Would I be mad to go back and do PhD?

[SarahH12]

So I previously posted when I was contemplating applying. ( www.mumsnet.com/Talk/academics_corner/2976662-Would-you-accept-somebody-who-reapplied )

The interview went well, I was open about me leaving a previous one, they know about the funding I previously had etc. I found out this morning I've been offered it! I can't believe it! I genuinely didn't think they'd give me the chance since I left my first one! Would I be mad to go for it? I'm currently in a stable professional job with a reasonably good salary and a reasonable career progression. Part of me feels it would be mad to leave this but another part of me feels I'll always be wondering what if, if I didn't go for the PhD. Thankfully they've given me until the end of the week to mull it over and let them know so I've got a bit of time to think about what I want.

You will still have your prof experience to fall back on, but I do think you will always wonder. Go for it.

Is the PhD in anyway related to your career? If so, then you could build a career at the intersection of academia and business going forward.
If not, I would think twice. You mentioned in the previous post you went through depression - was that because of the studying or other unrelated factors? If the former, then I'd be weary given how many PhD students end up with depression.
A stable career is not something to give up lightly these days. Academia needs a constant churn of PhDs to keep the business model going, so treat offers with caution and ask, what is in it for them.
Sorry to sound negative but the HE sector is being briefed against daily by the media and as other threads on this forum have indicated, there are some major issues in academia these days.

Sort of related user but only in the sense that I'm working in a science related industry and the PhD is in science.

My depression wasn't study related and though I've been seeing a counsellor for a while I would still say I have depression. But... As the saying goes "wherever you go there you are" so I do feel whether I stay here in industry or go off to do a PhD I will still have depression. I know what you mean about not giving up the stable career lightly though.

Anne I'm not sure the professional experience I've obtained now would be still relevant in 4 years time. I've only had a year so far and if I stay where I am, in four years time I'll obviously have 5 years experience. Which may then be better than 1 years experience followed by a 4 year PhD iyswim?

I suppose my question would be: why did you apply? What was propelling you forward? I'd write down a list of the pros and cons and see what comes up. Can you see yourself in your current profession for 20/30 years or is it ok for now? Would you like an academic career or are you looking to open up any jobs with a science PhD (there are a lot more PhD finishers than jobs)?

You must have had a reason for applying, I think I'd try to refocus on that. I would start to have doubts about a student if they weren't really really sure it's what they wanted especially as you have done one year of a PhD and know some of the downsides already. If it's just nerves from last time, this is not then- go for it!

I wouldn't like an academic career - I think mostly for the reason I like having a work-life balance. I think my initial reasons for applying were because I've always partially regretted leaving my original one and the subject matter sounded interesting.

In terms of my current profession. I think I'm unsure. I find it really difficult to think about what I want very long term.

So- why do you need a PhD? What career path can you access that you wouldn't be able to access without it?

I don't think just doing one for regrets/unfinished business is a good reason personally, I think it has to make sense for you moving forward in the place you are now, as it's still emotionally demanding and quite isolating, even if you are more stable. It's not an easy time for a lot of students and I've found those who don't want an academic career seem listless and disappointed by the whole thing, I guess that they don't see a purpose to the whole thing and then can suffer from demotivation along the way.

I'm just not getting a sense of why you want to do this, other than because it didn't work last time.

It's up to you though, and I don't think you can ever fully predict what something will bring, perhaps this PhD will work for you in other ways such as where you live/people around you.

I would still live in the same place as I do now but I would of course be around different people. I think I also see it as an opportunity to spend 3/4 years learning about something new, being intellectually challenged / simulated and I think an achievement to be proud of upon completion.

But then staying in industry I potentially have a more rapid career progression, definitely more cash and a better work - life balance, potentially more stability.

Truthfully I wouldn't for the reasons you give. Stability, good balance...priceless and not always valued until lost!
It sounds like you are nostalgic for what might have been but if you don't want an academic based career and it won't impact on your career then there isnt much point. Better to use the time gaining experience unless you aren't happy there.
A PhD can consume your whole life and although there is a sense of achievement it isn't always worth the effort required. As a pp said, there are many more PhD graduates than jobs.
If you want to do it for the love of learning are there no evening couses that tickle your fancy? I know there is no comparison but its a good way to broaden your horizons whilst maintaining the safety net of your job.

I agree with the last poster, things like would be proud on completion and intellectually stimulating just don't apply to the day to day work of doing a PhD, and are really intangible. The thing that will drive you through often very boring and demotivating times as well as stressful ones is the need to complete, the need to finish, to gain this PhD and I just don't hear from you why you need it to go to the next step, career-wise anyway, in fact, you will lose monetarily, in terms of stability and in terms of experience for what?

Hope you can sort this out in your mind! There's no right answer, I'm sure either way you will make a go of it!

I left a professional job and have gone back to do a PhD. Also have another thread on about the second-year slump. It's real, and can feel a mild bout of depression coming on. It is also hard being older compared to other students. Make sure you have lots of support! Also think about your romantic and personal life, plans for children etc. If you are a woman and plan to have kids that can also play a bit of havoc with PhD plans. Overall, the PhD seems best suited for 22-25 year olds without other "life commitments".

All that aside I am very much enjoying my time here, but I am supported (financially/emotionally) by partner to a great extent. Our thinking is that in 10 years hopefully mine will lead to a more lucrative career. We're v lucky his job gives us flexibility that just my stipend will not. And it can be hard going back to being an impoverished student after years in the workforce. Not trying to put you off, just being realistic! Good luck!

I just wanted to let everyone know I accepted the offer. I have come to the conclusion it would be really beneficial for my career (I had a very long chat with my line manager) and one of the main things holding me back is fear. But you are right, this is now, not back when I did my original one.

Newbie I'm sorry things are tough for you at the moment. Thank you for sharing your experiences with me. DP and I would love to have DC in the next few years so it is a serious consideration for us. We figured we will see how the PhD goes and go from there - if we feel we can make it work TTC during it (towards the end) then we will and if not then we won't. My PhD isn't lab based so should have no issues in terms of being out of the lab when pregnant, other than of course time off when (if) baby arrived.

Good luck OP! Hope it's exciting and rewarding!

Ah good luck! I hope you enjoy it.

It's great that your line manager is supportive too.
The only thing to fear is fear itself.
Good luck!

Congratulations on the offer!

I say this as a drop-out myself. My reasons sound similar to yours - except I started to have doubts at week 6, and ended up quitting at week 13 to start a new job the next week. This was some time ago; in part the PhD was missold to me, but I was ready for a change and probably built the opportunity up on my head to create something completely unrealistic. I came back to earth with a bump fast, and the whole experience has put me off academia for life.

I am pursuing my ambition of becoming a polymath without the "support" of an cloud-cuckoo supervisor quite nicely, thank you very much!

Thank you all!

highinthesky I'm so glad it worked out well for you! Sometimes an awful supervisor can make all the difference can't they.

highinthesky its been playing on my mind what you said about leaving and about building it up. I wonder if I'm doing the same? Building it up in my head and made it into something unrealistic?

I can only say that in hindsight. I had illusions of an unremitting intellectual challenge and instead it was anything but. The reality is that the supervisor had dreamed up a tool that he wanted some mug to test.

When the penny dropped that it was the kind of thing I could have trialled and evaluated in a real-world setting, as part of the job I gave it up for, I couldn't muster up any enthusiasm for it. I knew I was wasting my time and instead of the dopamine rush I expected, all it caused was a huge amount of mental anguish. It was a really low point and I spent the next 20 months paying for it, heavily.