<p>Why do you want to go to grad school? Your dream career requires a PhD? You are excited by research? You don't want to deal with the real world? Share your stories :)</p>
<p>Tell us what field you are in as well.</p>
<p>Why grad school?</p>
<p>Because a BSc (or BA) means virtually nothing these days since everyone's got one. Most of the best jobs (for my field) require a masters degree or higher, so that's why I'm getting it out of the way immediately after undergrad. A Ph.D is not worth it for me, since I'm not aiming for academia or a pure research position in industry.</p>
<p>I study economics, by the way.</p>
<p>I have two main reasons. Firstly, I'd honestly love to stay in school forever, and not at all because I'm shying away from the job market/real life - in fact, I'd love to stay in school forever and work at the same time! I'd just love to explore both my discipline (IR) and all the interdisciplinary fields around it. I majored in poli sci with a focus on comparative/international politics, and it laid down the groundwork beautifully, but I really want to explore the facets of IR that I was only briefly exposed to throughout undergrad further.</p>
<p>Secondly, I want a more applicable, hands-on, real-life approach. I have a solid foundation in theory, philosophy and history, but I want to learn more about how it all works in the here and now from people who actually work in the here and now. My coursework from now on will be a lot more specialized and focused on the real world, and will be complemented by a whole host of different events/conferences/talks led by professionals presenting the freshest material. I'm really excited!</p>
<p>Honestly, because a lot of other things bore me. I have this endless child-like curiosity, and any job that contains redundancy or does not challenge my mind to the fullest...I get bored at. I was also brought up in a way such that I don't really need or crave excessive money, and am happy with a comfortable humble lifestyle. I also have a need to have my existence make a difference in this world, otherwise I know I'm going to have a midlife crisis. If any above were not true, I probably would have gone on to become a lawyer, engineer, computer programmer, accountant, actuarial scientist, etc...</p>
<p>I want a PhD because it will train me to become a researcher. The latter is my ultimate goal. I'm not too fond of the idea of going to school for another five years, getting paid low wage, and being someone else's research tool, but it is the way to reach my goals, which is to become an expert in my field.</p>
<p>I'm studying Genetics/Genomics, so it's kind of a fusion of Computing Science and Genetics/Biochemistry. My focus is pretty interdisciplinary, which also feeds into that need to know everything about everything.</p>
<p>This is what I sent out to my family when I announced that I'd be going to graduate school officially if they can't still figure out why I want to go to grad school :)</p>
<p>#81</a> Graduate School Stuff White People Like</p>
<p>That site is too true and funny.</p>
<p>But in seriousness, I can't really see myself doing anything else besides researching and writing and presenting my findings. I'm the black sheep of my family of doctors and financial managers/advisors and have my share of connections to lawyers. None of those jobs appeal to me, not even fashion design as my step-aunt is in (very successful). I like the flexiblity even if the hours are insane.</p>
<p>My ultimate goal is to be a senior historian of a museum but I'm open to other opportunities such as curator or professor... just as long I can be involved in teaching and researching to a wider variety of audience. So therefore, I need my PhD. </p>
<p>I really am the happiest when I'm drowning in my work and analyzing my primary sources with secondary. I did really try to convince myself that spending summers doing research in a library is crazy and abnormal by taking research internships for 3 summers but you can't beat the love! :)</p>
<p>An aside:</p>
<p>That blog ^^^ about stuff white people like is fantastic! Spot on lol.</p>
<p>“White people love “gifted” children, do you know why? Because an astounding 100% of their kids are gifted! Isn’t that amazing?”</p>
<p>(I was in a "gifted" program too. So were both of my sisters. Yep, that makes 100% of the children in our household. Rofl.)</p>
<p>I got a good, stable job with just a bachelor's. My job is in a company that does research (it publishes in the same journals and at the same conferences as academics in the relevant field do). My job is also entry level - status-wise, I'm like a newish grad student would be in academia.</p>
<p>My job has both convinced me that:</p>
<ul>
<li>I don't <em>need</em> grad school to be successful.</li>
<li>I <em>want</em> to go to grad school.</li>
</ul>
<p>I probably want to stay in industry, but I want to do research, at the level that the senior people in my company (who have PhDs, or MSs and a bunch of experience) do. If I make it to a PhD program, I get to do research for several years while I'm in the program, and will then be qualified for awesome senior-level research jobs in industry.</p>
<p>I'm in computer science.</p>
<p>You hit me with all three of your questions:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I hate the working environment I'm in (just might be my job but I don't see any way out of it because all my experience is in this field). Plus, I love academia. Education and Research for eternity would be quite fine by me.</p></li>
<li><p>I want to do research so by default I need a PhD. I don't mind though. I have no life already, why not do something constructive with the time lol.</p></li>
<li><p>What I want to do research on is something i'm passionate about (this should really really be #1)</p></li>
<li><p>Not to fond about the idea of teaching/being a TA, that's the only drawback but since I don't have strong research experience I might have to TA for 2 years before getting an RA position.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>For the hot girls.</p>
<p>because i'm scared of the real world.. not kidding.</p>
<p>To become an intellectual in the tradition of Darwin, Freud, Marx, etc. should be everyone's answer.</p>
<p>word. and Einstein too I'd like to add.</p>
<p>
[quote]
To become an intellectual in the tradition of Darwin, Freud, Marx, etc. should be everyone's answer.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Why is that?</p>
<p>"word. and Einstein too I'd like to add."</p>
<p>Then you wouldn't need to go to grad school -- undergrad physics would suffice.</p>
<p>ticklemepink: Thanks for the link. I thought I was going to get something done today, but nope I definitely spent the last few hours reading that website.</p>
<p>@dntw8up, But you'd have to start doing paperwork for the government because there were no actual jobs for your major. :(</p>
<p>Why grad school? Many reasons: want to be able to get a better position, want to get into academia one day, want to avoid real world for a longer duration.</p>
<p>I read that website all weekend.</p>
<p>With my major (anthropology), you pretty much have to have at least a masters and usually a ph.d to do anything. I'm not ready for grad school yet though, even though after this semester I will be a senior. I'm postponing grad school (and the REAL real world) for a while and basically escaping to Europe, if I can manage it (and I am working hard to make sure I can).</p>
<p>Psych major...here are my reasons:</p>
<ol>
<li>To get into research.</li>
<li>So I can do my own thing--no way I get bossed around my whole life.</li>
<li>Without a masters or PhD the jobs are pretty lowly.</li>
<li>I would make a horrible counselor since I have Asperger's Syndrome. Most psych people who don't get advanced degrees seem to want to do social work and I'm one of the least social people at my school.</li>
<li>The pay. I don't care about a big house or anything and I don't care if I retire a millionaire or not but I do want nice cars...</li>
</ol>
<p>I honestly disagree with those who say "Because everyone has a BA." I think only around 25% of Americans have BA's and entering the job market with a BA and NOT getting your masters degree is sometimes beneficial due to the opportunity cost and real financial cost of getting a masters, PhD, law degree, whatever. Although i certainly agree that in some fields you are pretty much toast without an MA, there seems to be a growing belief that a BA alone is useless which is really false. BA's allow you to get a multitude of entry level jobs, the problem is that they dont allow you to SPECIALIZE which means you usually end up doing work you dont like. That is the problem with BA's.</p>