need advice, anyone on the board have a PHD?

[icy manipulator]

i now have 2 bachelor degrees (Bus Finance/Economics, Maths) and i could go out into the world and get a decent job. but i keep getting told that i should continue my studies. my lecturers and tutors say i have a brilliant mathematical mind and i should go further with my studies but i dont know if i could be bothered.

so my question is to those who are/ have done Honours/Masters/PHD's, do you enjoy the extra time studying? is it worthwhile? do you find it satisfying?

my apologies in advance because i know this thread makes me look like an egotistical prick:(

[Kid Presentable]

Fucking egotistical prick. I'm going to do honours, but only because my winning personality will look even better framed by a nerd's skills-set on my CV.

[Teh]

If you did a PhD, wouldn't that tend to lead to a teaching role?

[icy manipulator]

Fucking egotistical prick. I'm going to do honours, but only because my winning personality will look even better framed by a nerd's skills-set on my CV.

so you're gonna do it in economics?

[icy manipulator]

If you did a PhD, wouldn't that tend to lead to a teaching role?

i could, but no, i'm a terrible teacher. i know how stuff works, but i'm terrible at explaining anything

[jabumbo]

seems like most people need to have a masters anymore to jump ahead in the work force. i don't really plan on going any further at the moment, but i think i would enjoy going back. but i think it depends on the situation really. i wouldnt like it if i had to work all the time while doing it, but no full time employment would help that situation out a lot

[Kid Presentable]

so you're gonna do it in economics?

Haha, nah Russian probably. :p

[hpdrifter]

I think it depends on what kind of career path you want. I mean, having a PhD in Math seems like it would lend to a professorship or something but that's not necessarily true. You could go on to work for the military or the government. I'm not sure what jobs there are in the private sector for a math whiz but it seems like there would be something.

In general, though, if you have a talent for something I think its good to foster it.

[Kid Presentable]

I should be able to hook up a job at a Petrol Station. At least. (y)

[icy manipulator]

Haha, nah Russian probably. :p

Ей даже удавалось не раз заявить о себе на международных соревнованиях среди юниоров – но попасть туда бывало очень нелегко.:p

if you're going to do honours with economics, do game theory, it's the only interesting thing when it comes to economics.

fucking Curlews are the most annoying birds in the world

[Kid Presentable]

Aw nah man. I thought you were giving me shit about being crap at econs. It'll be Marketing and Advertising. Consumer Behaviour thesis, on bands as brands hopefully.

[icy manipulator]

Aw nah man. I thought you were giving me shit about being crap at econs. It'll be Marketing and Advertising. Consumer Behaviour thesis, on bands as brands hopefully.

good choice, usually i give ppl shit for doing marketing/advertising/PR but it pays very well. and dude, i'm shit at eco, i really wish i did something else as a minor, some of the theories are just absolutely stupid. Giffen Goods FFS. argh! :mad:

[Otis Driftwood]

Not with maths, you can get paid the same amount if you're good at what your doing. It's good for applications (espec. Maths and Physics), but good grades and elbow grease will take you a long way towards a Mercedes in 2-3 years. Much earlier than 4-5 years of hell preparing your doctorate.

[ms.peachy]

I think really it depends on how much you enjoy the academic process really. If you hate studying and being a student, then you'll be quite unhappy. But if you enjoy that learning process, then it might be worth considering.

Here's the thing: once you leave school, you have the rest of your life to work. Know what I mean? Yeah, some people leave and then go back to school, but it's hard to switch tracks once you've started down a particular direction.

[HEIRESS]

I hated school so thats why I stopped after getting my bachelors degree, even when I was there I spent far too much time at shitty part-time jobs anyways and far too little actually studying

I despise teaching others so much that I dont think I could even stomach being a TA for a couple months if required during any post-graduate work. that is basically the main thing making me avoid ever applying for grad school, though Ill never rule it out.

and sure for certain industries having a masters or PhD means the world (doctors etc etc) but I hear again and again that someone with experience plus a personality is the best bet for getting hired.

Im not really a good example because i have a job suited for someone with a chemistry/geology degree or more but Im rocking it with my micro/molec/cell biology background.

for the most part though I would value diversity in someone's schooling. For example someone with multiple tech diplomas or program completions that are quite varied though still related would be more valuable to me than someone who spent the past 7 years studying some small specialized portion of a certain subject related to the job being applied for.

In school one of my teachers spent ALL of his post-grad years studying the birdsong of one single species of red tailed blackbird. I mean, good on you dude and way to stick to something and all, but basically all it did was provide him with the documentation to become a university teacher and nothing else.

Im just used to working with "jack of trades" type people so maybe Ive been spoiled. But yet again, this is only favorable in certain industries I suppose so Im biased.

