Should You Go to Graduate School?

Up to Getting into Graduate School

Read these articles, even if you know you are going to go to graduate school.

Scientist Shortages?

Advice for undergraduates considering graduate school: by Phil Agre, UCSD.
Thinking about Graduate School in Astronomy? Another View.: A recent astronomy PhD's perspective.
Wanted: Really Smart Suckers - Grad school provides exciting new road to poverty: The Village Voice, April 27, 2004.
Women in Science: "This article explores this fourth possible explanation for the dearth of women in science: They found better jobs."
Big jobs that pay badly: CNN, August 15, 2005. "Most of us work hard for a living. And if we're lucky, we're well compensated for the effort. But there are some jobs you should take only if you really love the work because the investment you make to get the job and the hours you keep aren't necessarily commensurate with what you earn."
Deciding If and How to Pursue Doctoral Work: "The goal of this chapter is to help readers weigh the factors related to deciding whether to pursue a terminal degree, as well as to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the decision-making process as it related to pursuing doctoral education."
Should You Go to Graduate School?: Here are some important questions to consider before you: Is graduate school right for you? Here are some serious questions to consider before you make this commitment.
Should I Go to Grad School?: "Short answer: no. Long answer: maybe, but..."
Don't Become a Scientist!: "Why am I (a tenured professor of physics) trying to discourage you from following a career path which was successful for me? Because times have changed (I received my Ph.D. in 1973, and tenure in 1976). American science no longer offers a reasonable career path. If you go to graduate school in science it is in the expectation of spending your working life doing scientific research, using your ingenuity and curiosity to solve important and interesting problems. You will almost certainly be disappointed, probably when it is too late to choose another career."
Is There Another Degree in Your Future?: Choosing Among Professional and Graduate Schools. By Neale Baxter, managing editor, OOQ.
The cost of a higher degree: "Grad school doesn't always pay. Here's how to tell if it makes sense for you." CNN, February 26, 2002.
Physics PhD in Italy: This page is about the PhD in Italy: salary, job opportunity, rules and so on. The page is in Italian.
Why Graduate School? - Yahoo! Education: "When weighing whether or not to go to grad school, you should realistically assess what you expect from a graduate degree and exactly what program will suit you best."

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Should You Go to Graduate School?