novoy Ideyii. Togda ya dumal, chto takie veshi lutshe ne delat v Uzbekistane. Tak kak, esli daje ya budu pisat "genealneshuyuuu" Doktrskuyu, vse budut schitat chto eta toje kak etot kucha hlama... I net polzi` drugim ot moyey raboti`.

No kogda uvidel v zarubejom PhD papers, ya nemnojko razocherovalsya. Zdes konechno gorazdo lutshe chem u nas no toje malo Kakih to Novi`h Idey. Vsya ekonomicheskaya nauka zahlyobi`vayetsya ot zagrujennoy matematiki i ekonometriki (kak budto Ekonomika eta oblostnoy filial matematiki), vsya politologiya razchlenyayetsya na econometriku i v pravo, vsya sotsialogiya na Pools i extremalnuyu psihologiyu.....

To est, esli est Jelaniya to nado delat PhD. Mojno stat v etom periode nachitanni`m, no net garantii stat Umni`m.

Glavnaya problema, eta Organizatsionni`e raboti`.... Begatnya... Vot eta sammoe ujasnoe. ochen mnogo otnimaet vremya i ubivayet entuziazm...

i, za eta vremya mojno poteryat nujni`h let karyeri`, kogda imenno v takom aktivnom molodosti mojno preuspet vo mnogom...

esli net drugih, Horoshih variantov nado delat PhD. ili kak ni bud ustroitsya na rabotu i paralellno poprobi`vat delat PhD, esli vozmojno. V lyubom sluchayii PhD eta uje navsegda - Uchyonni`y.

[Googler]

Here are a few points of a PhD degree holder to think about if you're wondering if science is the career for you!

"PROS:

1. You get to be a student for a long time.

Okay. This may not sound great at first, but being a student/grad student can be a lot of fun. As your business-minded friends put on their monkey suits or battle with pantyhose and high heels, you will probably realize this. There are ups and downs to being a grad student, and plenty of stress, but you get to do silly student things, and this may be the time in your life where you enjoy the least responsibility. Socially, being a student is great - constant turnover of people to meet! There are other reasons why being a student can be good, but if you don't think so, then maybe it's NOT so good for you!

2. Being a scientist is not a 9-to-5 job.

As a scientist you put in a lot of hours, but a lot of the time, you choose when you work. If you're a night-owl, you can schedule things so that most of your work is accomplished later in the day. You don't usually have to ask permission to take time to go for appointments, run important errands, and so on. If you're bored at home, there's always something waiting for you to do in the lab, morning, night, or weekend.

3. You are a part of a unique, educated community.

As a scientist, you will probably have a lot in common with the folks you work with. Most of your coworkers will have a similar educational background, or will be embarking on one. People in science often have similar outlooks on life, senses of humour, etc., though you should keep in mind that this is not always the case!

4. You are expected to travel and get experience.

You can be a scientist without travelling too far from your undergrad alumnus, but generally it is advised you get experience from several institutions while you get your degrees, and following that, by doing one or more post-docs at different places. This allows you to see different places, meet more people, deal with different challenges. And most scientists get to go to conferences around the world, too!

5. The intrinsic rewards outweigh the extrinsic rewards.

Most people go into science because they love it. For these people, the opportunity to do something they love outweighs the minor disadvantages that come along with it.

CONS


1. You have to be a student for a long time.

People will start to call you a perpetual student. Your family will start to wonder if you'll ever get a real job. Landlords will make you sign 1-year leases and caution you about wild parties even though you're a 26-year-old grad student with no plans to move until you're done your PhD (and you can't afford a six-pack). You will be in you're mid-to-late twenties and talking about what you're going to do "when you grow up".

2. Being a scientist is not a 9-to-5 job.

Experiments do not take care of themselves. Inevitably, even with the best planning, you will be in the lab at night, on weekends, on holidays. You may be woken up at 3 AM because a freezer has malfunctioned, and you have to drive to work and begin transferring samples to an emergency -80° freezer. Family and friends (who are not in science) will not understand what is so important about your stupid bacteria (plants, mice, etc.) that you have to tend them (the specimens, not the persons) for two hours on a Friday night. I suspect, though I have not done a true survey yet that most people who decide to go into graduate studies in science are either single or in a not-so-wonderful relationship when they actually make the decision. And although it is nice to have somewhere to go when there's not much else going on in your life, having to go in to the lab when you do have other things you'd like to do can be a burden.



