Re:Ask HN: Are there any other reasons to accept a PhD offer?
by ToPhDorNotToPhd on Thursday March 10, 2011 @06:20AM
(#2308862)
Answers:
Married: No
Cash: Not a ton (maybe a years worth)
Smarts: Maybe (on my best days)
Motivation: Yes (over the last 2 years at least....though over the last two years I had a clear goal: academia. Without that, I'm not certain that my doubts won't get in the way).
And agreed. If I were 21, this would probably be an easy decision. I'd just go, push through and see where it took me. At 31 though, I have other goals that I'm not sure if I'll be able to meet if I do the PhD. I'd probably have to put off getting married, having kids, etc. Not to mention, putting away cash will be almost impossible.
So, this seems risky. I could end up in my late 30s with some really interesting publications, but limited funds and no idea where I'd be finding a job.
Married: No
Cash: Not a ton (maybe a years worth)
Smarts: Maybe (on my best days)
Motivation: Yes (over the last 2 years at least....though over the last two years I had a clear goal: academia. Without that, I'm not certain that my doubts won't get in the way).
And agreed. If I were 21, this would probably be an easy decision. I'd just go, push through and see where it took me. At 31 though, I have other goals that I'm not sure if I'll be able to meet if I do the PhD. I'd probably have to put off getting married, having kids, etc. Not to mention, putting away cash will be almost impossible.
So, this seems risky. I could end up in my late 30s with some really interesting publications, but limited funds and no idea where I'd be finding a job.