Comments on: Motivation for doing a PhD

By: quick applaus

quick applaus — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:01:32 +0000

Lol.

By: Lim

Lim — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:10:48 +0000

At the University of Michigan, the entire University payroll is published on the Michigan daily every year.

You can check it out here
http://data.michigandaily.com/tmdsal?

Pretty much every eecs professor at my school makes $100-150k per year excluding bonuses (assuming a 12-month contract) except the assistant profs. The truth is that they usually work for 8 months though but as a prof you can work for industry during your summer which may earn you the same amount as the 8 months at the University.

Law and business professors make easily 300-400k per annum, and they hold various consultancy positions too.

By: shelly

shelly — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:53:07 +0000

Although I am in the classroom only 9 hours a week, I spend approximately 20 hours a week preparing for classes, grading papers, and meeting with students. Another 20 hours on research. Another two hours (or more) on service requirements. I work well over 50 hours a week!!!!!

By: Dr. Ken

Dr. Ken — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:17:21 +0000

Same with me…things are a bit tight in my country at the moment, and the only way to escape the current reality is to go out and learn, and I hope by the time i finish the situation could be better! Then again, my research work will touch on some of the pressing issues in human development…

By: semantic

semantic — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:45:35 +0000

Obviously you have never met a PhD student if you think the “real world” gives them panic attacks. I assure you, the ivory tower is far more panic-inducing.

By: JSK

JSK — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 09:04:00 +0000

I’m quitting my job to go for a phd .. where do I fall in ? God why do you put crazy ideas in my head

By: thistle

thistle — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:34:38 +0000

soooooo true ^^

By: bachelor of creative writing

bachelor of creative writing — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:24:53 +0000

And then you only need a Master’s degree to get a cushy uni job. Bwahahahahahaha

By: emilie

emilie — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:31:11 +0000

If I do decide to get my PhD it will be mostly so I can call myself a doctor. Because, y’know, why else would you get a PhD in fashion studies?

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:39:52 +0000

Psy Ds from free standing schools are really about the money (its a bit better from those associated with a university). A PhD in psych is just like any other, with tuition waivers, living stipends, ect. Its a better option for those who solely want to practice, but unfortunately, within the academic psych community, its looked down upon, especially from free standing schools.

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:36:13 +0000

Its all about the labcoat

But face it, with some degrees (like philosophy?) you can’t do much besides teach and research, so you can’t find a job without a PhD.

As for me, I love psych, love grad classes, and the Dr. title is a bonus, but I’ll be using the hell out of it.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sun, 31 May 2009 03:40:29 +0000

Please send me a list of the universities paying six figures. I’ll be glad to leave mine and relocate for that sort of a pay raise.
I make a lot closer to $31,000 than to 6 figures.
For that matter, no one in my department makes 6 figures, and neither does the Dean.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sun, 31 May 2009 03:35:43 +0000

That would presume that standing in a classroom is the only thing a professor has to do. There’s the preparation of lectures and homework assignments, grading homework and tests, serving on campus and academic committees, and writing and doing research. And teaching online takes even MORE time than teaching in the classroom. Sure, if you want to be a hack, you can just develop your lecture once and give it every semester for the next 30 years, but most professors don’t want to be that sort of jerk.

By: GMA

GMA — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:35:35 +0000

Way to pick out the three things among thousands of reserach topics and associated inventions to demonstrate that research doesn’t help people. Oh, and I guess nuclear fission never helped anyone.

By: Siren

Siren — Thu, 28 May 2009 01:45:30 +0000

You’re*

By: DP

DP — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:20:00 +0000

Gotta love the states (I guess?). In my country professors must not receive any other pay, it’s illegal if they earn money with consulting or any other job on the side. At least for full professors.

By: DP

DP — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:17:23 +0000

My professor works about 60 hours a week. If he would have stayed in industry as an engineer he would earn at least twice the money (probably more by now) while having maybe about the same work load.

Being a professor (at least in engineering) is certainly neither about money nor about coziness, you need to love what you’re doing.

By: DP

DP — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:08:03 +0000

Well, understanding quarks/mesons may not help *yet* in everyday life, but it may sure do in a couple of decades (thinking quantum computers and the like). We cannot know that yet. 100 years ago, noone would have expected the SRT to be valuable ever, but now it is.

Certainly, WMDs themselves aren’t benefiting to anybody, but then again the elementary research that enabled them sure had very important civil applications. Think about nowadays living standard without nuclear energy…

By: DP

DP — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:02:55 +0000

In my country you get a M.Sc. after 5 yrs of studying. PhD takes you another 3-6 years after that. It’s no lectures though, “just” research and teaching. And one final comprehensive exam at the end.

By: Zoe

Zoe — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:19:01 +0000

But most don’t WANT to stop publishing and doing research. That’s the bit they like. It’s the teaching they hate. At least, that’s how it was in my faculty *shrug*

By: E. Coli

E. Coli — Tue, 26 May 2009 04:33:48 +0000

The problem is when someone requires medical attention and they ask for any doctors, you have to say “I am a doctor of computer science not medicine”, furthermore, i don’t even look at sick computers.

