5 ms·
Why are we even discussing this? I remember reading Chand's blog post when it was first written and found it unbelievable. First of all, it doesn't even _try_
by nickm12 12y ago
Why are we even discussing this?
I remember reading Chand's blog post when it was first written and found it unbelievable. First of all, it doesn't even _try_ to find evidence of a so-called "PhD-Industry Gap" beyond his own personal experience. This rehash, written a few days later, doesn't try either. Is there any actual evidence for the claim that industry doesn't want CS PhDs?
As someone with a CS PhD from a top school, my own anecdotal evidence is that there are lots of companies, both established and startup, who are interested in such people for programming positions. I'm with the professors and industry veterans who found Chand's story incredible. Either he was extremely unlucky or, more likely, there was something else going on with him personally that turned off these companies.
- aortega 12y agoAnecdotal evidence is useless. The truth is, to learn any information about the usefullness of a PhD you need a proper study following the life of a group of people with CS PhDs, and a control group without CS PhDs. And then, what is "usefullness" anyway? net worth? happiness? My theory is that, like most professions, you are born a PhD. If you are not one, then don't waste time getting it. You'll be miserable.
- nickm12 12y agoI don't think anecdotal evidence or non-controlled studies are useless, but they do have their limitations. In this case, though, the original article is laughably bad. To quote: "As a scientist, I had already been gathering data about that question. Each time I was rejected from a job, I asked the companies for reasons." From this "data" the conclusion was made that there exists some sort of "Ph.D.-industry gap".
- aortega 12y agoHeh. The conclusion should be "I have some sort of Ph.D.-industry gap"