do you have a PhD?

[starxlr8]

I work at a University and at least once a week I get asked when I am going to go back to school for my PhD (I have an MS in environmental science and am currently a project manager for a grant). And once a year I go to a conference of a bunch of earth scientists and start thinking about it again - but not in the way you might think.

Going to this conference reminds me that while I am fascinated by hard science, I don't like doing it. My interests are more in social science - questions revolving around rural communities and environmental regulations. So I start thinking about going back to school and here I am totally conflicted.

So here's the big issue. My husband has built his career in our town (also at the University) and intends to retire from his position in 10-15 years. For better or worse, we're not moving anytime soon. I am already in a position of having rather limited job options in our town once my contract is up in 18 months... so if I do go back to school, am I just shooting myself in the foot? From an outside perspective, it seems silly to essentially narrow your options to only one future employer. On the other hand, the only things that are exciting me these days are 1) blogging and 2) this topic I am considering for a PhD.

Any thoughts?

[SeattleSheri]

I don't have a PhD, but my husband's family is full of them :) I think if you feel passionate about something, it might be worth it. Good luck with your decision!

[LenaGardner]

heck no, I don't have a PhD! LOL! This is what would happen if I did. I have a Bachelor's Degree, and at least 12 times a year I get asked when I'm going to "use it" by family members I don't like much anyway. I figure this number would exponentially go up to 24, minimum, if it were an MS, and if I got a PhD, they'd stop hounding me about not working outside of the home and start asking me to cure their gout. O_o

....

My boyfriend has an MA and an MLS and he gets the "why don't you get your PhD?" question all the time. For him, publish or perish just isn't worth it. But for you, if you think it would be smart for you to do...career wise, or just personal fulfillment wise, then go for it! Or you could just sticking to blogging :p

[Angie4b1g]

I want one, but for no reason really. I wouldn't use it. I just like to do outrageous crap. So, if I had the opportunity, I'd get it.

You probably don't want to act like I do, though. LOL

[joelsgirl]

Heather does. :)

I think you should go for it if it is something that interests you.

[rochelle789]

I have a Ph.D. and I'm am employed by the only place I can be employed by in my area. If I lost my job for whatever reason, I would definitely have to move. One thing about having a Ph.D. is that if you just needed any job just to have a job, you probably wouldn't get it because you'd be "overqualified." If your options are really limited, I think that's something to consider. Of course I'm all for furthering your education if that's what you want to do, but in my experience, you can certainly educate yourself out of the job market. Good luck deciding!

[Kara]

I have an MA, and I'd love to get a Ph.D so I can teach full-time at the university I work at. I've taught on an adjunct basis and am now in a staff position but I would need a doctorate to be a full-time faculty member. And I really love learning, so I'd do it just for the intellectual aspect. But at this point in my life, with three small children, it's probably not likely!

[MamaBee]

No phd... I took one class in grad school and realized I was done with college... however, if I did go back, I'd totally switch fields... my BIL has PHD in Biomedical engineering... remember the study earlier this year where they found how to cure color blindness in monkeys? Jim was part of that research... anyhoo... not sure why I told you that....

Back to the present... I think if it's something that you really want to do, then do it! As my grandpa would say... "Education, that is something no one can take away from you..."

[Heather Roselli]

Well, I'm probably not the one to ask...hehe I have a BS in Biochemistry, MS in Biology and PhD. in Pharmacology (and no, that isn't Pharmacy). I used my degree for one year working as a PostDoc here at Vanderbilt University where I got the PhD. I also taught Physiology for one semester while a professor was on sabbatical. Then I had kids, decided to stay home and that was the end of that. I've been "out" for over 8 years now and there is no way I could go back to biomedical research since things have advanced so much and changed. I'd be so out of touch. There would be no way to catch up on all the changes. I don't want to go back - I loved the mysteries of science, but the actual research was too stressful and ultimately unfulfilling. I could start an experiment, work on it for months and get no usable results from it even though I did everything "right". It was so unpredictable and frustrating for me. You could literally ask the same question all your life and still not get an answer!

The only thing I could do now, if I ever go back to work, would be teach at a community college or University undergraduate program or even some private high schools that don't require a degree in education.

So, my point is...be very sure it is worth it to you. If you plan to leave for any amount of time, be sure you can pick it up again. If you don't like the actual "work" part of it, it may not be worth it except to say that you earned a PhD.

btw - the most useful thing my MS thesis and PhD. dissertations have done? The multiple volumes held up the half bath's sink when it fell off the wall during our kitchen renovations!!! Seriously....hehe

[livelys]

I don't have a PhD either, but have my BSc, and can sooooo identify with Lena's comments about her family!!!

I loved working in the Pharma. industry, and doing the research - though as Heather said, most times it went nowhere, I did enjoy the process alot. My other half did get his PhD, though we moved countries to finish it!

Neither of us are in science now, and when we were, we were very poor - science just does not pay, and is horribly undervalued here in the UK. For us the PhD as a family was not worth the stress and poverty it infliced on us - but the pride my husband had in completion was incalcuable - inspite of his family's miserable, grumpy comments!

