“Why did you opt for a PhD?”

I’ve gotten this question a number of times, and understandably it’s a mystery to many. I have also gotten a number of reactions from people, when they hear about my program.

“Why didn’t you JUST study MEDICINE?”

“What are you going to do with it?”

“Where will you work?”

“That’s too much school !!!”

and my favorite and most common

“What about MARRIAGE?”….lol

Unfortunately, a lot of people still believe being “too educated” as a woman reduces your chances of finding Mr. Right – I digress

I have a lot of dreams and ambitions, and getting a PhD is just one of the things that will help me achieve them. However, there are a lot of misconceptions about this career path. Unfortunately, so many people miss out on a great career path due to these misconceptions.

Before starting my program, I knew a little about what I could accomplish with a PhD. Now, I have learned so much and have practically become an evangelist. So, here are some reasons you should consider getting a PhD, and also at a young age.

#1 – Ability To Create Knowledge

There are so many fields that award a PhD. However, one thing is common: you have to submit a thesis or dissertation that is an ORIGINAL work or body of knowledge. Isn’t that exciting? If you are passionate about creating new things, this right here, is for you. Think about all the text books you have read and the advancement in technology and science we enjoy everyday; they were all created by people like you and me. You can create a product that will pay you, even long after you have left the world. A PhD allows you to learn how to create knowledge, and sets you on a path to do that for the rest of your life – if you choose to. You can be the next Isaac Newton!

#2 – It is a Terminal Degree

When you get a PhD, you have reached the highest level of study in any given field, due to the reason in #1. How cool is that? You are now a contributor to that field.

#3 – Good Source of Income

While, there are variations in income due to field, location, company, etc., people with a doctoral degree still earn a decent amount of money. There is also something called ‘Tenure’, when you work in an academic institution. While that deserves a post on its own to properly explain, it simply means ‘permanent job’; of course, there are conditions that precede getting tenured and a variety of rules that govern the position. But think about it for a second: having a job where you don’t have to think about getting fired.

#4 – The Job-Market is Your Run-Way

With a PhD, you can work ANYWHERE! You can be your own boss, work in academic institutions, clinical settings, industries, media, government and the list goes on and on. It basically boils down to what you want your career path to look like.

#5 – Multiple Streams of Income

As you can see from #4, there are so many places to work. You can take it a step further, and combine those places. For example. as a nurse and a future doctor, I can decide in the future to share my time between a clinical setting, a school, and of course my blog . PhD holders can also give guest lectures, contribute to books, magazines, and blogs; edit people’s work, consult on studies, etc. They can also get paid for all these side-activities in addition to whatever they consider a main job.

#6 – Amazing Lifestyle

One of my mentors who got her PhD as a young woman told me, she never missed any of her child’s school activity – her child is currently an adult. Yes! If you want an amazing career that is flexible, you really want to consider a PhD. A lot of PhD holders have 9-month contracts with their universities, and are getting ready to tour the world or cuddle their families for the next three months. You get your holidays, weekends, and you can arrange your schedule to fit whatever lifestyle you want. Apart from earning a decent amount of money to take you through whatever break you take, if you have multiple sources of income, you wont even notice you’ve not been working.

#7 – It Sets You Up for Other Careers

This is my favorite reason. With a PhD, you can branch out to other career paths. For example, I know people who have gotten a PhD and gone on to become medical doctors. In fact, it boosts your application. You see with a PhD, you have to collaborate on your studies or projects, most times with people from other fields. That gives you an open door to branch out if you find something that interests you. And guess what? You enter any new field as a HYBRID! Your knowledge and expertise from your other field, makes you unique in your contributions.

This is definitely not an exhaustive list; there will be more posts on this subject. I also want to add, that getting a PhD has been associated with being older or getting to the end of a career. That myth couldn’t be further from the truth. If you ask me, there is no bad time to get a PhD, but doing it at a young age helps you enjoy these seven benefits even more. A lot of young people are getting on this train. If you are trying to map out a career path, I suggest you give getting a PhD, a serious thought.

I can’t wait to read your thoughts in the comment section. Until we chat,

Make it a Winning-Day