Me @37: I'm tired of my high paid IT work, imma quit and get a PhD in plant genetics...
Me @42: fuck
?
You sound like a sure thing for bioinformatics.
I mean, the pay isn't great but it's generally six figures even without a PhD
Lol yeah... more maths, but you are correct
Me @22: Boy, IT work sure looks fun and I love computers already so let me take out some student loans to become a cybersecurity specialist!
Me @29: Retail is fine too.
Getting a degree to work in IT seems weird to me, but I was admining before IT classes existed
We're from a different era my dude. These days it's all analysts, architects and data scientist.
Who can't do jack shit without guys like you.
Except now we have to find jobs through connections because we aren’t getting past HR filters.
Architects where I work don't have degrees, they're programmers who have shown they understand a significant chunk of our enormous system (government IT)
Analysts are a mixed bag. Some have relevant education, others have relevant experience
Data scientists seem to all be appropriately degreed
We live in a messed up world. Research regardless of whether it's successful or not should be making researchers some of the most highly paid citizens of our society. Documenting how things don't work should be as valued as documenting how things do work.
Labtechs shouldn't be making the equivalent of Mc Donalds workers (even though Mc Donalds workers should also be paid more).
The labtech problem is largely the fault of Quest and LabCorp in the US
Documenting how things don’t work should be as valued as documenting how things do work.
This, all the way this!
Exactly where 'publish or perish' fails science and enriches publishers.
My entire 20s and 30s.
Me currently starting my 30s.
Hey it's a start.
I once had a guy at the local science museum tell me that attempting a PhD will either give you a mental illness or alcoholism.
Terrible take. You will get both, and a caffeine addiction
Pfft I got all three and I’m a college dropout. You mean to tell me I should have a PhD by now?
Nah, I already got a caffeine addiction from the GCSEs.
I already had mental illness before I started!
Huh. Maybe I should put this ADHD to good use and get a PhD.
I have ADHD and finishing my PhD right now. My doctoral supervisor practically gave me free rein and I was able to let my creativity run free. This resulted in a new method in the field of ML that we now even have patented. But let me tell you, everything around it was hell. The teaching was exhausting, the lectures were exhausting and the publishing was exhausting. I'm glad it's over, all those boring tasks are really getting on my nerves and I'm looking forward to working in the industry soon. So if you really consider this, don't rush this decision.
That's dope as hell! ML is already my hobby. Perhaps there is hope yet. Would love to read that paper when it's finished! Haha
You can try. At least with ADHD you have creativity and hyperfocus. That might help. :-)
My anxiety became worse after I joined PhD. I started having panic attacks. I am glad I decided to drop out. After dropping out, I found that I had BPD. So turns out I already had mental illness and PhD just made it worse.
BPD or PhD, close enough
Yeah, I learned my lesson after completing my master's.
It's all a scam based on pre-existing connections with the right socio-economic circles. I won't be here to see it, but hopefully the next iteration of human society will be less regressive.
Is master's degree common in the West?
Bachelor's degree is much more common where I'm from. After that people are usually keen to get a job and start earning.
It's almost impossible to find a job as a graduate even with a master's degree. The industry has gone to shit.
My wife, with a PhD applying for jobs 15 years ago:
"You're stupidly over-qualified for this entry-level job, we fear that you will leave us as soon as you get a better offer."
or
"You have the qualifications for his role, but you lack previous experience."
It's becoming far more common, yes. I'm not really sure what all of these people are doing with master's degrees nowadays. But at least in the US, a master's degree seems to be the new bachelor's degree. Higher education is all a racket.
Granted, I do say this as someone with a master's degree. My master's degree actually was incredibly useful to me though and not something pointless like underwater basket weaving. Mine helped me make a healthy wage (at the expense of student loan debt, but it all works out).
What’s wrong with underwater basket weaving?
Nothing as a hobby. Good luck making a good amount money off of it though.
It's definitely somewhat common. Teachers in my state generally get one as part of the certification process. Management, especially middle or upper level can have an MBA. Some student athletes get them depending on how their scholarship eligibility works out. There was also a surge of masters degrees in the 08 recession, due to people avoiding the bad job market.
My coworkers laugh at me because I want a PhD so I can have the title of Dr. They think it's ridiculous. Now I HAVE to get a PhD. The hunt for suitable and affordable master's programs is tough. 💀
Dude, it is ridiculous, unless you live in one of the few countries where the title gets you special treatment. You're clearly not in such a country as you're talking about the cost
I wouldn't want special treatment for it though. Like, I want the title and satisfaction it would bring. A PhD is a huge achievement and I would be getting the degree to better myself. I want to accomplish great things for myself and myself alone. I'm also in IT, so a PhD would only help me in my career if I wanted to go into academia.
1 out of 3 ain't bad.
If a genie promised me at least one third of things I tried would be successful, I'd be trying a lot more things.
When you realize the world isn't worth saving due to 10% of the populace controlling the fate of the other 90%
Idk, sounds like the world is at least 90% worth saving to me
Me @27 IT is boring and the wages suck, I lack human empathy so I'll try Defense Contracting
Me @36 Well the money is great, but the risk of Engineers spilling national security secrets every day is stressful AF.
It’s easy, just pre-emptively fire any engineers who play world of tanks or war thunder.
I actually have a multiple choice question on my General User training that goes something like:
If someone attempts to elicit classified information from you, and a heated argument erupts, what action should you take?
A) Inform Company Security of the event
B) Provide a non-answer and defer or distract from the current line of questioning
C) Prove them wrong by giving them the classified information
D) A & B
So far no one has chosen C, thankfully.
You need "if you play a computer game and find they have technical details of a weapon system incorrect, what action should you take"
If it’s to your benefit, say nothing. But if it nerfs something you use then you have a duty to fix their mistake! Those national defence people will understand.
This is a large driving force behind my ever developing depression
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