That statement is certainly true for me. However, I see that the labs at companies are often led by PhD's. Is it better to get hired with a Master's, work my way into a position in the labs, and then have the company sponsor me to finish the PhD? What scares me is that in my current lab, there is one person with a MS in statistics, and she does all of the menial, uninteresting work, while the researchers that have PhD's do all the cool stuff. This lab is in academia, however.

You are right. I should not be so general, but I just don't want to be specific and give away too much personal info. I worked for a foreign company in this particular Asian country for a while and I saw some very unkind things happen to colleagues and had other happen to myself. I should be more careful when tiptoeing through a minefield like I am, but I can't deny what I have seen and experienced.

Of course she does. Please don't think I'm chauvinistic or anything! The problem is that she is not American (we live in the USA), and her degree is for an Asian country. US companies generally frown upon foreign degrees, especially with no work experience. She therefore works for an Asian company in the USA and they almost kill her with work and stress. They train her extensively, though, and she thinks (probably rightfully so in this economy) that a US company would not do that. She doesn't want to look like a quitter on he resume, and she really isn't thrilled about going back to school. She's trying to find her passion too, just like me. Also, since we are in the USA, we have to be really careful about health insurance. If she quits, her insurance will be $300+ per month, and that's for really crappy coverage. She came to this country because she loves me and wants to be with me. She made a commitment, a sacrifice, for me, and I want to do right by her. I cannot get a job in her country because of language issues and the inherent racism found in homogenous cultures. If you are foreigner and lived in an Asian country long term, you know what I mean.

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I am really torn as to whether I finish my PhD or not, and I would GREATLY appreciate any wise advice.


I just finished my quals and was awarded a masters in computer science from a good school, and I am now in the process of deciding my dissertation topic. However, there are some aspects of my situation that really make the think that I shouldn't finish the PhD.


First, I do NOT want to be an academic. I never have, and I probably never will. I would love to work in industry research labs, because I want to see my ideas directly applied to products and in the real world. I feel that academics have to sacrifice so much of their life to get a tenured position, and for me personally, its not worth it.


Second, what I have experienced of the computer science academic culture leads me to believe that it is very communistic. Everyone hates Microsoft for trivial reasons, etc. You are expected to give your ideas and publish them with nothing in return except respect of your peers. I'm sorry. I want to get PAID for my work, and I am tired of feeling like a criminal because I place being compensated very highly in my list of priorities. Some of the greatest things we have in the world come from private industry and capitalism, and I think it is wonderful (except for the current recession, child labor, etc.).


Third, I am tired of being poor. My wife has an AWFUL job, and when I see her come home with tears in her eyes I feel like it is my fault. I know it's the new millennium and women are seen as exactly the same as men, but I feel like a complete failure of a husband because I cannot provide for her. She goes through torment at work because we cannot live on my stipend alone.


However, I LOVE research and doing intellectually creative things. Coming up with cutting edge algorithms or working on the next big thing is a complete thrill. My ultimate dream would be to start a tech company like Google (I know, wouldn't everyone!), but I would also love doing R&D for Intel or a similar firm. I certainly do NOT want to give my work away for free, though, and I want to see it in a practical context.


My advisor says that if I do not want an academic job, that I probably can't stay motivated to get the PhD. Is this true? What should I do? I'm really sorry if my opinions offended anyone, but I need to get this stuff off of my chest. The anonymity of the internet is the best way I think…


thank all of you!!