Any one done a degree?

[Platapus]

On a more serious note

Why are you wanting to get a PhD?

This is a very important question. Only you can answer this.

There are some industries where getting a PhD is important. I would opine that most industries are not like this.

PhDs are expensive, both financially and emotionally. You need to make sure that for your chosen industry that there is a significant pay-off for your investment.

My opinion? For many industries, getting multiple Master's Degrees that complement themselves may be better.

The issue with going down the BS-MS-PhD path is that you are limiting yourself to one path. Sure, at the end, you will be recognized as being a knowledgeable one trick pony... maybe.

Now, if your plan is to get into academics..

DO NOT GET INTO ACADEMICS!!

Then getting a PhD is almost a requirement. But for normal human jobs, it may not be.

If your industry is in the IT related industry, current certifications will be more marketable than having a PhD. I have interviewed quite a few CS/IT PhDs for positions and what we look for is current education.

I remember interviewing this applicant back in the early 2000's. He had a PhD from a very prestigious university in Computer Science....from 1968.

I am not a computer guy, but I suspect that computer science has changed a little since 1968. He probably has done some wonderful things in the CS industry since then. The issue was that he had no documented continuing education since then. Sure, he had a PhD from a school I could never get in, but when hiring CS/IT we need currency too.

Compare this with another applicant with a MS in CS and his latest certification was a few months ago. Not a tough hiring choice to make.

So the key is to choose your academic path carefully. Don't just assume that the best path is the BS-MS-PhD path.

Also take in to account your age. How much longer are you going to work in your industry. I received my doctorate when I was in my 50's!

Retrospectively, this was not a wise decision. Factoring in the expense of getting a PhD compared to how much longer I will be working does not make for a favorable equation.

If your industry does not require a PhD, the only reason you should get one is self-actualization

It is doubtful that you will ever earn enough money to compensate for getting a PhD.

You are not going to garner the respect of others if you get a PhD
- People who don't have degrees will criticize you for being an "egghead intellectual" who can't be trusted. Don't kid yourself, there is a prejudice against higher education in the US.

- People with Master's degrees will criticize you for wasting your time getting a PhD (primo flore botrus)

- People with PhDs will criticize you for not getting the "right" PhD or for not attending the "right" school.

You can never win. So don't expect to.

I don't mean to denigrate PhD programs, but I feel that it is very important for anyone considering it, to carefully consider it. I am happy I got my PhD (Self-actualization), but rationally, I waited too long to get one. I did not get my BS until I was 28. I did not get my MS until I was in my mid 30's.

The story may change for those students who can knock down all their degrees by the time they are 25. So take that into account.

I would recommend seeking out senior people in your industry and ask them how they feel about hiring PhDs. When I got my PhD, there was no pay raise, no promotion, almost no recognition. My job did not change at all. That makes justifying all the expense and time a little hard.

My PhD may have helped me get my new job, but in talks with the people on my board, they told me that my having a PhD helped, but was no where close to the deciding factor.

If your industry has such hiring/promotion boards talk to them. Find out from them what they think is important.

Good luck with your decision. PhDs are expensive and emotionally scaring. It is not a path to go down casually.

I can highly recommend reading PhdComics.com We laugh because it is funny. We cry because it is true.

[skidman]

Originally Posted by Platapus

DO NOT GET INTO ACADEMICS!!

Right, took me six years to find out.

[Kapitan]

Thanks Platapus i will answer the questions as they come.

Why are you wanting to get a PhD?

I want to prove to myself that I am capable of doing it.

There are some industries where getting a PhD is important. I would opine that most industries are not like this.

There are very few in my industry that have PHD's and yes quite correct its not really needed although some major companies do ask for PHD level education.

PhDs are expensive, both financially and emotionally. You need to make sure that for your chosen industry that there is a significant pay-off for your investment.

In reality the industry that I am in has already paid for a PHD and then some, money isn't really much of an issue for me I'm quite lucky in that respect.

My opinion? For many industries, getting multiple Master's Degrees that complement themselves may be better.

This is something I would actually look into and right now there is two masters I am looking at one being Masters in Business Administration the other a Level 7 Diploma in my industry (Masters equivalent)

The issue with going down the BS-MS-PhD path is that you are limiting yourself to one path. Sure, at the end, you will be recognized as being a knowledgeable one trick pony... maybe.

The Industry I am in is extremely broad I see the point your making and i am that one trick pony right now I guess.

Now, if your plan is to get into academics..

DO NOT GET INTO ACADEMICS!!

No intention to get into academics.

