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I find it interesting how many articles and people on HN say something similar. I had basically the opposite thoughts (and outcomes) from my PhD. I loved the 5
by atty 4y ago
I find it interesting how many articles and people on HN say something similar. I had basically the opposite thoughts (and outcomes) from my PhD. I loved the 5 years I spent in my program, I learned a ton about super interesting topics, I learned a ton of very applicable skills, I met and befriended many extremely intelligent and kind individuals, and I immediately got a job after graduating. I’m still at that job, and it’s amazing, 2 and a half years later. (And I didn’t do my work at an Ivy League or anything, I was at Wayne State in Detroit).
Frankly, the only thing I wish I would have realized beforehand is that you’re basically forming your young adult friend group with a bunch of people who are going to be spread out over the globe in ~5 years. That part is hard. Everything else was great.
- marcosfelt 4y agoWhat field were you in? I feel like PhDs in fields with a strong job market for R&D (e.g., machine learning, biomedical or chemical engineering) can be worth it. I think, otherwise, it can be really difficult.
- dont__panic 4y agoFrankly, the only thing I wish I would have realized beforehand is that you’re basically forming your young adult friend group with a bunch of people who are going to be spread out over the globe in ~5 years. For a lot of us, this is a problem with standard 4-year college as well. It's frustrating that it's so hard to colocate with college friends once your careers have taken you all in different directions (often with very little choice in the matter). I suspect that's responsible for a big chunk of social dysfunction in the USA today: so many people spend 4 years building a circle of friends, and it fractures irreparably 5 minutes after graduation.