I'm seeing lots of very proud & excited people finishing their PhDs this month, which is awesome!
It's now been 10 years since I graduated.
People occasionally ask for advice on doing a PhD - basically is it all worth it?
Obviously it depends on lots of factors...
It's now been 10 years since I graduated.
People occasionally ask for advice on doing a PhD - basically is it all worth it?
Obviously it depends on lots of factors...
.It's fair to say that it was really hard. It felt like running a marathon. Lots of ups and down.
I spent some days doing math like this, or writing code. It was a slow and deliberate process. Occasional flashes of deep insights, and other times asking "why am I doing this?"
I spent some days doing math like this, or writing code. It was a slow and deliberate process. Occasional flashes of deep insights, and other times asking "why am I doing this?"
...If you're not seeking to publish in top journals and getting a tenure track job, you're often treating like a second class citizen.
But even if that's not your goal, the exercise of working in depth on a narrow topic over several years helps to refine your thinking/approach.
But even if that's not your goal, the exercise of working in depth on a narrow topic over several years helps to refine your thinking/approach.
In most cases, the short-term monetary benefits aren't large (and may even be negative, at least in Econ - others with MAs were making more money than me when I graduated.)
But a PhD can provide more options, more control over your time, and puts a healthy floor on your income.
But a PhD can provide more options, more control over your time, and puts a healthy floor on your income.
I ultimately decided to do a PhD because I couldn't imagine not trying it.
I had research Qs I wanted to answer, and I knew I needed better skills to do more satisfying work.
And I looked forward & thought it would provide a good base for any research-intensive/related careers.
I had research Qs I wanted to answer, and I knew I needed better skills to do more satisfying work.
And I looked forward & thought it would provide a good base for any research-intensive/related careers.
...I’m curious why more Canadian Econ programs don’t offer a “PhD-light” option.
No, not the “all-but-dissertation”.
More like a half marathon. A bit like an Executive MBA, where those with EconMAs and considerable work experience could finish in say, 3.5 years, not 5-6 years.
No, not the “all-but-dissertation”.
More like a half marathon. A bit like an Executive MBA, where those with EconMAs and considerable work experience could finish in say, 3.5 years, not 5-6 years.
Maybe the core barrier in Econ is simply a lack of mutual recognition:
- most academics put very little weight on relevant work experience; and
- most non-academic work environments put very little weight on relevant academic research experience.
- most academics put very little weight on relevant work experience; and
- most non-academic work environments put very little weight on relevant academic research experience.
