Ask YC: PhD, yes or no?

Re:Ask YC: PhD, yes or no? by prakash on Sunday May 04, 2008 @08:39AM (#180763)

That's one way to look at it, the other is to understand the analytic thinking, rigor, patience, new ideas you get out of it -- these are hard to quantify.

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Re:Ask YC: PhD, yes or no? by jgrahamc on Sunday May 04, 2008 @09:07AM (#180781)

But I think I got most of those things from the undergraduate degree.

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Re:Ask YC: PhD, yes or no? by nomad4224 on Sunday May 04, 2008 @11:26AM (#180833)

I think it's a question of sharpening research skills. It's a qualitative deepening of critical thinking, and the step far beyond passable or great to great and original.

I think it's a bit like comparing high school math with university math. Or like saying that you can program after taking a single programing course. :)

Similar skills can be gained elsewhere, are other skill sets are often needed in industry.

I have to agree with the rest - do a PhD if you clearly want to do research/work in academia. If you're just doing it for the credentials - stay far,far away. You might survive, but you will be utterly miserable.

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