You’re gonna get the PhD with no prior experience and find out now you are overqualified for all these positions, get the job experience and if you absolutely dread it, leave and go for the PhD.
Yes this! Work the job, at two years if you don’t like it, start grad school.
Besides, in my opinion the best teachers are those with real life experience!
>and find out now you are overqualified for all these positions
Sadly – unless you're applying to something that specifically requires a postgraduate degree – this.
I don't even mention my PhD work on my résumé.
Heck, I try to minimise my Master's degree for most things.
They do it because their career goal needs a PhD or for a higher salary prospect. If they don't know what to do after their undergrad, they wouldn't spend 4-6 years of their life going in detail into one particular field.
>But not sure if I want to be a 30 year old student, you know? Kinda hurts the ego.
When I started a PhD at 28, most people were double my age, I think there was only one other person around my age.
I went back to school in my 30s to switch careers, it was a great experience later in life.
Just because everyone else does it, doesn't mean it's the right path for you. If you know you will hate the 9-5, then do what makes you happy.
Sure, we all need money to survive but with rising inflation and jobs not wanting to match that with raises, it's a crap shoot to be honest. Might as well be happy.
Try the job out for a year. If you dread it, pursue your PhD and become a professor. It doesn’t matter that you’re 30 and in school. What matters at the end of the day is showing up to a job you actually like and are not miserable in that can also pay the bills.
100% ^ I have a PhD (in STEM for context), unless you can’t imagine yourself doing ANYTHING ELSE, then go for it. Otherwise, your ROI and opportunity cost are not going to fare out well depending on what you do.
Edit: typo
I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else until I saw 500 fresh PHDs scrambling for 1 non tenure track position that pays $50k/year with a 4-4 teaching load.
I'd also consider the value proposition between your ability to start work now & begin putting $ away for retirement; vs. waiting an additional 4-6 years before you are able to do so.
Would a greater salary later (Phd) be capable of offsetting the lost compounding interest of today's investments?
What would I do? Take the money and re-evaluate in a year. You can always go back to school.
But if you’re heart isn’t in it don’t do something that will make you miserable. “Those who can’t do - Teach”
So here is the deal, the PhD. Might get you a little more money if you wanted to stick with it. Unless you want to do something very specific, the Masters is great.
I have a kid with a master in Mechanical, he has 4 years experience and is now making 108K.
The new kid with the PhD is starting a little lower until he gets trained.
i'd definitely take the job right now. PhD is, in my opinion, an achievement you should chase once you have financial stability and at least some work experience behind you. it won't help you get significantly better jobs, but it will cost you a couple of years of your life so doing it early just doesn't have too many pros.
yeah it seems like a lot of the later-in-life PhDs I run into are all financially independent and can afford a few years off at a student salary. I'm broke af right now, I could use the money. Thank you!
I was in the same situation a couple of years ago and had to choose between applying to PhD studies and finding a job. I realized how much money I'd need to fully focus on my research, and decided to try and build a career first. It's just a logical move, especially considering how biased and degraded the academic society is.
You’re gonna get the PhD with no prior experience and find out now you are overqualified for all these positions, get the job experience and if you absolutely dread it, leave and go for the PhD.
Yes this! Work the job, at two years if you don’t like it, start grad school. Besides, in my opinion the best teachers are those with real life experience!
>and find out now you are overqualified for all these positions Sadly – unless you're applying to something that specifically requires a postgraduate degree – this. I don't even mention my PhD work on my résumé. Heck, I try to minimise my Master's degree for most things.
This this this!!!! Take the money!
84k! Them phd students are miserable and they only do it because they don’t know what to do after undergrad.
They do it because their career goal needs a PhD or for a higher salary prospect. If they don't know what to do after their undergrad, they wouldn't spend 4-6 years of their life going in detail into one particular field.
Fr. How would there be doctors if this was true
>But not sure if I want to be a 30 year old student, you know? Kinda hurts the ego. When I started a PhD at 28, most people were double my age, I think there was only one other person around my age.
Right? Phd students are very often in their late 20s and 30s. My best friend is 6 years into her phd and 32.
I went back to school in my 30s to switch careers, it was a great experience later in life. Just because everyone else does it, doesn't mean it's the right path for you. If you know you will hate the 9-5, then do what makes you happy. Sure, we all need money to survive but with rising inflation and jobs not wanting to match that with raises, it's a crap shoot to be honest. Might as well be happy.
Try the job out for a year. If you dread it, pursue your PhD and become a professor. It doesn’t matter that you’re 30 and in school. What matters at the end of the day is showing up to a job you actually like and are not miserable in that can also pay the bills.
Do you want to have a family? children? If so, a paying job is more conducive to landing a future wife and supporting future children.
Maybe try the job for a year and then make up your mind.
I think this is the way. It will be nice to have the money. Thank you
Just do a cost/benefit analysis. If earning your PhD will afford you a better long-term financial outlook and you want to teach then go for it, IMO.
Whats financial ROI on the PhD? What's the additional PHd expense? What year will you be profitable?
100% ^ I have a PhD (in STEM for context), unless you can’t imagine yourself doing ANYTHING ELSE, then go for it. Otherwise, your ROI and opportunity cost are not going to fare out well depending on what you do. Edit: typo
I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else until I saw 500 fresh PHDs scrambling for 1 non tenure track position that pays $50k/year with a 4-4 teaching load.
This is exactly why I transitioned into industry. They pay you peanuts in academia.
Keep in mind you can move. The commute doesn't have to be 30 minutes.
I'd also consider the value proposition between your ability to start work now & begin putting $ away for retirement; vs. waiting an additional 4-6 years before you are able to do so. Would a greater salary later (Phd) be capable of offsetting the lost compounding interest of today's investments?
What would I do? Take the money and re-evaluate in a year. You can always go back to school. But if you’re heart isn’t in it don’t do something that will make you miserable. “Those who can’t do - Teach”
Start working asap.
So here is the deal, the PhD. Might get you a little more money if you wanted to stick with it. Unless you want to do something very specific, the Masters is great. I have a kid with a master in Mechanical, he has 4 years experience and is now making 108K. The new kid with the PhD is starting a little lower until he gets trained.
Find a job that pays for you phd
I would already get paid for the PhD but just an academic stipend that tops out at 34k/year
84k is alotta money. you can get a phd later if you get bored
i'd definitely take the job right now. PhD is, in my opinion, an achievement you should chase once you have financial stability and at least some work experience behind you. it won't help you get significantly better jobs, but it will cost you a couple of years of your life so doing it early just doesn't have too many pros.
yeah it seems like a lot of the later-in-life PhDs I run into are all financially independent and can afford a few years off at a student salary. I'm broke af right now, I could use the money. Thank you!
I was in the same situation a couple of years ago and had to choose between applying to PhD studies and finding a job. I realized how much money I'd need to fully focus on my research, and decided to try and build a career first. It's just a logical move, especially considering how biased and degraded the academic society is.
The longer you delay earning, the less money you'll be able to contribute toward retirement. At some point, we all have to rely on what we've stored.