If you have a phD (or any doctorate), what is it in, how long did it take, post/pre Masters program, etc?

Question

If you have a phD (or any doctorate), what is it in, how long did it take, post/pre Masters program, would you do it again, what school was it done at, and do you think its worth it? You don't have to answer all the questions, just some of them. I'm just wondering how other people feel about it and what they have done. Also, any good stories about it?

Sorry, I forgot to add mine. Took 2 years to get Masters (in Engineering) but I got a dual MS. Then another 3 years for phD since I found Post-Masters program. Dissertation was actually smooth because I got a great advisor and my committee was cross bred in IT/Engineering/Science and English/Communications. I have no doubt mine was worth it. Lets never forget the nights you write until 3:00 AM just to wake up and reread what you wrote at 6:00AM breakfast.

Answer 1

I have a Ph.D. in Microbiology and am currently a post-doc. It took me six years to complete my Ph.D. and I went straight from my B.S.

If I go back, I would probably not do it over again. I would probably go to med school, maybe do a dual Ph.D/M.D. program in infectious disease and make a crap load more money than I do now for doing the same thing.

*Side note* I currently work at a research foundation assocatied with a large clinic located in the midwest. The foundation is run by a bunch of M.D.s who make at least 10x what I do, have no clue about research (they do reasearch one day a week) and try to tell all the Ph.D.s here how they should be doing research. Most of the M.D.s here look down on us lowly Ph.D.s. Studpid M.D.s. Sorry, just had to rant.

Was it worth it? Hard to say. Too early to tell. I'll see in a few years. If I am not happy, I guess I can always go back to med school.

Answer 2

I have not completed mine yet. In any case, I am getting mine in history. I did my Masters in two years, and the program I am in for my doctoral is expected to last a maximum of 5 years... but it really depends on how long it takes me to write my dissertation, and how many classes I choose to transfer from my Masters program. Considering that I would be unable to do the thing that I love for a living if I did not get the degree, I would argue that it is worth it!

Answer 3

Hmm... grad school took me five years in residence, and another two years after that to re-collect data that was corrupted when my computer caught fire. - BACK UP YOUR FIILES!!! - Anyway, seven years in that case, and a few thousand extra dollars to go back to my data collection a second time.

Was it worth it??? Hmm... Yes and no. I love being able to run my own laboratory. I investigate the research problems that interest me, and basically set my own schedule. That said, I still work 60+ hours each week in order to keep up with my research, and I can't afford to take a vacation, both financially and because of pressure at work. Sometimes I hate my job, and other times I love it.

My biggest disappointment with my career (academia) is the change in students over the past... oh... fifteen years or so. In my experience, they've changed a lot. It used to be that the angry, disrespectful students were uncommon... sat in the back, and seldom came to class. But lately, it's almost the norm to be hostile toward your professors. As a result, I've started to dread going to class, whereas I used to enjoy it as a break in my day from my research. It makes me worry about the next fifteen years, I suppose.

I think in the end it's always a mixed bag, unless your job is being independently wealthy from lottery winnings or something.