What would it be like to study a PHD?

Question

Please remeber that I have not started uni yet. I'm still at college, but I'm curious.

Is it anything like doing a degree? Is it all coursework, exams, or just one major project?

Also, roughly how many years do they go on for, and how would they benefit you?

Answer 1

The PhD, Philosophiae Doctor, or literally “Teacher of Philosophy” is often referred to by graduate students as "piled higher and deeper.' The experience can be pretty intense. It is a step up from graduate school and is definitely a big step beyond the 4 year undergraduate degree. In fact, the first year in graduate school makes one realize he or she has only touched the surface of the subject matter, whatever that may be. You do LOTS of reading and writing. I recommend you learn good grammar and diction.
Various graduate schools require various things, but most must write a thesis for the Masters program. You will be happy to know that it is a great deal easier today to write a thesis, chapter by chapter, and discuss it with various required readers in your department. One usually chooses one’s primary professor because he or she is a specialist in the area upon which you are writing. In the Doctorate program, one usually writes a Doctoral dissertation. Many expand on the study of the Master’s thesis. Some choose a different topic altogether. It helps to have a very similar attitude towards a subject as the primary professor, although with personality on one’s side, one can diverge to a degree (pun intended.)
One of the difficulties of the university system, despite its "Ivory Tower" appearance is that personalities often clash. One is usually unaware of such things until you write something like the thesis. Oftentimes one comes face to face with personality issues when all these “giants of academia” insist on acting like little girls. Thus I suggest that the greatest talent for graduate school is a personality that doesn’t tend to alienate people easily. In fact, the very smartest people I knew in graduate school either moved to other schools or quit, although. Professors like students who make them feel important naturally.
Even after achieving a Masters in the subject matter, oftentimes people will place roadblocks in your path for no apparent reason. Some people call this politics, but it is a lot like playing in the sandbox. This is actually good practice for when one goes out in the world to work, but it is often a rude awakening at the time. There is no telling how you might create enmity by doing something relatively innocent, such as asking a question of someone giving one of the sundry department papers.
While this might sound very scary, I have to say I admire your asking about the subject even before you become an undergraduate. If I had thought of 7 and more years of academic study in front of me, I would have given up before I started. The fact that you can pose this question either suggests that you are very gifted in sticking to a plan and working hard or, well, you can probably figure out the alternative. If you decide to do it, I hope you find it an easier task than I am suggesting.
The benefit of the PhD often varies according to the subject matter. Subjects that are in greater demand should be available at your high school Guidance Counselor's or at the library. For example a PhD in something like Dirigibles doesn't exactly make people kick your door down to offer you a job. Likewise, being a specialist in Shakespeare can make one a fascinating person and qualified to write articles for journals and even a book, but it is often a harder sell than, for example, Electronic Engineering. Please research the viability of the job market before you even take your first college course. I had many under-employed friends with advanced degrees in Neoclassic English Literature, Old French, Sociology and Psychology, although the latter has discovered how to become therapists and screw up other people's lives:)

As background, however, should you really want to scare yourself silly, rent an old video called The Paper Chase from the early 70’s. I think it stars John Houseman and Timothy Bottoms. Although it is about an Ivy League Law school and before computers, it gives you a fair look, at least, at the way things were pretty much back when. I wish you luck and God speed.

Answer 2

It is exactly like getting a degree -- because it is -- well -- getting a degree.

The typical PhD has two to three years of coursework. Students usually take a comprehensive written exam after the second year (mine was a two day exam). After the coursework and the written exam, there is usually an oral exam. Mine was a presentation of a paper that I had written. It differs by discipline. A friend who was studying literature was quizzed by three professors on a list of 75 books that she chose as background material for her dissertation.

After all of that, PhD students have to write a dissertation. This has to be original and important work. Mine (in Finance) was three essays and was about 120 pages long. Papers in the sciences would be similar length. In the liberal arts, dissertations are usually several hundred pages long.

At most schools, the student has to defend his dissertation in front of his committee before being granted the degree. I got my PhD at Berkeley -- where we only need to get our committee members to sign off on it.

In fields like science and business, a PhD usually takes four or five years to get. In the arts, it usually takes longer.

At most schools, you do not need to get a master's degree first. An MA or MS is often given after the written exam is passed.

The bottom line is that most of the work in getting a PhD is doing the research and writing of the dissertation. No one should get a PhD unless he is dedicated to doing research.

It is not as much fun as getting other degrees -- because it involves a lot of solitary work.

Answer 3

Marie-- a PhD program is just like any other degree only it's more intense. there is course work and research and a big *** oral quizzing by a panel of profs. i have two years of PhD details if you are interested in more stuff.

Answer 4

more of the same
2 years
worth big bucks in salary