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Cost of living and income inequality are soaring. Huge swaths of the population are living in crippling debt because they believed that it was worth it to spend

Cost of living and income inequality are soaring. Huge swaths of the population are living in crippling debt because they believed that it was worth it to spend tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars to go to school and learn about what interested them, only to find out it didn’t lead anywhere and they have hamstrung themselves financially for the rest of their lives. It shouldn’t be surprising that people are putting a premium on financial stability these days.

michaelt 2y ago
HN has been like this forever, it's not a recent thing. When the tech job market and startup ecosystem is weak, HN will say you shouldn't do a PhD because of the cost of living and the worrying job market once you get out. When the tech job market and startup ecosystem is strong, HN will say you shouldn't do a PhD because of the opportunity cost and the attractive job market that'll pay six figures to anyone with a pulse.
- melagonster 2y ago
  Obviously, this is because computer science offers many interesting jobs. But in other regions, these jobs are hidden after Phd.
- xp84 2y ago
  And neither is a controversial take, especially for most technologists. Even those who love learning for its own sake will probably find it fulfilling to learn on the job provided they can get a job in a research-oriented company in the niche that interests them, and earning six figures a year instead of paying nearly as much for the privilege of doing menial labor in a doctoral program is certainly attractive. I have no hate for PhDs or aspiring ones, but I can't relate to someone who would brush past either of those two arguments you cited without some very strong counterarguments on how they will work out supporting themselves and paying back those enormous loans.
  - aleph_minus_one 2y ago
    > Even those who love learning for its own sake will probably find it fulfilling to learn on the job provided they can get a job in a research-oriented company in the niche that interests them The assumption that you'll be able to find such a job is exactly the big question mark.
xanderlewis 2y ago
> it didn’t lead anywhere It didn't lead to a job, you mean? There's a lot out there to be gained from education other than getting a job afterwards.

michaelt 2y ago

HN has been like this forever, it's not a recent thing. When the tech job market and startup ecosystem is weak, HN will say you shouldn't do a PhD because of the cost of living and the worrying job market once you get out. When the tech job market and startup ecosystem is strong, HN will say you shouldn't do a PhD because of the opportunity cost and the attractive job market that'll pay six figures to anyone with a pulse.

melagonster 2y ago
Obviously, this is because computer science offers many interesting jobs. But in other regions, these jobs are hidden after Phd.
xp84 2y ago
And neither is a controversial take, especially for most technologists. Even those who love learning for its own sake will probably find it fulfilling to learn on the job provided they can get a job in a research-oriented company in the niche that interests them, and earning six figures a year instead of paying nearly as much for the privilege of doing menial labor in a doctoral program is certainly attractive. I have no hate for PhDs or aspiring ones, but I can't relate to someone who would brush past either of those two arguments you cited without some very strong counterarguments on how they will work out supporting themselves and paying back those enormous loans.
- aleph_minus_one 2y ago
  > Even those who love learning for its own sake will probably find it fulfilling to learn on the job provided they can get a job in a research-oriented company in the niche that interests them The assumption that you'll be able to find such a job is exactly the big question mark.

xanderlewis 2y ago

> it didn’t lead anywhere It didn't lead to a job, you mean? There's a lot out there to be gained from education other than getting a job afterwards.