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The value of a Ph.D isn't in the knowledge you learn or papers you read, it's in demonstrating the ability to take on a vaguely-specified original research task

The value of a Ph.D isn't in the knowledge you learn or papers you read, it's in demonstrating the ability to take on a vaguely-specified original research task where you can't see the eventual outcome at the beginning, and drive it forward until you come up with something useful. All without having the support of other people who actually know what they're doing to guide you. Fair, and I think it's pretty obvious that the education of a PhD (including the meta-education of having to teach yourself how to solve a new problem) is quite valuable, and that it's relatively rare that a person gains that outside of a degree program. I don't like the hypocrisy and inconsistency. There are a lot of jobs that (even if the work doesn't require it) expect an advanced degree in the better jobs, but refuse to ante up and pay for employees to get them. If they really thought that the education was important, they'd hire people without the degree on condition that they pursue one, and pay for it.

dragons 12y ago
they'd hire people without the degree on condition that they pursue one, and pay for it It's my understanding that some companies will still fund your education, although it's not as common as it used to be. Here's a sampling: http://www.businessinsider.com/companies-that-will-pay-for-your-tuition-2014-6 http://www.businessinsider.com/companies-that-will-pay-for-y... Maybe that's not really what you mean, though... I think the kind of deal that you're thinking about between an employer and an employee may have made sense at one point, when companies thought of employees as long-term assets, and employees had a reason to be loyal. The only way this might work now would be for an employee to agree to reimburse the education expenses if they leave before x years of employment are complete. That sounds like a loathsome form of indentured servitude, to me. I guess if you're desperate then you'll take it, and that's why some people sign up to the armed services in the US. But someone who is capable of PhD quality work probably has more flexible options.
dllthomas 12y ago
"If they really thought that the education was important, they'd hire people without the degree on condition that they pursue one, and pay for it." The EV of that would seem to depend a lot on the completion rate of PhD's.

dragons 12y ago

they'd hire people without the degree on condition that they pursue one, and pay for it It's my understanding that some companies will still fund your education, although it's not as common as it used to be. Here's a sampling: http://www.businessinsider.com/companies-that-will-pay-for-your-tuition-2014-6 http://www.businessinsider.com/companies-that-will-pay-for-y... Maybe that's not really what you mean, though... I think the kind of deal that you're thinking about between an employer and an employee may have made sense at one point, when companies thought of employees as long-term assets, and employees had a reason to be loyal. The only way this might work now would be for an employee to agree to reimburse the education expenses if they leave before x years of employment are complete. That sounds like a loathsome form of indentured servitude, to me. I guess if you're desperate then you'll take it, and that's why some people sign up to the armed services in the US. But someone who is capable of PhD quality work probably has more flexible options.

dllthomas 12y ago

"If they really thought that the education was important, they'd hire people without the degree on condition that they pursue one, and pay for it." The EV of that would seem to depend a lot on the completion rate of PhD's.