What do you think of those with PhD?

[whyyyyyisitmonddayy]

Particularly those in non-stem fields. Just curious!

I think it’s a really great achievement but also a bit of a luxury these days. I went as far as MA and would consider a PHD if I had the financial means to work less hours or in a less full on (read well paid) position while I did it but my family and other priorities in life have taken hold as they do for most of us I suppose.

Isn’t that true of people in general though?!

Masters is a taught postgraduate degree that usually takes a year (or more part time). A PhD is the next level after a masters and is basically a serious research project over 3 or 4 years (or more). PhD has supervision but it's not taught in the same way as a Bachelors or Masters.

I thought becoming a Professor was the highest academic qualification?

what’s your PhD in? Brain surgery or rocket science?

I'd be impressed someone had the determination and focus to do a PhD. I'd be interested in what they did it in. That's it really. I wouldn't think that much about it.
I know several people with non Stem PhDs.

I would only have done a PHd if it was going to be essential for my career.
I know several people with them who are very low earners, struggle to find work and earn a quarter of what I do. One is a tarot reader, she cant get a job as she spent all of her 20's studying.
A couple dont work they do volunteering.
So I cant see the point really. Ive got a degree, I had to have a specific one for my job but dont need to go any further for next years promotion.

I'm amazed at the time and motivation people have, as in, I'm impressed. I was done in by my BSc.

Professor is a job title not a qualification.
In order to appointed as a professor you need to meet a set of criteria set out by your university. A PhD is the very first step!

Professor is a job title - awarded usually because of seniority and contribution in the field.

PhD is a qualification.

A PhD is awarded on your research thesis. The research must be original, and put forward ideas that no one has thought of before. It has to push forward the field.

in the uk that usually takes 3 ish years of research. You plan your hypothesis and ideas, and then carry out the research to prove or disprove it. then you write it all up with your conclusions- which as I said have to be areas no one has studied before. Not in any books, papers or any other thesis. Completely new.

then you have a 3 hour oral exam “viva” to defend your thesis, where you’re quizzed on your ideas, your thought processes, and if your research and conclusions are valid. The examiners are usually one faculty member from your uni, and a leading expert in that specific area. My external examiner came over from Stanford.

if you pass, you are awarded your PHD.

Having done a masters that nearly finished me off, they have my utmost respect. People I’ve spoken to who have done them say it’s hard, all consuming and often stressful so good on them.

Same here, it's brutally hard work, in Science at least! I did a Masters and that was more than enough for me.

I think thry must have brains.

Why does everyone seem to think PhD’s are self funded?

in my field nearly all PhD students were paid via university research grants. The head of dept puts in a grant application for a project, which will usually fund a post doc, a technician and a PhD student, plus the materials etc.

generally if you were self funded it was because you weren’t a good enough candidate for the role. Much like any other job. You can always choose to do it unpaid if you want but most people would either do the paid role or look for something else.

I think they must have bags of resilience to get through all of that!

I think ‘awesome - good for you!’

Indeed.
Mine was humanities and most people had research grants. The ones who didn’t were often mature students, kids had grown up, they had either been successful in a different career and decided it was time to do something for them and focus on an area they were really interested in, or their work had thrown up something they wanted to pursue more deeply.
Very often the professional experience they brought to the project interacted very fruitfully with the new academic research skills they were developing.

Can honestly say I have never given it any thought at all.

FYI there are grants that earn your keep while you study for some.

also a lot who work part time and take out loans.

I only know of one person who self funded but most people are by then of an age where they want to start earning decent and secure money, certainly if they have a view to starting a family or a break from being in education.

It’s a massive test of stamina and endurance, and I admire that. It’s not necessarily a proxy for intelligence. I’ve worked in universities for may years and thus have been exposed to a whole range of PhDs.

Thanks to those who have explained what a PhD actually is 🙂
I have learned something new tonight.

how common is Ai usage vs the old days of online essay mills ?

I work in quasi-academia. I can’t turn around without talking to a PhD. I don’t really think about it very much. It’s the norm in my world.