From: dosburn@cwis.unomaha.edu (Don Osburn)
Subject: PhD vs Get-a-Job Summary
Summary: Summary of replys to PhD vs Get-a-Job
Keywords: PhD Job Summary
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 17:19:39 GMT

Greetings:
This is a summary of the reponses I received to my recent posting
regarding the question, "Should one continue on for the PhD after
completing the M.S. in computer science, or should he/she move on to the
industrial world, and 'Get a Job NA na na na NA NA NA NA na na...'?"
I am posting this summary in the hopes that it may help others who are
currently struggling with this question as I have for the past two
years.  Before I begin, I would like to thank all of you who responded
to my inquiry.  Your advice and opinions have helped immensely, and I
would even go as far as saying that they honestly helped me make MY
decision.  Thanks!

I don't think anything that follows will surprise anybody, particularly
anyone that has already been through this and has made their decision.
As I said, I am primarily posting this in the hopes it finds others who
are in my same situation, and whose future (which is supposed to look
bright) may look somewhat chaotic.

		PhD vs Get-A-Job

1	You must WANT the PhD for its own sake for it can ultimately 
	close as many doors as it opens.

I should warn that most of the responses I received were from people who
received the M.S. and went to work.  Therefore, the opinion was shifted
toward the side of, "Don't do the PhD."  However, I did receive a few
responses from people in the academic community, and they tended to
support the statement above.  Yes, the PhD will move you into research,
theoretics, and teaching, and yes, these are all "well defined" job
functions, but you really shouldn't get the PhD because you think you
like one or more of these job descriptions.  You should get the PhD
because it burns in you to do so.  I can't say it much better than that.

2	The PhD curve in computer science is flattening out.

This comes from the academic community specifically.  IF you REALLY want
the PhD, you must realize that recent PhD production is catching up with
PhD demand.  I have had professors tell me, "...five years ago, a PhD in
computer science guaranteed you a position in a research institution if
you wanted it.  Today, you may have to take a job teaching full time on
the community college circuit just to get by..."  For more information
on this, I recommend the Taulbee Survey Report published in the IEEE mag
COMPUTER.

3	Once you quit school, you will never go back.

I cannot respond to this one.  After completing my B.S. I bumbled into a
COBOL job in the midwest because I wasn't thinking properly.  After
doing it for a year, while networking, I decided to quit my job and
return to school to finish my M.S. full time.  Yes, it stinks, and yes,
it IS hard to give up that dough, but it can be done if you feel you
REALLY need it.

4	The best reason to go to work instead of for the PhD is:
	NO MORE HOMEWORK.

Surprisingly enough that is the way it sounds.  More often than not,
when I discuss this topic with someone who works, I don't hear how great
it is to have money, or health insurance, etc.  What I do hear is that
it is just nirvana to not have to do homework anymore.

5	What you learn in school is not as important as WHO you meet.

I received a lot of responses telling me that the most important part of
graduate education is not the coursework you do, but the people you
network with while you are doing it.  The general impression I got was,
"Use grad school to make the contacts you need in the areas you want to
work, then jump as soon as you feel comfortable."

6	In industry, a PhD can put you straight into managment, while an
	M.S. will let you do all the "neat" work.

PhD folks and M.S. folks tend to agree on this one.  If you like to work
on the toys, and see all the blinky lights, stop with the M.S.  However,
if you want to manage big projects, the PhD is a must.

7	Since the economy is crud right now, it may be a good idea to 
	start looking for a job, but be prepared to stay in school in
	case nothing turns up.

This just sounds like good advice, so I added it.

8	If you REALLY want the PhD, stay in school full time to finish.
	Going to class after 8+ hours of work a day stinks.

I would agree with this one.  I worked/went to school my first two
semesters back for the M.S. and stinks is really too nice of a word to
describe it.

/********************************************************************/

Well, I guess I will stop there.  There was a lot more, but I think
those were the biggies.  I would like to once more thank everyone who
sent me mail.  I have kept it all and will post updates if it looks
warranted.  As for me, I have started looking for a job, but I have
applied to a few schools just in case nothing turns up right away.
Take care
Don Osburn

dosburn@cwis.unomaha.edu