If your industry is in the IT related industry, current certifications will be more marketable than having a PhD. I have interviewed quite a few CS/IT PhDs for positions and what we look for is current education.

I work in the Logistics, Supply chain and Transport industry.

So the key is to choose your academic path carefully. Don't just assume that the best path is the BS-MS-PhD path

I do want to do a PHD for me it is the personal challenge however i am always open to the options and discussions, I am one of these people who will procrastinate on something for months and then make a decision on the next course of actions, this is basically what I'm doing here is gathering opinions and also sizing up what i can do next and what my options are going forward.

Also take in to account your age. How much longer are you going to work in your industry. I received my doctorate when I was in my 50's!

Well I've got 17 years in the industry in total in various roles from grass roots to senior management, I have taken many qualifications in my industry that all complement each other in one way or another, and right now I'm nearing 33 years old.

If your industry does not require a PhD, the only reason you should get one is self-actualization

This is the exact reason I wish to do it.

You are not going to garner the respect of others if you get a PhD
- People who don't have degrees will criticize you for being an "egghead intellectual" who can't be trusted. Don't kid yourself, there is a prejudice against higher education in the US.

I'm not after any respect, I am a rough and tumble guy that says it very bluntly and how it is, I also have a thick skin and don't intimidate easily, so that side of things doesn't bother me.

I am a British Citizen born in the UK but I Live in Canada at the moment.

If your industry has such hiring/promotion boards talk to them. Find out from them what they think is important.

I am wondering what you mean here? there are a few places that offer jobs to study PHD if that's what your meaning but I'm not sure

Thanks for the tidbits Platapus hope I have answered the questions as you have mine, there will be more no doubt as I still have yet to make my mind up.

[Platapus]

Sounds like you have thought this through.


Unfortunately, it also sounds like you have been seduced to the Dark Side. Forever will it dominate your destiny.


Getting a PhD because you just wanna get one is probably the best reason.


Best of luck with your decision. It will be a long and arduous path, but one that you can be proud of completing.



My comment about the promotion/hiring boards was geared at you finding out what these boards are truly looking for when they make their promotion or hiring decisions. Not every industry has such boards, yours may not.



The point was that if you are considering getting a PhD to get promoted, first find out if getting a PhD will actually help you get promoted. The same with wanting to get a PhD to get hired to another position.


You don't want to go through the trauma of getting a PhD only to find that it will have a minimal influence on your future plans.



Serious advice: If you know of any PhDs in your industry, seek them out and talk to them. Not all PhDs are bitter cynical buttheads like I am.



Each industry is different as are PhD programs. You don't want to get "a" PhD, you want to get "the" PhD that will help you the most.

[Kapitan]

Sounds like you have thought this through.

I have thought it through but the key thing is I am still thinking it through, the real problem I have is that I take months and months to make a decision because I weigh up everything before parting with money.

Getting a PhD because you just wanna get one is probably the best reason.

Best of luck with your decision. It will be a long and arduous path, but one that you can be proud of completing.

Yes id agree this is for me as a person to prove to myself, I am very willing to take a long path and to be honest I should have done this about 6-8 years ago not only that I should have also paid more attention at school and not left when I was 15.

Thanks for wishing me luck I am still a little way to go before I make a final decision yet as I still have about 3 options to whittle down.

My comment about the promotion/hiring boards was geared at you finding out what these boards are truly looking for when they make their promotion or hiring decisions. Not every industry has such boards, yours may not.

I don't think my industry has these boards and to be honest very few universities offer courses in logistics and supply chain, it is a specialist subject I guess but one that affects every person on earth.

The point was that if you are considering getting a PhD to get promoted, first find out if getting a PhD will actually help you get promoted. The same with wanting to get a PhD to get hired to another position.

To be honest most jobs in my field don't require a PHD in fact many don't even require more than a level 3 qualification, however there have been some jobs posted lately specifically in the shipping industry asking for PHD level education.

Serious advice: If you know of any PhDs in your industry, seek them out and talk to them

This is noted, and this is something I have to say I am finding hard because there's not many about its like hens teeth, I have tracked down one guy who is a professor at the University of British Columbia and have asked him his advice so that's a positive but I would like to speak to more for sure.

Each industry is different as are PhD programs. You don't want to get "a" PhD, you want to get "the" PhD that will help you the most.

Indeed this is why I am taking my sweet time making the decision and figuring out which one will help the most, I have to say I probably will be deliberating this for a fair while yet.

Thanks for the advice Platapus it really has been the most helpful I have come across to date I really do appreciate you sharing this with me and I appreciate you taking the time to help me.