Adding to the above…
My daughter just told me she ( and a small group) was invited for drinks with her prof once they return to campus… She has been invited to another prof’s house for dinner…more than once…tutors another’s children, does research with yet another…
She has only been taught by tenured professors… except for one class ( 30 students) that was taught by somebody who was almost done with her PhD. TAs run some review sessions … yes she knows them but they don’t teach the class.
No positive views of people with Phd’s? Really? She has been on the fence for several years about going this path… and has had very extensive conversations for hours… and hours… with professors who she is very close with, and who shared their experiences… good… bad… etc with her. Not only did they share personal experiences, but 1 of them shared very personal information with her that is usually only discussed with close friends. When she struggles with important decisions who does she speak with? Her professors.
Cold and impersonal? Nope.
This is yet another reason why the question asked on this thread can’t be answered… too many variables among schools of all sizes … and among students.