By: E. Coli

E. Coli — Tue, 26 May 2009 04:29:00 +0000

and thus, avoiding real idiots!

By: Alcari

Alcari — Mon, 25 May 2009 18:43:55 +0000

“A doctor”?
No, I want to call myself “the doctor”

By: liloaktree

liloaktree — Mon, 25 May 2009 17:05:37 +0000

What about “the desire to legitimize long-winded opinion based ramblings?”

By: Görkem PAÇACI

Görkem PAÇACI — Mon, 25 May 2009 14:55:20 +0000

please tell me too!

By: krowten

krowten — Sun, 24 May 2009 22:56:11 +0000

Best thing about a Ph.D. is putting your name on the waiting list at a restaurant (or making reservations). “Dr. Krowten, table for five.” My proudest moment.

By: krowten

krowten — Sun, 24 May 2009 22:49:33 +0000

Too true.

By: krowten

krowten — Sun, 24 May 2009 22:48:52 +0000

Please, tell me where those cushy uni jobs are!!

By: Dr. Mary

Dr. Mary — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:54:41 +0000

So true! I’ve actually heard people say that professors only work 15 hours a week. So why do I work 6-7 days a week during the semester until all hours?

By: Gwailo

Gwailo — Sat, 23 May 2009 14:25:32 +0000

PhD in the sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, etc) are free. My sis went for a PsyD and was paying $30 K a year.

By: kheprahotep

kheprahotep — Sat, 23 May 2009 13:10:26 +0000

All of the above … but the REAL motivation for me? The pretty colored velvet hood and poofy hat!

By: Leah

Leah — Sat, 23 May 2009 11:54:32 +0000

You’re missing “PhDs are funded” and “Avoid real life.”

By: Segaphile

Segaphile — Sat, 23 May 2009 07:22:50 +0000

And that’s why you get a degree in Creative Writing! NOBODY has that degree yet… MWAHAHAHAHAHA

By: Segaphile

Segaphile — Sat, 23 May 2009 07:21:37 +0000

DAMN RIGHT.

By: nelson

nelson — Sat, 23 May 2009 06:33:38 +0000

You guys are missing a big picture. I know a full professor at a University.

Sure the university pay is meh, but he makes TONS on $$$ on consulting work from companies that come to the University for help with research/studies.

By: lily

lily — Sat, 23 May 2009 03:31:38 +0000

Thank you Madi! I swear my PhD convocation felt like a Hogwarts ceremony…and is even more surreal when they start playing “God Save the Queen” (in Canada).

By: B

Sat, 23 May 2009 03:01:29 +0000

XD That’s really awesome!! I’m sure they got a whole lot comments on their name!

By: NoseMoking

NoseMoking — Fri, 22 May 2009 23:28:09 +0000

I was taught by a Dr. Love once… seriously!

By: Marco

Marco — Fri, 22 May 2009 22:33:15 +0000

It is???!?
Well, I’m from Europe, but I’m not sure if it’s the same in Holland as in your country.
As far as I know, Master is the second and highest grade you can get at university, with bachelor being the first and the lowest.
It’s probably the same though.

By: B

Fri, 22 May 2009 21:23:51 +0000

Unless you’re like me- I want to get a PhD so people can call me Doctor Reed… just like the guy on Star Trek. XD (And trust me, I’m one of the nicest people out there)

By: PhD student

PhD student — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:35:42 +0000

That sounds nice. What field are you in? I can tell you that PhD candidates in education are not so lucky.

Just finished my second year (of six) and am approximately $50 thousand in debt.

By: NoseMoking

NoseMoking — Fri, 22 May 2009 18:36:08 +0000

hehe, I remember the profs coming in in their robe at my convocation – robes in every shade (typically more than one) and hats of every size and shape. it’s a wonder anyone takes people in such garish attire so seriously

By: criminalmagic

criminalmagic — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:51:42 +0000

I’m getting mine made out of leather, with the title page of my dissertation on the back with lots of extra-heavy-metal-diacritical-marks painted on the back.

By: cranktrain

cranktrain — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:51:12 +0000

LOL! I like the correction of THEIR, but what about YOU’RE. Try again.

By: cranktrain

cranktrain — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:47:51 +0000

‘getting to call yourself Doctor’ while other people get to call you douchebag.

If you’re doing it just to call yourself Doctor, you’re the kind of person everyone else thinks is a douchebag.

By: Morganna

Morganna — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:24:18 +0000

*you’re (a PhD student )

By: bill

bill — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:08:16 +0000

They can stop publishing and doing research, once they get tenure (after 6 years).

By: RJ

RJ — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:00:29 +0000

Thank you, saved me some typing. Silly misuse of words.

By: papajon

papajon — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:07:59 +0000

Lisa… you may want to do a little research on the web. My quick search has a Mcds manager averagign around $31,000 a year while a Univerisity prof makes 6 figures. And I’m just thinking a University prof don’t get food thrown in their face because some 16 year punk employee of yours who is only there because his parents made him work put pickles on said customer’s Big Mac.

IMHO, being a freak lib University prof is about as easy as it gets.

By: PhD student

PhD student — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:39:18 +0000

their*