https://www.chronicle.com/article/Just-Another-Piece-of-Quit-Lit/242756?cid=cr&utm_source=cr&utm_medium=en&elqTrackId=9f3563db381c44749e33db1f0378c5d1&elq=cb6b2eb74e904014a03fd9dd5b05f130&elqaid=18150&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=8093 He happily dropped PhD program. The comments are worthwhile.
It reflects a lot of what has been said around here for years. Also, and one of the things not said in the article, is that even if he had persevered and finished the PhD , he probably would have gotten the same job that he eventually got (or one just like it).
It's an excellent article. The PhD is not all it's cracked up to be. From a purely humorous, subjective and anecdotal observation, PhD's can be categorized into one of the following groups: 2% - Super smart, even tempered, pragmatic and sociable (this is definitely the tiny minority group). 40% - Super emotional and will "take offense" to things that don't bother mere mortals. 40% - Kinda of weird. Nice, but weird. 3% - Straight up "bum frankenbeans" crazy. Hoarders (peek inside their house for proof). 15% - Other. And yet, everyone wants the coveted PhD, which magically makes someone mysteriously special [sic]. It is the "must have" document [sic], which the vast majority of people don't need!
For professional credential, I like the look of the MicroMasters model: https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamgordon/2018/02/13/voice-of-employers-rings-out-as-moocs-go-from-education-to-qualification/#58f6596e564b I'd like to see the same on the undergraduate level. One module of all the required math courses, a second of all the writing courses, a third of the specialty courses... I think that should work better than the patchwork quilt model in place.