Tough decision - but you are definitely doing the right thing in getting other opinions, just don't let us jade you too much!

[Sarah8914]

btw - the most useful thing my MS thesis and PhD. dissertations have done? The multiple volumes held up the half bath's sink when it fell off the wall during our kitchen renovations!!! Seriously....hehe

hahah! I love it!!!

I was a graduate secretary for a few years (while going to school myself) and it was hard for me to see the point of getting your PhD unless you liked the research and/or planned to teach at a university. Of course, a BS in the department I worked in would get you NO job, so they had to go on if they wanted to find good work, but still.

If you like research, have time to get a PhD and want to, then why not.

If I go back to school, I don't think it would be to further my degree (I have a BA), but to take random classes that interest me!

But, this is also coming from a SAHM and there's no way I even have time for 1 class right now.

[scrapmonkey]

I don't have my Ph.D., but I can understand what you're thinking. I have 2 Masters degrees, but no one has ever asked me about going to get my Ph.D. since both of them were in business (one MBA and Master in Professional Accounting), neither of which leads people to think you will go after a Ph.D. in the subject. But there has ben a part of me that has wanted to go back to school and get my Masters and Ph.D in Psychology. But my company won't pay for it (since it will not enhance my career at the company), and being the primary (and at times only) breadwinner I cannot drop everything to go for the Masters (nearly all of the Masters programs in the area are day classes only). So this seems like it will be a dream I pursue when I retire (if DH makes enough money to support us).

My father decided later in his life (when he was about 40) to go back and get his Ph.D. in American history, but he was a teacher already. He worked hard on that Ph.D. for nearly 18 years taking one class at a time and spending many research hours on his dissertation. But he did it for himself not for anyone else. Two or three years later, he retired and started teaching at a college as an adjunct professor. Loved it (just not the travel of 1 1/2 hours each way to the college 2-3 times/week).

So I guess I will repeat what others have said - do it if you want and do it the way you want to.

[tlcaudle]

No Ph.D here, but always thought about getting my MS. I have a BS in Biology and want I don't want it to be any more specific. We are a military family and move around alot, so I need some leeway in the type of jobs I can apply for. Of course, I am hoping we don't move anymore!! Only eight more years to go til DH can retire.

You just need to sit down and figure out if this is the right direction for you and your family. In my opinion, if you have a good job and are happy where you are at, there is no reason you should feel you need to get your Ph.D. That is just my opinion.

Good luck with your decision!

[starxlr8]

I have a Ph.D. and I'm am employed by the only place I can be employed by in my area. If I lost my job for whatever reason, I would definitely have to move. One thing about having a Ph.D. is that if you just needed any job just to have a job, you probably wouldn't get it because you'd be "overqualified." If your options are really limited, I think that's something to consider. Of course I'm all for furthering your education if that's what you want to do, but in my experience, you can certainly educate yourself out of the job market. Good luck deciding!

That's my biggest concern, that I might just end up unemployed in 3 years after taking a huge pay cut to be a student.... and I'm not sure I can handle the stress of working and going to school part time. It would be an all or nothing thing for me.

When I was looking for jobs here 2 years ago - I was already considered overqualified for many positions in my field, but at the same time, not being taken seriously since I was only 4 years out of grad school but already at a high salary in my previous government position.

[starxlr8]

So, my point is...be very sure it is worth it to you. If you plan to leave for any amount of time, be sure you can pick it up again. If you don't like the actual "work" part of it, it may not be worth it except to say that you earned a PhD.



Honestly, that is another issue. We're trying to get pregnant right now and it might be a little while due to infertility issues. It's not really the best time to be starting something new. All the BD-ing, charting, and soon, drugs, are stressful enough!

I wouldn't go back until Fall of 2011, but at this rate, I may not even have a baby by then!

[starxlr8]

In my opinion, if you have a good job and are happy where you are at, there is no reason you should feel you need to get your Ph.D. That is just my opinion.

Good luck with your decision!

If I had a good job and was happy, I wouldn't be considering this. I had a great job that I loved, but I chose (and it was the right decision), to leave it to move here for my fairytale happy ending. I am satisfied in my life in so many ways right now, except for the job aspect.

My contract is up in May 2011 and I don't see this project getting funded again, at least at our University. I think my boss is considering retiring and doesn't want to be in charge of something so large anymore. I also don't love it because I don't feel passionate about what the group is doing. I used to really be into research-foresearch, but after working in government, seeing direct application/benefit in research has become important to me. I enjoy my project management role, but I wish I was more excited about what I was managing.

[starxlr8]

Thanks for listening everyone. As I mentioned, I am so happy in all the other aspects of my life. If blogging could get me even a 1/2 - 3/4 income, I would just be tickled pink... but in reality... I don't think my domestic-oriented topics are ever going to generate more than vacation/fun money. I'm no Pioneer Woman!

