No, not weird at all. PhD’s are pain, but certain people like the pain. If you’re good with handling stress, and also OK with working in a fast-paced, high-impact environment (for real, not business talk BS), then it may be the right decision for you. The biggest thing that I would say is that you should really, really think about whether this is what you want, since once you start a PhD, you’ve locked the next 6 years of your life into it with no chance of getting out
Comment on Academia to Industry
clearedtoland@lemmy.world 4 months ago
Is it weird that I still want to go for my PhD despite all the feedback about the process? I don’t think I’ve ever met a PhD or candidate that’s enthusiastically said “do it!”
Contramuffin@lemmy.world 4 months ago
doctordevice@lemmy.ca 4 months ago
I generally tell people the only reason to do it is if your career pursuits require it, and even then I warn them away unless they’re really sure. Not every research advisor is abusive, but many are. Some without even realizing it. I ended up feeling like nothing more than a tool to pump up my research advisor’s publication count.
It was so disillusioning that I completely abandoned my career goal of teaching at a university because I didn’t want to go anywhere near that toxic culture again. Nevertheless, I did learn some useful skills that helped me pivot to another career earning pretty good money.
So I guess I’m saying it’s a really mixed bag. If you’re sure it’s what you want, go for it. But changing your mind is always an option.
Neuromancer49@midwest.social 4 months ago
+1 to all of this. See also: phdcomics.com/comics.php?f=1296
drre@feddit.de 4 months ago
no it’s not. but you should know what you’re getting into.
in the beginning of my PhD i really loved what i was doing. from an intellectually point of view i still do. but later, i.e. after 3 years doing a shitty postdoc, i realized that I was not cut out for academia but nevertheless loved doing science.
however, i was lucky to find a place in industry doing what i like.
so i guess my 2c is: think about what comes after the PhD and work towards that goal. a PhD is usually not a goal in itself. hth
veganpizza69@lemmy.world 4 months ago
It’s like being drafted to a war while you only receive vague orders and you slowly realize what the phrase “war is a racket” means. You suffer and learn things that you didn’t plan on learning.
beefbot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 months ago
Allow me to just simply say DON’T DO IT. DON’T FUCKING DO IT. There are very few examples of regretting something you haven’t tried but this is one
bluemellophone@lemmy.world 4 months ago
It’s a lot of fucking work. If you enjoy hard work, learning about the latest advancements in your field, and can handle disappointment / criticism well, then it’s something to look into.
skillissuer@discuss.tchncs.de 4 months ago
that and if you can find lab/group with recent publications and funding. not sticking too hard to failed ideas also helps
homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 4 months ago
Having a shitload of money is also quite handy for such endeavors.
skillissuer@discuss.tchncs.de 4 months ago
ideally not your money, but money from grants, that’s why i mentioned it