3 ms·

I've been in the industry for 12 years and I've been deeply considering going back to school for a PhD. I love working on fundamental CS and I'd greatly enjoy

I've been in the industry for 12 years and I've been deeply considering going back to school for a PhD. I love working on fundamental CS and I'd greatly enjoy the sort of work that I'd have access to during and after a PhD. The challenge is that, for folks who haven't won the equity lottery or racked up FAANG RSUs, it's a huge financial challenge to consider going from an engineering salary to PhD stipend. Considering I still have student loans from my BS, and a spouse who doesn't work that is also being supported on my salary, it's almost impossible to figure out the logistics of working on a PhD full time. I've found a few programs that are open to considering part-time candidates, but they are few and far between, and most of the ones who consider it still strongly recommend against it.

xupybd 8y ago
Yeah this is the problem it’s way to hard to make ends meet later on in life. I wish I’d understood this earlier. Youth is wasted on the young.
fouc 8y ago
Have you heard of http://www.mrmoneymustache.com http://www.mrmoneymustache.com ? If you still have student loans after 12 years in the industry, you might want to re-examine your spending/saving patterns
- rogue7 8y ago
  Just discovered this website, this philosophy looks really interesting! The ultimate goal of early retirement is appealing, so the discipline has a purpose. This might get me somewhere, instead of saving for the sake of getting richer. Thank you for this discovery!
rovr138 8y ago
It’s not the easiest decision. Regarding loans, repayment should stop once you go back. Regarding income, it’s hard at first. You might have to downsize, but also research cost of living. Depending on where you go to, it’s doable. Some universities have housing for people doing their PhDs and for families which is cheaper. Went (going?) through it. My wife is doing her PhD. From 2 really good incomes to one stipend. We don’t live in campus housing so it’s more expensive (savings helped here initially), but we do know of others there with their spouses and some even with kids that are doing good. I found a job after getting here which helped.

xupybd 8y ago

Yeah this is the problem it’s way to hard to make ends meet later on in life. I wish I’d understood this earlier. Youth is wasted on the young.

fouc 8y ago

Have you heard of http://www.mrmoneymustache.com http://www.mrmoneymustache.com ? If you still have student loans after 12 years in the industry, you might want to re-examine your spending/saving patterns

rogue7 8y ago
Just discovered this website, this philosophy looks really interesting! The ultimate goal of early retirement is appealing, so the discipline has a purpose. This might get me somewhere, instead of saving for the sake of getting richer. Thank you for this discovery!

rovr138 8y ago

It’s not the easiest decision. Regarding loans, repayment should stop once you go back. Regarding income, it’s hard at first. You might have to downsize, but also research cost of living. Depending on where you go to, it’s doable. Some universities have housing for people doing their PhDs and for families which is cheaper. Went (going?) through it. My wife is doing her PhD. From 2 really good incomes to one stipend. We don’t live in campus housing so it’s more expensive (savings helped here initially), but we do know of others there with their spouses and some even with kids that are doing good. I found a job after getting here which helped.