3. You are a part of a unique, educated community.

The following does not refer to all people in the scientific community, but it does apply to some. Many people find scientists strange, introverted people with odd or non-existant senses of humour. (And who else would want to play with test-tubes or dissect small animals all day?) Often, scientists are perceived as being snobbish in terms of looking down on people in other academic disciplines, or on people in blue collar careers. If you find yourself thinking the last two statements, you may be happier in a different career. If you find yourself thinking of specific scientists you know as "egg-heads", "beakers", or "Bloody Dr. Frankenstein", youwill likely not integrate well in scientific society.



4. You are expected to travel and get experience.

Don't even think about settling down until you get a permanent job. (That's after undergrad, graduate school, post-docs ...) Not many grad students or postdocs own houses. Having to pull up and go this often can be tough on you, and on your family. For many people, this alone makes science not worth it.

5. The intrinsic rewards outweigh the extrinsic rewards for those who love science.

The corollary is: If you don't love science, the extrinsic rewards are pretty slim. Some scientists find high-paying jobs ... eventually. Realistically, if you're looking for a big salary, benefits, perks, science isn't the best field. In careers like law or medicine, your many years of education can pay off when you get the big salaried jobs waiting for you. There aren't very many of those in science these days. In North America scientists are not regarded with great respect, either, if that's important to you. (Think of all those TV shows and movies that portray scientists as power-hungry fiends trying to play God or take over the world! That really bugs me, by the way.)



Conclusion

This was not an exhaustive list, but there are things here I think anybody thinking about science as a career should consider. And, one other thing to remember, most people who are happy as scientists occasionally have doubts about science as a career. Also, I don't think being a scientist is for everyone, but I don't think a background in science is wasted even if you go on to do something else."

Just one important thing namely for you!

You are educated enough taking account ur Master degree, you are cute I can suppose :), so the real and high time for you now is meeting ur spouse, beginning ur 'new' and much more amazing life. You can combine your career with ur family life when you are in real and lovely relationship with a handsome and smart gentleman. Just recollect the movie "The Family Man".

[Vector]

better not to start PHD, it is very risky strategy in terms of finding a proper viable job afterwards, you may end up being a lecturer in your univ., most phds do...
devote your time to find a job while you are still fresh, it doesn't need to be very good job, something to start up and make your work experience/background history, later in 2 years time finding a proper job should be a lot easier comparing to your graduate level.
i know many guys here in UK, phds, can't find a job, they are really struggling and desperate.
Overall, having phd will not make you very competitive UNLESS you are in the exact science fields(lab rats :lol:), it depends on the field too, say phd in business no way can find a job if one does not have a prior work experience.

it is a big and responsible decision, you should take into account other factors too, weight them precisely without being too optemistic. Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get.;)
good luck girlie

[Inspiredmind]

Hoosier and $tudentin ochen' horoshie mneniya vizkazalis', udivlyaus' kak ludi bez ostanovki mojet uchitsya ...chestnoe slovo ot uchebi toshnit' uje. ..daje ne hochu smotret' na knigu ..eshe govoryat' PHd bez pauzi....nehorohaya idea, otlajite na pary godik,,,or v prinsipe, Vam ne obyazatel'no imet' PH,chtobi zarabotat' horoshie dengi, and posmotrite, so vremenem peredumaete, chto Vam ne nado VOOBSHE Ph..D..

[Magnolia]

Go for it :)

P.S. thats my plan anyway...:rolleyes:

[Inspiredmind]

Go for it :)

P.S. thats my plan anyway...:rolleyes:


ooo kakoe u Vas signature...:D

[Magnolia]

ooo kakoe u Vas signature...:D

v temu kstati :D

[Inspiredmind]

v temu kstati :D
ne govorite, daje vashe signature ne offtopit' tut :D

[Shambles]

One point for doing a PhD is that your business card would look really great:

Dr. NEZABUDKA.... :)))

[StU]

Дорогая Зу,

PhD это не только шансы на карьеру, но и большой риск. Учти, что после него тебе надо будет метить на самый TOP компаний (если конечно не продолжишь академическую карьеру - что происходит с большинством). Если ты до этой верхушки не дотянешь, то как правильно подметил МегаЗ, фирмы уровнем пониже тебя могут не взять, так как не смогут оплачивать твой degree. Я знакома со многими, которые так и не нашли работу, а пытаются устроится обратно в академической сфере.

