What kind of person gets a PhD? Is this YOU?

There are many motivations for people getting a PhD. In this video, I share with you the kinds of person that gets a PhD you may notice some aspects in yourself.

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▼ ▽ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – the two types
1:24 – people seeking a better life
2:42 – Prof wannabes
4:06 – people who love a subject
5:35 – people delaying getting a job
7:02 – what they all have in common eventually

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▼ ▽ TOOLS

[TheGregXP]

I started as "knows exactly what they want to do" and finished as "no idea what they want to do".

[anatona]

I started my PhD knowing how horribly demanding academia is. Like you, I am using my PhD as a pathway to a better life in a new country. Still, I like my research, and it kills me to know that it will be over in a couple of years, but at the same time, I am impatient and all I want to do is get it over with so I can just work and go on with my life (I am married, with a child, and already working on the side).

[chayanikachatterjee]

It's crazy how I got this video in my suggestion when I was literally confused whether I should pursue PhD or not. This was really helpful & I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

[s.b]

In marine biology and similar environmental fields in Sweden (probably all Scandinavia) there are in general two paths you can choose. Both lead to a good carreer with good pay, but PhD's are generally valued much higher with a wide array of choices. The two paths are:

1. Master's degree: Working as a research assistant OR in management/consultancy contexts. You will never do your own research, but you will always find a good, well paid job, executing recurring marine analyses within projects or programs. Expertise in environmental law, policy, sampling/analysis methods including boat handling are often required. This is a good choice if you value stability and family life over novelty and discovery.

2. PhD: Working as a scientist in an institution or institute with your own funding OR executing government-funded commissions and scientific assignments which the government has decided within an institute (these are common in Sweden). As you gain senior scientist status, or before that, leadership possibilities- or higher positions in jobs unlocks. They may not involve any execution of own science, but your knowledge could instead be valued for environmental managent, various levels of culsultancy (from helping regular companies to the government) or teaching jobs outside of university. Then there is ofcourse regular post-doc jobs for those who never stop hungering after new discoveries.

And - Thank you Andy for your videos <3 I was just accepted to my dream marine biology PhD in northern Norway, partly thanks to your tips ^^ Im one of those unicorns that loves my subject. will continue to follow!

[francescobolzonella]

Insightful, thanks again for sharing! Could you do a video exploring the pros and cons of time length spent working prior to PhD and how that may affect likelihood of successful completion or admission? I think that after a bit too much time in work environment your cognitive flexibility may atrophy and maybe you know people that can share that experience. Thanks for your work on these videos!

[nicky_bee]

I'm a unicorn that ran away from corporate life 🦄 Worked in uni admin before but wanted to do my own research. Also in my field you need a PhD to be allowed to fart

[mohammadhussainsalehi]

I liked the point that some people just do a Ph.D. that they don't want to get into work and they just want to continue studying and enjoying their lives.

[cedargrace]

I'm 100% a unicorn. My hobby & job are completely aligned. I can't imagine doing anything else. I'm 40yrs old and just starting grad school and feel lucky to not have a lot of other responsibilities. I am so grateful to have found my topic that I'm so passionate about. Love your videos, thank you.

[JBoya]

I always played with going back for a PhD in Computer Science after my CS Masters but did not think it would help me earn more. And I could already do research on things that interested me in my spare time.

[Freebaggin]

Hit the nail on the head mate. I was the opposite, after 4 years at Uni getting my honour in Chemistry both my future wife and I couldn't think of anything worse than continuing study...we just wanted a JOB and do curtain shopping on the weekend :)! Now however, 30 years later, doing a PhD, on a subject I like I am doing for a purpose, that is to change career and move into a field I want to when I've finished. Horses for courses

[JBoya]

I agree with your 2 ends of the spectrum. Most people I know with PhDs are in the BioTech world. They went for their PhD to research one hot topic and then ended up changing to something else. In the end their dissertation is in no way related with they said they were going to do 6-7 years earlier. And often strangely their work after getting a job has little to do with their PhD research.

[larissacury]

I laughed so hard at 00:09 🤣 ! Thanks, Andy!

[s-kayebrown]

Another really insightful video. Thanks Andy!

[smitanarjary]

I wana do PHD coz i m not satisfied with the quality of education or research i have done and I love my field and want to contribute towards it and have abstract future plans for it also as u said i dont wana do job .. it is not for me until i contribute something good towards the society i wont be satisfied.

[Howtogetfluent]

Enjoyed that, Andy. I think I was a mix of some of those motivations. Chance to learn languages and live abroad was a big part of it and to experience being at the frontiers of knowledge and how it's put together and presented. Forgive the technical side questions from a YouTuber perspective, but how do you do the split screen with text on one third with the plain background that you used several times? Is that a plug in for Premier or FXP or some other way?

[LeggattNZ]

Yes!! Until my PhD I had NO idea of the life of an academic! It looks like hell but, weirdly, I'm still keen to give it a go!

P.S I'm a unicorn, I ❤️ my PhD topic and pretty much live it daily!! Ask me again when I finish (9 mths and counting)!

[MP-dzki]

I want to start a PhD in life Sciences after working 5 years. First I decided not to because I didnt want to persue an academic career and having the job of the supervisor I thought is horrible. But now I am bored and seeking for a challenge, for a project that can be mine and I am woring towards it with gaining more knowledge on the way. It would be difficult to cut off on money now but it is kind of worth it I guess. Also I want to have the title, as I nopticed that working in academia without a phd (eventhough the work itself is not necessarily very much research based) is tougher as people perseive you differently.

[TheGregXP]

For people that want to change fields and don't have the skills for the new field, any piece of advice? Not every skill you can learn by yourself at home, at least not in a professional level. How to convince a PI to take a chance on you?

[lucabonaccio]

I have watched several videos in your channel at the time; my goal is to become a professor in order to do research full time while teaching.
Do you think is still possibile or this depends on the level of toxcity in the department you're working for?

[lou]

I'm 20 and don't even have a BA what am I doing here haha