[rochelle789]

I totally understand your dilemma! Is an adjunct teaching position potentially available at your current university? If not, given what you've described about your city's employment options, getting a Ph.D. just might not be the best option right now. Or could you wait 5 years to start on your Ph.D., after which time your husband will be that much closer to retirement and may be available to move to a place where you can get a job? Just my rambling thoughts as someone who certainly can relate....

[rach3975]

So here's the big issue. My husband has built his career in our town (also at the University) and intends to retire from his position in 10-15 years. For better or worse, we're not moving anytime soon. I am already in a position of having rather limited job options in our town once my contract is up in 18 months... so if I do go back to school, am I just shooting myself in the foot? From an outside perspective, it seems silly to essentially narrow your options to only one future employer. On the other hand, the only things that are exciting me these days are 1) blogging and 2) this topic I am considering for a PhD.

Any thoughts?

I only have an MPH, but my father has a PhD in aeronautical engineering, a field that you can only do with a limited number of employers. When I was a child there were a few places near us (a couple of universities and a few firms within an hour or so) that he could work. Sometimes he had a job at one of them, and sometimes budget cuts in his field or grants that ended meant he didn't. During those times he was faced with working several hours away from us or moving the family. Moving was out for many reasons, so several times he had to live away from us for a job or take a job well below what he was qualified for. I think that only you can decide if the PhD is worth it to you, since there are reasons other than employability to do it, but if it were me I'd be very hesitant to put so much time and money into something that would make me employable by only 1 place.

[kim21673]

No PhD here...I have a BS is Elem Ed, minor in Zoology and *almost* a MS in Reading....when DH and I got married almost 5 years ago we moved to Northern IL, which meant I had to quit my teaching and coaching job....I can't find a darn job anywhere now....I taught for 9 years and have 22 hours towards a masters degree and no place wants to pay me!!!!! So....I stay home with the boys and scrap!! LOL

[LeeAndra]

I'm a big advocate of education, but I think it would be silly at this point in your life to get your PhD. Perhaps intellectually satisfying and 'fun' for awhile, but once you graduated, you'd be out a whole lotta money and nowhere to go with it.

I have a B.A. in English & Creative Writing which has proven absolutely worthless in my adult life. I have had two temp jobs that required having a bachelor's degree, but neither job required any specific knowledge I gained through my B.A.; I could have easily done both jobs at the end of high school. The only 'grownup' job I've had since I graduated college 7 years ago was one I acquired because I had grown up with the boss' daughter, so I'm a much bigger advocate of 'it's all who you know' rather than a degree getting you anywhere. My DH is in the same dilemma as he has a B.S. and M.B.A. and has been unsuccessful in his job search the last 6+ months. Any jobs that an M.B.A. is required for won't hire him because he doesn't have any experience, and any jobs that require a B.S. won't hire him because he has an M.B.A. and is overqualified.

I think it'd be much more productive for you to search out other careers in the area with the education and experience you already have. Good luck! I know what a PITA it is. :)

[starxlr8]

I'm a big advocate of education, but I think it would be silly at this point in your life to get your PhD. Perhaps intellectually satisfying and 'fun' for awhile, but once you graduated, you'd be out a whole lotta money and nowhere to go with it.


I appreciate your frank honesty. I'm only 29, so not exactly an old student, but it perhaps limiting my options even further than they are is the issue. Fortunately though, I wouldn't incur any debt in the process since I would be able to TA, do research, get fellowships and grants.

[Paula]

No PhD here, but I am working on my Masters degree right now in English Literature.

[beaucat]

I have a PhD and teach at the University level. It does limit potential jobs because there only a few colleges/universities in a state and most of them aren't hiring at any given time. Luckily, my field is in high demand and pays well.

Be careful if you want to stay where you are now - normally if you receive your PhD from a university, you won't be hired to work at that university. (I know a few exceptions but they worked somewhere else for years and had fabulous research records before they went back to their home university.)

[Nettio]

I don't have a PhD but several of my family members do and my sister is currently working on hers in Near Eastern Archaeology.

I guess my big question would be what exactly you're hoping to achieve with a PhD. It doesn't sound like you need it to progress in your field and I'm not sure going because you're bored with your job is the right answer either. Plus I wouldn't call the amount of work or stress "fun" either. My sister's comment was the only people who complete their PhD's are the people who are too stubborn to admit defeat. :p

That's not to say that you shouldn't do it, just that you should make sure that the amount of work is truly worth it to you. Worse-case, if you get your PhD and then can't find a job and your old job is gone, would you still be glad you did it? I think that's kind of the question you have to be asking.

[jsikardi]

I also have a PhD.

It did limit my career (to basically teaching --> the publish or perish), and now that I've taken time off (7 years, to be a mom) I don't think that I'll be able to go back into my field.

That being said - I went through with the torture (and yes. stubbornness) when I was young. I didn't incur much debt because of the program (I worked for the state and TA'd) - and I don't regret it. When I started, it was because I didn't know what I wanted to be/do - so furthering my education seemed like the logical thing.

Good luck!