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/sci/ - Science & Math

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14954833 No.14954833 [Reply] [Original]

Generally speaking, is a PhD in STEM worth it?

>> No.14954837

>>14954833
yes if a company is paying for it

>> No.14954847

>>14954833
Is a long-term, philosophical research study in a Science, Tech, Engineering or Mathematics field, and the corresponding state approved certification that comes with the completion of the program, "worth it"?

What is 'it'? What are your aims and vocational aspirations? You haven't asked us a legitimate question yet since we haven't defined all the terms

>> No.14954858

on a financial level, no

>> No.14954862

The problem with PhDs is they take an absurd amount of time, 6-7 years, and you could be making STEM wages and building experience during that time.

>> No.14954865

if you go straight into the work force with an engineering bachelor's you'll start around 70K and after 7 years you'll be above 100K and probably in some type of leadership/management position.
conversely you can do a phd and live in squalor for those 7 years and then at the end you get....what? social prestige that doesn't really buy you anything?

>> No.14954892

>>14954865
I guess you've highlighted each path based on what you value: If you like mathematics and engineering, but don't want it to consume your life,and you want to enjoy other facets of life as well, it's probably best to get a bachelors in an Engineering discipline from a reputable school and work in engineering right out of undergrad.

If, on the other hand, you are obsessed with mathematics theory and principle and it's all you want to be doing all the time, ath advancing the field becomes your 'life', regardless as to other enjoyments or qualities of life, a PhD is probably more preferable for you.

>> No.14954905

>>14954858
>>14954862
This. Only do a PhD if you are passionate about a subject at the EXPENSE of better wages

>> No.14954973

>>14954905
>>14954892
>>14954865
>>14954862
>>14954858
So a PhD for getting a better salary, is mostly a meme.

>> No.14954976

>>14954973
It's completely a meme. You're overqualified for every private sector job except tenured university teaching.

>> No.14954999

>>14954973
Yes, it is. In the popular mind, PhD=lots of money. It's actually rarely true, though. The confusion comes about by conflating MD with PhD. Medical Doctors will pretty much make minimum lowish 6 figures to start if they came from a reputable medical school/residency. An MD-PhD, a combination of in-depth medical school training along with deep academic research in a medical field discipline, will make a shitload of money: Think running their own practice and making millions a year minimum.

But a straight PhD is just a title that says "I spent 4-7 years in deep research on a very specific theory within the this specific field with the intent on deepening research and understanding in this one field or topic, with the hopes that it can be drawn upon in other studies/disciplines to continue to improve research in this field in the future". It's why people with PhD's often work at colleges and universities teaching, since they have spent most of their academic and professional life at Universities conducting research. once they are on College faculties, they typically go from performing the field research work themselves, to moderating and guiding the fieldwork of young students/professionals.

>> No.14955022

>>14954976
There is no such thing as being overqualified. If you are applying to a job that demands X skills then you learn X and demonstrate it. If you really think a job would reject you for having a pretty huge dick then just don't tell them that.

>> No.14955033

>>14955022
If one is truly "Overqualified" for a job, you can ask for whatever starting salary you want and if they say no, go somewhere where you aren't 'overqualified" and they should meet your number.

>> No.14955107

yes

you want to make your mom happy

>> No.14955179

>>14955107
oh look, it's the classic
>woman doesn't have anything to offer the world by their own merit, so they dump out a dead end to claim any credit of the spawn's success in life, but quick to deny any and all accountability for their shortcomings during their upbringing if things don't work out in their favor
cliché

>> No.14955375

If you can get into a similar research position after your PhD and its in a financially promising area, it'll probably pay more than what your wages would be after working for 4 - 6 years.

>> No.14955581

fuck cuckgineers

>> No.14955618

>>14954833
You want PhD in science, technology, engineering and mathematics? That's like 100 PhDs, dude.

>> No.14955619

>>14954973
Ashen S. is PhD in psychology and he makes money by making unboxing videos.

>> No.14955755

>>14954973
Is that even true? PhDs are there to open up jobs in research more than anything. If you get one and then start working in a completely normal career field then you'll have wasted your time

>> No.14955904

>>14955022
>There is no such thing as being overqualified.
you sacrifice 4-6 years of prime working years for learning about retarded phd shit. overqualified is just a nice way of saying you wasted your time

>> No.14955905

>>14954833
Only if you intend to go through the pain of the scientific career. Otherwise just get the shorter one and commute to company market. Total waste of time if you are not gonna do the scientist.

>> No.14956252

>>14955904
>prime working years
Wew. Drone mentality is real

>> No.14956307

>>14954833
nope. stop at a masters.

>> No.14956343

>>14955619
>Stuart Ashen
>Philosopher's Doctorate
>Psychology
Unexpected information.

