<p>Was thinking of making the huge 5-6 year commitment on obtaining a chemistry PhD, Most jobs already require years upon years of experience in the job market not counting PhD work. I am interested in being a cosmetic/formulation chemist for skincare, cosmetic or hair care companies so is it worth it? I dont drive so i'd like to work within a commutable distance and I live in NYC so costs to live here are very high. Is it worth it to go through with it?
Does anyone have any depressing/positive stories they would like to share to help others in my situation or anyone else thinking of achieving a PhD or even a masters?
Thanks!</p>
<p>I really do not think getting a PhD is worth it. You will spend 5-7 years as a lab slave on a poverty level stipend working long hours for a PI and end up with worse job prospects at the end of it. At the end you have a PhD which nowadays only really sets you up for post-docing which for most is a career dead-end. Most people stuck in post-doc limbo waste away their 30’s in the vane hope they will someday get a real job. Then they are stuck arround age 40 having to do a career change trying to explain the PhD + Post doc to HR people who think you are overqualified, clueless academic, a flight risk and will leave as soon as a real science job is offered, a failure, expect too high a salary… It is really a tragic place to be for some of the nations brightest people.</p>
<p>sschoe2 … You are dead-on with your analysis.</p>