@Doncic42, my Yalie did consider, for a while, getting a PhD. He had gotten the combined MS/BS degree, and was being lobbied (not by his parents) to continue on. I think that it’s different for STEMish kids than for non-STEMish kids; the financial penalty of a PhD means you have to really want the academic life to pursue continued education. We were very pleased when he decided to work in the private sector.