[Tokugawa]

Turgan bitganiz Talantmi deyman-a o'zi? :D
One point for doing a PhD is that your business card would look really great:

Dr. NEZABUDKA.... :)))

[Пушкарева]

1) B.A. Regional studies, Turkey
2) M.A. Economics of the Middle East
3) M.A. International Development

Thinking of PhD Economics (still thinking about concentration)


Nezabudka,
I think it would be useful if you tell us what is your academic background i.e. academic field. From the posts of the many users it seems to me that users think that you are studying business or economics. Therefore, people is keep bringing example from the corporate life. But I don't think that you are a student in business. Am I right?

[corsair]

nezabudkahon, nima qilas ПXД qilib, career keremasmi?

[Пушкарева]

Др. Пушкарёва, Екатерина. I am changint my nick to this one.

НБ: While dealing with the logistics of changing it, people please dont steal the idea.


Др. НЕЗАБУДКА.... :)))

[Femida]

Nonsense:) U better know by now what u should do ,,,or shouldn't:))

[rosefire]

go for it if u have an opportunity and strong will to do!!!

Phd qilish juda qiyin bo'ladi deyishadi, lekin 3-4 yil qiyinchiligidan keyin mazza qilasizda, shundo katta katta imkoniyatlar eshigi lang etib ochiladi:D

good luck!!!

[boburshoh]

Imkoniyat bo'lsa albatta o'qish kerak Phd da, kelajakda albatta samarasi bo'ladi

[anchio]

You may want to do PhD if you really have a passion for research. In all other cases, (i.e there is nothing else important to do, there is a will to make more money) you should think twice. Because it is a big (not a risk) burden, which may make you stressed, confused.

[Shambles]

Turgan bitganiz Talantmi deyman-a o'zi? :D

Rosa kuldim. Turgan bitganim maslahat berish shekilli... :D

On: I've got the impression from the posts in this thread that academic career is a beast and being an academician is equal to being a loser... Correct me if I'm wrong, though. The academic career could be as challenging, interesting and well-paid (which is not a least factor) as career in the corporate world.

I knew one guy in Tashkent who was a lecturer (in philosophy, if I'm not mistaken) and he was deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeply embarassed that he ended up being a lecturer. So he did one's utmost to conceal his "academic career" from his surrounding... Ridiculous!!!

[R. A.]

Ph.D. предполагает как минимум три-четыре года учебы (упорного труда, который требует немалой самодисциплины). Вам придется, кроме написания статей, также делать доклады на различных конференциях. С другой стороны, опыт работы даст вам интересные идеи для научных изысканий (публикации), собственные идеи приветствуются.
Естественно, в данном вопросе выбора многое зависит от вас.

Мое мнение о соображениях, где упоминалось о том что легче или труднее найти работу имея PhD, то у каждого человека своя индивидуальная ситуация, не надо обобщать.

[schrodinger]

If you were a natural sciences student, I would urge you to make PhD from a more or less respecrable school, because in natural sciences this can make a great difference in your career. But in your area, you already have 2 masters degrees... I would look at the strength of the program and I figure you are just planning to apply to a program. If you do apply go to a strong program. And I don't think it can hurt you if you apply accept financially a little (application fees and etc.).

[Shambles]

With the PhD in Economics you will most probably find a very good job....

Go ahead!!!

[Frida]

I am thinking... Should I go for it, or not?

I once shared the idea with a friend who asked whether I was planning to teach in a univeristy. I replied "no" and he said "then why do you need it?".. Since the question was asked by a smart american, I wonder whether it really does not worth it..

Well, I personally need it for 2 reasons:

1) The dream work usually requires PhD, or to state it otherwise -- it is easily to get to the organization having a PhD; and

2) Wanna be smart.

But, it is such a huge and relatively long term committment. So questions to those with or currently doing PhD: Would you recommend go for it? Why yes? Or why not?

Frida Kahlo, your female advice would be highly appreciated.

Thanks.

