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PhD Simulator

research.wmz.ninja

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Re: PhD Simulator

#101

Post by gorjusborg »

blackbear_ wrote: post #65
eagleseye wrote: post #52

I notice a lot of negativity and "do not recommend" regarding pursuing a PhD on HN recently. That raises the question: Why would you go for it?

A PhD is one of those rare periods of life where you are completely on your own, navigating unknown territories without anybody telling you what you should or should not do, where your professional success depends entirely on your own ideas and decisions. The reason to try a PhD is that you are truly free to test your limits. It can be liberating, but also daunting. And definitely humbling. In some ways, it is not so…

Interesting that you point out the symmetry between pursuing education and entrepreneurship.

One of the tough things about the education route is that winning at entrepreneurship can result in huge tangible life changes, but it seems like the effects of winning at education is harder to visualize.

I get to put PhD after my name, but what else?

Re: PhD Simulator

#102

Post by toxik »

NooneAtAll3 wrote: post #92
lqet wrote: post #5

This is great and exactly captures the PhD experience. Both in the simulator and in real life, I mostly survived until the end by slacking off frequently, and needed around 5 years. Some highlights: > INBOX: Based on the reviewers' comments, we regret to inform you that your manuscript has been REJECTED for publication. One of the reviewers pointed out that there is no comparison with a state-of-art method. > You cam…

> Teaching obligations any advice for people aiming for teaching instead of all the publishing stuff?

Yeah don’t do a PhD

Re: PhD Simulator

#103

Post by moab »

tibbon wrote: post #43

I find this highly unrealistic. Advisors do not notice nor care for your mental health. Breaks and rest are not offered nor advised. Back to the lab!

You had a terrible advisor. I'm sorry.

Re: PhD Simulator

#104

Post by toast0 »

eagleseye wrote: post #52

I notice a lot of negativity and "do not recommend" regarding pursuing a PhD on HN recently. That raises the question: Why would you go for it?

A PhD, preferably from your destination country, is helpful for immigration.

Re: PhD Simulator

#105

Post by bityard »

whatever1 wrote: post #53
eagleseye wrote: post #52

I notice a lot of negativity and "do not recommend" regarding pursuing a PhD on HN recently. That raises the question: Why would you go for it?

1. If you manage to get through it, you will be a world expert in a niche that can be valuable. $$$$$$$$ 2. You will develop the invaluable skill of not giving up even when all the odds are against you 3. You will be able to swim by yourself, parsing enormous amount of literature, identifying what is useful and useless and solve problems that no one else before you has solved. 4. Access to academic positions that off…

> If you manage to get through it, you will be a world expert in a niche that can be valuable. $$$$$$$$

This depends highly upon your field, the current needs of industry, and your own work ethic. For example, if you want to write or architect software for a living, a PhD in computer science really doesn't get you much. Neither is it a good idea to go for a PhD just because you can't think of anything better to do to further your career. But if your goal is to make new discoveries in a field you are passionate about, then that would be a different story.

Also I have met a lot of PhDs who are absolutely not experts on anything at all, except for knowing how to thrive in the socio-political academic system by being "book smart," and writing bullshitty articles/papers.

> You will develop the invaluable skill of not giving up even when all the odds are against you

Are you saying people don't wash out of PhD programs all the time? Even if this was somehow true, you don't need to throw money at a PhD program to learn this!

Re: PhD Simulator

#107

Post by womenintech333 »

jvvw wrote: post #90
womenintech333 wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A bit disappointing it doesn't go into other details like being a women. As most PhD candidates are in their mid 20s and often by the end of the beginning of their academic careers they immediately have to decide to either have a family or pursue academia.

Didn't realise at the time but you have made me appreciate that that was one good thing about the British system - I was 24 when I submitted my PhD which is fairly typical so still time before such decisions (it was another 11 years before I discovered the challenges of combining a career with motherhood!)

Reducing a PhD program to 4 years can help but in many fields this is still a problem. For many fields and form of absence of leave can be the end of your academic career. If I recall correctly the average PhD graduate is still 26-27 years old. Which doesn't help much too much even though the average US grad is 31. For many field though this would help a lot. In tech and stem not so much. I remember some of the female faculty I knew telling me exactly how and why so many women end up filtered out. Simply because they wanted to have a child and by the time they came back their research was outdated and their works published by others. They themselves never having children. It's why many women often leave academia for industry jobs.

I personally believe how we conduct research and academia is outdated and does not allow for the proper inclusion of women. And does not allow men to be proper fathers. Sorry for the long talk.

Edit: Got the average age for PhDs in UK wrong it's mid 30s. Even if they started right at the age of 22 it's a wall they will face almost immediately.

Re: PhD Simulator

#109

Post by aiisjustanif »

lqet wrote: post #5

This is great and exactly captures the PhD experience. Both in the simulator and in real life, I mostly survived until the end by slacking off frequently, and needed around 5 years. Some highlights: > INBOX: Based on the reviewers' comments, we regret to inform you that your manuscript has been REJECTED for publication. One of the reviewers pointed out that there is no comparison with a state-of-art method. > You cam…

Teaching obligations are assumed, had students break things multiple times.

Re: PhD Simulator

#110

Post by aiisjustanif »

dchftcs wrote: post #22
dktnj wrote: post #19

This sounds less stressful than an average half a decade working at my current position. It is actually motivating. Whether or not that was the desired outcome, I don't know. At least I get to travel to half decent academic conferences and not large vendor marketing conferences.

The stress comes from constant and abject failure, not really the life style. Travelling is also like 2% of the total time.

Depends on the subject matter.
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