Why do so many people continue to pursue doctorates?

10 years, a lot of debt, and no job.

 

Opportunity to spend more time with parents is tough to pass up.

 

Why do so many pursue law degrees?

Only 20% Of Recent Grads Say Law Degree Really Worth It - Law360

 

How much debt is it if you plan on defaulting on your loans?

 

Because people are told from a young age to pursue what they love and "the money will follow." And, of course, no one believes that they will be the one on the outside looking in for a job. They have all been academic successes to this point, and fully expect it will continue.

 

Do they love just going to school forever and racking up debt?

 

My boys have this picture (as I think a lot of people do) that Ph.D. means you're at the top of the field. Fortunately we have some very wise friends/family in the tech industry to tell them master's is where it's at for marketability, and that a doctorate is useful only to make academia a life.

Not everyone hears that kind of advice, though.

 

Because tomorrow is promised to no one and you might as well do what you enjoy and work toward something. This isn't someone taking out a $100,000 loan to shoot smack. I think of my favorite college professor who wrote his doctoral thesis on the 18th century poet Thomas Gray. He wrote several books on him and made a living by teaching college courses. He never became wealthy, but he's spent most of his life engaged with subject material he loves, which is a huge reward in itself. I don't think anyone pursues a doctorate thinking it's going to ruin their lives. If so, they should just go the smack route.

 

"Yes" to the first question, and "they don't care about that" to the second question.

 

Navigating the workforce is likely made that much more difficult if you put it off for a decade.

 

Who pays to get a Ph.D? Anyway, if you do get a job in academia, you can wipe away your student loan debt in 10 years.

 

So people have to call me Doctor Ace.