<p>I am in the 2nd year of my PhD. I am almost certain now that I dont want to go into academia, I know I wont enjoy the research pressure academics in good schools have. I also dont enjoy teaching that much.</p>
<p>So I ask if a PhD holds much value in industry?</p>
<p>What is your field of study?</p>
<p>Political Science/IR. Research: US security policy in South-Central Asia.</p>
<p>^ You asked this question b4. In general though a PhD is usually for academia however people do other stuff outside academia. However more doors are open outside academia if you go to an HYPSM+Berkeley+Columbia/Chicago/Caltech/Northwestern/Michigan/Duke/Penn</p>
<p>It should be useful if you work in consulting or for the government/military. At a minimum, it will give you credibility.</p>
<p>I’d stick with it if you’re 2 years through it already. Like DRDM37 said, it will give you credibility. Having a masters in politicial science wouldn’t help you nearly as much.</p>
<p>Some disciplines will help you a lot more for industry than others, too–i.e., a marketing or management Ph.D. to get a job at a top 4 consulting. etc.</p>
<p>What about the MPhil as a compromise? It is valued?</p>
<p>When I was in my second year I felt the same way. I ‘knew’ I didn’t want to go into academia; the pressure was too much, I thought, and I didn’t like teaching. I remained only becaued I loved reseach and I loved my project. I’m now a fourth year and I realized that then it was really the stress of still being relatively new. I’m more settled, I have a better idea of what to do and how to do it, and now I’m seriously trying for an academic career as a professor. The thought makes me happy.</p>
<p>But, if you know for sure that the life is not for you - better to get out earlier.</p>
<p>Don’t fall prey to the sunk cost fallacy - that since you’re already two years in, you should just finish. First of all, if you are in your second year, that means you just started your second year which means you’ve only “sunk” one year. Secondly, it’s much easier to disentangle yourself from academia earlier instead of later. You’re less invested, you’ve completed less and you’re less likely to think all of that “wasted” time should go somewhere. Think of it as a low-paying job that you tried out and didn’t like. Thirdly, it’s kind of absurd because even if you had just completed your second year, you’d still have 3-4 years to go in a political science PhD program. You have less behind you than you have in front of you.</p>
<p>In any case, a political science degree can be used outside of academia in limited circles. Especially in government; federal positions prefer PhDs in many cases. You could also do policy research at a think tank (although if you don’t want the research pressure, this may not be appealing).</p>
<p>Yes, I just started year 2 this week. I just dont know what I want in life.</p>
<p>You could certainly go into government work without much problem (though the hiring situation sucks a bit right now). Though you’ll probably be doing the same thing as if you had only a master’s.</p>
<p>I already have a MA. MPhil would be like a 2nd advanced MA?</p>
<p>UKdude84,</p>
<p>Where are you studying, where would you like to work, and what is your visa status? If you are at an institution in the US, pop by the career center and talk with a counselor about your future. Find out whether completing that second master’s degree is useful at all.</p>
<p>I am at KCL, London. Area: US-Pakistan relations, status: Citizen, born and raised.</p>
<p>Then, you need to be asking these questions in the UK. Many of the people who frequent these forums are in the US, and won’t have a clue about what employers want in the UK.</p>
<p>I know this. I am (a) focusing on US affairs and (b) write about US for a popular site, so post here.</p>
<p>Oh, so you’re not a US citizen? Scratch what I said about working for the US government then…</p>
<p>I thought the name UKdude was a clue?</p>
<p>I initially took it that you had an association with the University of Kentucky, to be quite honest.</p>
<p>Lulz.</p>
<p>Nah. </p>
<p>I am a US expert though, MA and now PhD work on US affairs. Write weekly column on US affairs for a website.</p>