Nezabudka, dear, this is me. :) I cannot remember my password, so hopefully someone will hear me out in this forum and merge my old account with the new one. So I was not here almost a month and haven't seen your thread. Below are my two cents.
I haven't read anyone's response yet, so I do apologize if I am repeating the same thing. These are mixed, both cons and pros.
1. If you have a chance, financial aid to cover your education then go for it. Lots of international students do it to stay in status. Changing your status to PhD will give you additional 5 years to stay in USA (even more sometimes).
2. Once you are doctoral student, you might get some kind of a assistantship job, it will be a good experience + your education paid. These are usually some research assistantships, or some AI jobs, good stuff both for your CV and your professional growth.
3. Time, sometime it takes long time to finish the whole thing. But, if you start right away, and stay at the same department where you did your MA you can transfer most of your credits (I was lucky :D as I took all 600 and 700 classes as electives while I was doing my MA, so all of them without exception were counted towards my PhD course work).
4. Jobs?! It is not true that as PhD you only have to teach at the university, you can do non-academic jobs, but what is wrong with being academic? But I guess it is not for you, you can find other jobs too. I am sure in your field, (btw was it international development?) you can even get better job by getting your degree.

Ok, I am almost out of battery, so I better post. I will post some more --- if I find my cord :lol: I moved this week, so my new place is just a mess, everything is in boxes.

[Frida]

1) B.A. Regional studies, Turkey
2) M.A. Economics of the Middle East
3) M.A. International Development

Thinking of PhD Economics (still thinking about concentration)

Ok, I would suggest to go with International development and do your minor in Economics, in that way you don't have to take any minors, they will count your first MA in Economics as your minor. It will save you money and time.

The reason is simple, to get scholarship in Economics is very difficult. Or so I heard, you can ask Samimiy, as far as I know he is doing his PhD in economics, also there are users such as WASP and Majesty.

Also, somebody mentioned above that you might become "over-educated" for your field, I do not know about that. I guess it depends where you are. But one thing for sure, even while doing your PhD, you have to make yourself very marketable, i.e. go to conferences, participate in projects, write papers.


sorry for mistakes, no time to review the whole thing.....
will write more later....

[Godunov]

Ph.D qilish oson ishmas, ko'p mehnat va vaqt talab qiladi, lekin qiyinchiliklariga chidab shu darajani olsangiz sizga ko'pgina imkoniyatlar eshigi ochiladi.

Ba'zi maslahatlarim: Boshidan yo'nalishni to'g'ri qo'yish kerak - mo'ljalni aniq olish kerak, ya'ni agar siz o'zingizga yoqqan yaxshiroq aktual tema (masala) ni olib smart domla bilan ishlasangiz, i) ham real masalani yechib pul topasiz ii) ham zo'r mutaxassis bo'lasiz, iii) ham Ph.D darajani olasiz!

Har bir sohani yechimini kutayotgan(yechim uchun katta pul qo'yilgan ;)) masalalari bor, shu malalalarni yechish kerak. Bu holatda yuqorida ba'zilarni ish topish qiyin, ham real hayotdan ajralib qoladi degan fikrlari uncha to'g'rimas deb o'ylayman.

Omad!

[onlyone]

Думаю, нужно делать PhD только если в дальнейшем есть цель стать ученым и остаться в ацадемицс.
Например, в Италии, PhD мешает устроиться на работу не связаную с наукой. К людям имеюшим PhD вообscheе относятся с опаской, т.к. считают, что они слишком независимы и могут тем самым несколько принизить достоинства работодателя.

[lilbit]

Vsyo zavisit ot cheloveka, ot ego celey i zadach'.

Mne professor po biznesu, pervomu predlojil delat' PhD (eto po ego slovam, do etogo on nikomu ne predlagal). Sam on buduchi professorom fiz-mata, i biznesa imeet svoyu IT kompaniyu i seychas zanimaetsya otkritiem hedge-funda. Chto ya hochu etim skazat', eto vsyo gluposti po povodu over-educated, or knowing too much. U menya naprimer real'naya potrebnost' uznavat' chto to novoe, no mne ooochen' trudno zanimat'sya naprimer takimi delami kak napisanie statey i t.p. Hotya ot research ya prosto kaifuyu. Esli b ne moyo ne jelanie zanimat'sya pisaninoi i oformleniem prodelannoi raboti v vide reports and thesis, ya b sdelal PhD.

Lishniy gramm mozgov nikogda ne bivaet lishnim. ;)