>> No.14956420

>>14956307
Well in my country an engineering degree is 5 years. If you want to be a an engineer you have to get a masters.

>> No.14956423

just bombed my qual exam AMA

>> No.14956425

>>14954833
Sometines yes but in general no. Most people regret it

>> No.14956438

>>14956423
What happened fren? What field?

t. just started Applied Math PhD and am pretty spooked about quals this year.

>> No.14956442

>>14956438
ECE, I'm terrible at presenting and ended up rushing through everything despite knowing the content. Gl with yours

>> No.14956467

>>14954833
No, but a masters is worth it. The absolute best route for most STEM careers is a bachelor -> 1-2 years of work -> Masters degree

That combo is deadly and basically opens up doors across the world. Getting a doctorate isn't bad per say, but unless you're really committed to your autistic field, it's not worth it. Personally I like math a lot, but I'm not particularly infatuated with any subfield, so I stopped at the masters level. I currently work a high-tier position with the federal government (while always taking some graduate class on the side for fun on the taxpayers dime).

>> No.14956544
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14956544

>>14954833
I started working in oil and gas right after i graduated with my Bachelor.

A friend of mine who kept on doing studying, and did his Masters, and is now doing a PhD.

I make about twice ~50 / ~60 percent more than him at the end of the month.
But then again. If you really love what you do, then it's worth it. He loves what he does at his PhD, I am completely happy doing what I do.

>> No.14956779

>>14954973
no shit, in my country it's well known by everybody that someone with a PhD will be paid the exact same of someone with a bachelor, except he is almost 10 years older. You're doing it because you like it, not for money

>> No.14957189

>>14954833
I have never met a PhD student that was happy. I wouldn't do it if you arent sure and passionate about the subject. Sure it is neat to get a PhD but spending five years to get it a huge cost instead of moving on from uni and doing more fun and interesting things as a young person

>> No.14957201

>>14957189
People need to not be afraid to do scientific researchg and study themselves. You don't need as much money and funding as you think. Some times you can find all you need at Highschools and ask their chemistry/physics lab if you can rent out the classroom once school is out. Most will say yes for the free department $$$, especially private schools (public schools have more red-tape)

The models which we have created in research institutions have their basis in structure from men who conducted those studies indipendently of any institution of higher learning. Let that sink in for a second when you think that you simply 'have' to go to a top level research university to dive into theoretical scientific coursework and discovery.

>> No.14957243

>>14957189
Also, just because you arent happy doesn't mean it wont be worth it. It wont always be miserable but it often will. If you chose to persue a PhD you should do it for a passion for the subject, and with a plan what you want to do with the PhD afterwards. If you are doing it for the prestige of having a PhD you are in it for the wrong reason.

>> No.14957247

>>14954833
you should always try to do difficult things that fill you with a sense of accomplishment. avoid easy things.

>> No.14958437

>>14954973
a good PhD definitely leads to better positions/ranks in a company, you'll also be much more autonomous and get to work on interesting problems.
But all of that is only true when the PhD is from a top 10 school, otherwise, not worth the effort.
Only do a PhD if it's at harvard, mit, berkeley, stanford and princeton, otherwise just don't.

>> No.14958483

>>14956442
I'm bad at presenting too but I have this kind of drunken master approach where I stumble through everything and look like a disheveled mess but occasionally score a crit and then everyone decides it's too dangerous to question me because they can't tell if I'm a retard or a genius.

>> No.14958575

>>14954865
The main benefit I see is being able to live anywhere and just have an easy job at a college, but you would still be better if you got your phd after some experience and just teach once youre burned out.

>> No.14960239

>>14954833
Would it be possible to take the FE/ get an engineering license with a physics BS?

>> No.14960439

>>14954833
Wtf? No.
Get your ass as far away from academia as possible and get to work.

>> No.14960500

>>14960239
You'll have to check for your state but I believe most require an ABET accredited engineering bachelor's to sit for the test.

>> No.14961762

>>14960500
Do you think if I grabbed a masters in materials science I could snatch an engineering job?
I like high level math and working with my hands

>> No.14962545

>>14958437
This is a common misconception. Undergrad is where the prestige matters. They limit supply of undergrads. Grads are employees and they take lots of them. Nobody cares that your grad degree was at a fancy school. State school with big name researchers is often fantastic.

>> No.14962560

>>14954833
No, because you could have got an MD and made a lot more money.

>> No.14962641

>>14957201
Do you really think high school chemistry and physics labs have the equipment necessary to do research?

>> No.14962662

>>14954847
you're pedantic and obnoxious

>> No.14963574

>>14957201
>Some times you can find all you need at Highschools and ask their chemistry/physics lab if you can rent out the classroom once school is out.
yeah most high schools have a fluorescence microscope and DNA sequencing machinery or other such million dollar items

>> No.14963587

>>>14954833
Only if an employer has a position ready for you.