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Do You Need a Ph.D.?
Whether you need—or should get—a Ph.D. ultimately depends on why you’re doing it, and if you’re doing it for the right reasons.
Nobody “Needs” a Ph.D.
I recently saw a social media post that claimed “you don’t need a Ph.D.” Of course you don’t need a Ph.D. To claim that you don’t need a Ph.D. is completely besides the point. Here was my reply to that post:
You also don’t “need” to climb Everest, yet some people find that a worthwhile experience. A Ph.D. is about the journey, the experience of growth, learning, contributing to knowledge, deep expertise. Not for everyone, but for many it is incredibly rewarding.
My response I think sums up the value of a Ph.D. in a nutshell: Nobody needs a Ph.D. For you, it might still be the right answer. For many, it is the most fulfilling experience of their lives. For others, it can be a frustrating path. Whether the path makes sense for you depends on your goals. One thing is certainly true: You have to want it as part of your own personal life plan, for the right reasons—not for any other reason, and certainly not for anyone else.
