Ask HN: Senior FAANG engineer, going back to school for PhD. Is it a bad idea?

Re:Ask HN: Senior FAANG engineer, going back to school for P... by jimmyvalmer on Monday January 17, 2022 @10:19PM (#29974627)

I attempted something similar and I lasted about a day before it dawned upon me that an MS was really what I was after. A PhD is really a young person's game. Just as you don't attend conservatory later in life to become a performance musician, you don't "catch up" on a PhD to become a research scientist -- that boat has sailed. I know it's not what you want to hear, especially since you're already nontrivially invested.

It's sad because I probably stole a slot from some poor, smart kid from Nepal.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Senior FAANG engineer, going back to school for P... by speedgoose on Tuesday January 18, 2022 @12:23AM (#29975454)

I have a co-worker who worked many many years in Research. He is currently the oldest or second oldest employee of a large research organisation. He finished his PhD a few years ago when he was 60+ years old.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Senior FAANG engineer, going back to school for P... by b9r5 on Monday January 17, 2022 @11:32PM (#29975137)

I had a friend in grad school who entered the Ph.D. program after spending four years in industry. He was very passionate about his research area, persistent, a fountain of ideas, and wonderful to talk with. He ended up winning the ACM doctoral dissertation award for his thesis, did research and teaching at a university, and has since returned to industry.

This may be the exception that proves the rule. However I just wanted to point out that there is at least one person who did catch up to become a research scientist, however rare that career path might be.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Senior FAANG engineer, going back to school for P... by unemphysbro on Tuesday January 18, 2022 @09:04PM (#29988948)

I noticed my colleagues that started the PhD with industry experience were often more focused with their goals.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Senior FAANG engineer, going back to school for P... by SheddingPattern on Tuesday January 18, 2022 @04:45AM (#29977030)

That proves the point he was only mid-twenties so still young

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Senior FAANG engineer, going back to school for P... by b9r5 on Tuesday January 18, 2022 @06:26PM (#29987631)

Agreed. Just trying to help OP, who also appears to be young ("I graduated with a CS bachelors degree a few years ago").

[ Parent | on HN ]