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I would love to have a PhD, and the associated prestige. I like academics and would probably enjoy the classes. I looked into it a few years back, I was absol

I would love to have a PhD, and the associated prestige. I like academics and would probably enjoy the classes. I looked into it a few years back, I was absolutely stunned at the amount of institutional butt-kissery that was associated with it. That, and the fact that most of the PhD programmers I know are not any different from the average has convinced me to stay put.

hatmatrix 7y ago
> enjoy the classes You might be teaching some classes (or grading, most likely) - but you won't be taking much of them. PhDs are about doing research. Having said that there are certainly a lot of PhDs who are not above average.
chrisseaton 7y ago
> enjoy the classes But you don't really do 'classes' as a PhD student. At that point you should be the world expert in your subject so who would be teaching you :)
- michaelmior 7y ago
  In my field, it seems most PhD students spend the majority of at least their first year taking classes. But it's true that the overall course load is significantly less than bachelor's degree. Of course you don't come into a PhD program already being an expert. Even if you are, there's certainly much to learn about related fields.
- barry-cotter 7y ago
  > But you don't really do 'classes' as a PhD student. In the US almost all programmes begin with a two year long Ph.D. student period at the end of which, assuming you pass your qualifying exams you can drop out with a Master’s. Once those are done you absolutely must focus on research though if you haven’t started on it already you’re behind. After the Master’s you’re a Ph.D. candidate. Somewhere in this period, if you’re doing it right you’re very likely to become the world’s leading expert on your particular, extremely narrow field. Then, or while becoming that expert you write up your thesis, defend it and get the degree. In the UK it’s still possible to go directly from Bachelor’s to Ph.D. candidate and be done in three years but the trend is away from this, at least in the exact and social sciences.
- bonoboTP 7y ago
  > At that point you should be the world expert in your subject Well, maybe by the end of your PhD, but certainly not at the start, when coming out of the MSc.
barry-cotter 7y ago
A Ph.D. is not about the classes, it’s about the research. The classes are to prepare you to do research. If you’re interested in the classes do a Master’s. Georgia Tech has a great one in CS for under $10K[1] and the University of London has many in other fields for not much more[2]. [1] https://www.omscs.gatech.edu/ https://www.omscs.gatech.edu/ [2] https://london.ac.uk/ways-study/distance-learning https://london.ac.uk/ways-study/distance-learning
- bigred100 7y ago
  Yeah indeed. In a very course heavy program you might take 12 courses. At two per semester that’s half of your 40 hour week for 3 of 5 years. That means you’re spending 30% max on coursework. Even less if you include your summers as working weeks. Say like 15-20% then.
lawlorino 7y ago
> I was absolutely stunned at the amount of institutional butt-kissery that was associated with it. What does this mean
majos 7y ago
> most of the PhD programmers I know are not any different from the average Very few computer science PhDs are set up to make you better at programming. In fact, the unstructured and unreviewed quality of much research code might make you worse at programming. The goal of a PhD is to get better at research and communicating your research. If you’re not interested in research, do not do a PhD.

hatmatrix 7y ago

> enjoy the classes You might be teaching some classes (or grading, most likely) - but you won't be taking much of them. PhDs are about doing research. Having said that there are certainly a lot of PhDs who are not above average.

chrisseaton 7y ago

> enjoy the classes But you don't really do 'classes' as a PhD student. At that point you should be the world expert in your subject so who would be teaching you :)

michaelmior 7y ago
In my field, it seems most PhD students spend the majority of at least their first year taking classes. But it's true that the overall course load is significantly less than bachelor's degree. Of course you don't come into a PhD program already being an expert. Even if you are, there's certainly much to learn about related fields.
barry-cotter 7y ago
> But you don't really do 'classes' as a PhD student. In the US almost all programmes begin with a two year long Ph.D. student period at the end of which, assuming you pass your qualifying exams you can drop out with a Master’s. Once those are done you absolutely must focus on research though if you haven’t started on it already you’re behind. After the Master’s you’re a Ph.D. candidate. Somewhere in this period, if you’re doing it right you’re very likely to become the world’s leading expert on your particular, extremely narrow field. Then, or while becoming that expert you write up your thesis, defend it and get the degree. In the UK it’s still possible to go directly from Bachelor’s to Ph.D. candidate and be done in three years but the trend is away from this, at least in the exact and social sciences.
bonoboTP 7y ago
> At that point you should be the world expert in your subject Well, maybe by the end of your PhD, but certainly not at the start, when coming out of the MSc.

barry-cotter 7y ago

A Ph.D. is not about the classes, it’s about the research. The classes are to prepare you to do research. If you’re interested in the classes do a Master’s. Georgia Tech has a great one in CS for under $10K[1] and the University of London has many in other fields for not much more[2]. [1] https://www.omscs.gatech.edu/ https://www.omscs.gatech.edu/ [2] https://london.ac.uk/ways-study/distance-learning https://london.ac.uk/ways-study/distance-learning

bigred100 7y ago
Yeah indeed. In a very course heavy program you might take 12 courses. At two per semester that’s half of your 40 hour week for 3 of 5 years. That means you’re spending 30% max on coursework. Even less if you include your summers as working weeks. Say like 15-20% then.

lawlorino 7y ago

> I was absolutely stunned at the amount of institutional butt-kissery that was associated with it. What does this mean

majos 7y ago

> most of the PhD programmers I know are not any different from the average Very few computer science PhDs are set up to make you better at programming. In fact, the unstructured and unreviewed quality of much research code might make you worse at programming. The goal of a PhD is to get better at research and communicating your research. If you’re not interested in research, do not do a PhD.