[HAL 9000]

Your economics and maths combination is extremely useful, math geeks can make big bucks in financial services and obviously the economics is very helpful. Have you considered something actuarial, maybe thats too stats based.

Personally, I found the real world a real disapointment after university, I wish I had done a Phd. You should be able to do something doctoral that is both intellectually and financially rewarding with the base you have.

[Drederick Tatum]

I'm doing Honours at the moment. I don't particularly enjoy the whole process and I'd much rather play video games the whole day, but my grades kind of demanded that I progress past Bachelors. in terms of work load and difficulty, it hasn't been the step up that I thought it would be, but it does still give you that distinction from the basic Bachelors, which more and more people seem to have. I've thought about Masters, but I don't think I have the temperament for immediately continuing into further study, which would basically be solitary research and writing.

going as far as a Phd means that your career will most likely be of the rather academic kind. that doesn't mean that you will literally have to be a lecturer, but you'll probably just be continually involved in the kind of activities that you went through in the process of completing the doctorate.

If your lecturers have recommended post-grad to you then I'd definitely consider doing Honours. see how you go and then make a decision as to how far you want to take it all. I, for one, am finishing in about a month and will be able to go outside. hurrah.

[insertnamehere]

what is this "honours" you speak of? is it like below a masters? ive never heard of it.

[Drederick Tatum]

yurp.

[The Notorious LOL]

A PHd is a good way to rack up debt and more than likely be pigeonholed into the "overqualified" category on 95% of the jobs you could apply for, unless you decide to be a professor and perpetuate the useless cycle.

You're better off getting a job now and continuing studies while working if thats the route you want to go. Grow within a job, gain real world experience, and then go back to school. Employers see a PHd with no work experience compared to a bachelors with the subsequent time after college working in his field of study, and they'll chose the guy with the Bachelors.

[Documad]

I never got as much out of school as I should have until I started working. During the grad school portion, I worked full time during the day and went to school at night. The job was related to what I ultimately wanted to do and it enhanced my school experience.

I loved school and would have enjoyed getting a phd, but I couldn't think of anything I'd do except teach and I would make a horrible teacher.

If you have any idea what you ultimately might want to do for a job when you're done with school, I strongly suggest that you get to know people who do that job and talk to them about what they did right and what they wish they had done differently. It's also a good idea to work part time or volunteer for a while at a job you might like. A big part of getting the job you want involves learning how to walk and talk like the other people who have the job.

It's a big mistake to stay in school just because you can't think of something else you would like to do.

[adam_f]

A Pretty Huge Dick?.....No.

[jabumbo]

is anyone else COMPLETELY SUPRISED that adam f came into a slightly intelligent discussion topic and made a penis joke?

[russhie]

good choice, usually i give ppl shit for doing marketing/advertising/PR but it pays very well.

I take care of advertising/HR for a marketing company and I'm looking to move into PR as my career progresses. There's nothing wrong with PR, I don't see why you should hold your degree in higher regard??

[Documad]

I take care of advertising/HR for a marketing company and I'm looking to move into PR as my career progresses. There's nothing wrong with PR, I don't see why you should hold your degree in higher regard??

Speaking for myself, I don't think it's the people but the coursework that's laughable. I emphasized in finance in business school and tended to take statistics, economics, and managerial accounting classes along with the finance ones. Some of those classes were challenging and made me feel the gears in my head moving in new ways. The marketing and PR classes were just a giggle. I still remember so many things we learned, like "people who worry like Crest toothpaste." There tended to be few "A"s in managerial accounting, but tons of them in marketing. Now, given what I did after business school, PR skills have come in more handy and there is an aspect of sales to most jobs that I've had, but I can't say that what I learned in my marketing classes has ever served me.

If you do want to go into marketing, advertising, or PR for a career, I'm sure that schooling on your resume helps, but the people I know who do well in those fields have the perfect personality for it and a natural ability. The people who just went to school and don't have the people skills get stuck at entry level jobs (which are being shipped out of the country).

[Kid Presentable]

I've got the personality, it's just everyone here has the degrees. You really need one just to get an interview.

People who worry might like Crest, btw.

[beastieangel01]

A Pretty Huge Dick?.....No.

thanks for chiming in, kanye.

[Kid Presentable]

^^You don't really know him, why is you lyin?

Oh yeah Doc, I'd been trying hard to convince myself my degree wouldn't be worthless, but I needn't bother now. Although, the people at my uni seem to really struggle in grasping the marketing and advertising concepts. I'm the top 1% of them, so that's saying something (not just an excuse to say that, but also something to convince me it's worth it).

I might go jump off a bridge.

[skra75]

A PHd is a good way to rack up debt and more than likely be pigeonholed into the "overqualified" category on 95% of the jobs you could apply for, unless you decide to be a professor and perpetuate the useless cycle.

