The true cost of a PhD: a candid conversation
Part I
A doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) is the highest degree obtained in many fields. The journey to obtaining it is unique in that the candidate not only has to master the existing knowledge but also has to contribute to existing knowledge by conducting original research. The process often requires the candidate to spend three to five years studying full-time, depending on the field and the program. Doing a Ph.D. could be exciting, intellectually stimulating, and rewarding, and at the same time could be very lonely, stressful, challenging, and painful.
For anyone aspiring to do their Ph.D. or those that are in the early stages, it could be helpful to have a glimpse into the experiences of others ahead of them. For this purpose, I have talked to some recent Ph.D. holders and asked them to share their journeys, regrets, and advice. Enjoy reading our first story in a series of stories to come!
Hiwot: How did you get the Ph.D. opportunity?
Anonymous Ph.D.: Before pursuing my Ph.D., I worked at a university where I was exposed to staff with doctoral degrees. I believe this has greatly influenced me to pursue my Ph.D. In addition to this exposure, working at universities simplifies the scholarship application process by facilitating tasks such as obtaining recommendation letters from professors and sending official transcripts to prospective universities.
My master’s degree was government-sponsored. Hence, I had to serve for four years before obtaining my official certificates, which limited my ability to explore possible Ph.D. options. Once I received my certificates, I started applying to universities where I knew people from either my department or university had gone to study before. Fortunately, I received two scholarships in the same year. I discussed them with my friends who had started their Ph.D. before me. I decided to accept the one that I felt was rewarding in the long term. Additional factors, including the stipend, the recognition of the university, and the image of the country also factored into my decision.
Hiwot: How did you decide on what topic to work on? Walk us through your topic selection process.
Anonymous Ph.D.: Usually, universities ask for a proposal during the scholarship application. At the university I was admitted to, we are asked to submit a concept note. Additionally, once we finish the coursework, we are asked to write and defend a proposal in front of professors, researchers, and senior fellows. The selection of my topic was the most difficult part of my Ph.D. journey, including obtaining approval from my supervisors. Some of my ideas were rejected, and I would later discover something close to my ideas published in a reputable journal. I found that preparing a clear concept note and demonstrating that my proposed research is aligned with current top journal publications was helpful. In this way, I managed to convince them once😊
I primarily relied on reading top journals in my field to identify research gaps. However, I came to learn that many of my initial ideas were not feasible or were too ambitious, which I now find amusing when I see them in my ‘list of potential research questions’. I am still amazed at how my Ph.D. thesis evolved and ultimately ended up in its current form.
Hiwot: What is the one piece of advice you would give someone who is planning to do a Ph.D.?
Anonymous Ph.D.: They should view the Ph.D. as a means to reach their goal, not the goal itself. As they say, doing a Ph.D. is like walking on skeletons: no matter how fast or slow you go, you’ll eventually reach the end. Hence, anyone planning to start the journey should keep asking themselves: then what?
Hiwot: What is the one thing you regret that you did or did not do during your Ph.D.?
Anonymous Ph.D.: When I was doing my Ph.D., one of my friends who was a doctoral student in the US, surprised me when he told me he planned to study R and Python for his research. I know he is proficient in Stata, and his research project can be carried out using Stata successfully. He told me that such skills are more in demand than Stata in the US labor market. I also know a few fellows at my institute who immediately started learning new languages or adjusted their research topics based on the labor market they were targeting. This is something I regret not doing—preparing for what comes after the Ph.D. I feel like there were many ways that could have made my CV more attractive in the job market.
Hiwot: Anything else you would like to say?
Anonymous Ph.D.: Those planning to pursue a Ph.D. need to be aware that the research landscape is significantly different from their master’s thesis, and they should read more scientific papers to grasp the current research paradigm. Effective communication abilities are also essential for academic success. It facilitates networking and collaborating with other researchers and funders, as well as communicating with supervisors, administrators, and others in the university. It’s also important to understand that scholarships may differ in their nature. For example, students are expected to work toward a predefined overarching objective if the scholarship is part of a project. While most scholarships have a research budget, some programs leave it up to the students to secure research funds or work using secondary data. The scholarship could also come with extra possibilities or/and opportunities, such as participating in project work or teaching. Most importantly, it’s essential to evaluate the opportunity costs, and whether the investment is worth it before embarking on a Ph.D. journey. My honest evaluation is that I sacrificed more than I should have for my Ph.D.