You're better off getting a job now and continuing studies while working if thats the route you want to go. Grow within a job, gain real world experience, and then go back to school. Employers see a PHd with no work experience compared to a bachelors with the subsequent time after college working in his field of study, and they'll chose the guy with the Bachelors.

As a guy in a professional field I agree here. Stop farting around in college and get a job son. Shit may be different in EU though. You guys are all formal/fartsy over there.

[Kid Presentable]

He's Australian. Every bastard here has a degree, and they all seem to go into post-grad studies. I fucked myself over there, by waiting until I was 25 to take the whole uni thing seriously. I could never imagine doing a Master's without it being part, part time, or subsidised by an employer.

Personally, I want to cap my studying, because I actually have life experience, people skills, and demonstrable goal-orientation and ability to learn already. The degree just gets them to open the door.

[HEIRESS]

since january my boss enrolled me into a technical program you can only get into with employer backing, she's paying all my fees for the course and my books PLUS I get to write assignments and study on work time.

first time with correspondance training and its not too shabby.

[Kid Presentable]

If you guys don't hear from me after next year, my wife left me because of my shit degree.

My standards are so low, I just want a job with a Government agency like Tourism or Gaming and Liquor. The holidays, man. The holidays.

[Otis Driftwood]

but i keep getting told that i should continue my studies. my lecturers and tutors say i have a brilliant mathematical mind and i should go further with my studies....
Ask them "What's in it for you?" :D

[beastieangel01]

^^You don't really know him, why is you lyin?


:D

[Documad]

Oh yeah Doc, I'd been trying hard to convince myself my degree wouldn't be worthless, but I needn't bother now. Although, the people at my uni seem to really struggle in grasping the marketing and advertising concepts. I'm the top 1% of them, so that's saying something (not just an excuse to say that, but also something to convince me it's worth it).

I might go jump off a bridge.
I never said a marketing degree is useless! I said that the courses were hilarious. Anyhow, the people who graduated from my school with a marketing degree are probably all making more money than me.

I don't know anything. I would have never guessed where I'd end up. Even 10 years ago, I'd never have been able to predict what I'm doing now. My advice is to try and keep opening doors instead of closing them. Try things that will broaden your skills. By the way, there are times every month when I think about finding a new job. What stops me every time is that I currently get six weeks of vacation per year. I live to travel. It would be simply impossible for me to go back to having 2-3 weeks of vacation again.

[Yetra Flam]

He's Australian. Every bastard here has a degree, and they all seem to go into post-grad studies.

That's weird, in my state the attitude is that it's a massive waste of time to go to university and it is only a small minority that go. The more successful people seem to be those who finish at year 12 and go straight into some business. University degrees are looked down on, unless you're doing medicine or something.

[Kid Presentable]

That's weird, in my state the attitude is that it's a massive waste of time to go to university and it is only a small minority that go. The more successful people seem to be those who finish at year 12 and go straight into some business. University degrees are looked down on, unless you're doing medicine or something.

Is that within that particular state? I don't know really, all I know is me personally, I'm better off with a degree than without one. The people who go into some business after school could only be half of the story. They might be getting help from their parents, for instance, to do so. I don't know many people who go straight out of high school and into business in any other case. Not saying you're wrong, it's just not been my experience.

[Yetra Flam]

Is that within that particular state? I don't know really, all I know is me personally, I'm better off with a degree than without one. The people who go into some business after school could only be half of the story. They might be getting help from their parents, for instance, to do so. I don't know many people who go straight out of high school and into business in any other case. Not saying you're wrong, it's just not been my experience.

That just seems to be the opinion of people here. I disagree with it though, i think that education is always a good thing. When you tell people that you're at university doing an arts degree or something, they roll their eyes at you and act like you're wasting their hard earned tax dollars.

[Drederick Tatum]

which state is that?

[Yetra Flam]

tasmania

[Drederick Tatum]

hahahaha

[Kid Presentable]

That just seems to be the opinion of people here. I disagree with it though, i think that education is always a good thing. When you tell people that you're at university doing an arts degree or something, they roll their eyes at you and act like you're wasting their hard earned tax dollars.

I value education. But it comes down to wanting to be educated, because the actual process of getting an education is insane.

[Yetra Flam]

hahahaha

hey man, it's not like i like it or i'm proud of it.

[Kid Presentable]

tasmania

Wait, Tasgow?

[Drederick Tatum]

I think today I haven't written more words on the message board than I have on my Hnrs thesis.

uggghh only 276 words.

[Kid Presentable]

I think today I haven't written more words on the message board than I have on my Hnrs thesis.

uggghh only 276 words.

Didn't you have thousands the other day? I'm trying to do an essay as I type this.

[Drederick Tatum]

yeah last week I busted out more than 8000, but without that last minute panic I am nothing.