These slides are excerpted from a talk I gave at my alma mater in Feb 2010 to the CS and EE department. I uploaded this excerpt to share with the Edulix community for the thread entitled "What reasons prevent you from pursuing a Ph.D.?" (http://www.edulix.com/forum/polls.php?action=showresults&pid=485)

1. Tales & Lessons from a Nomadic Academic Life[Excerpt] NitinMadnani Research Scientist (Text, Language and Computation) Educational Testing Service Princeton, NJ http://www.desilinguist.org

2. Why NOT do a PhD? Reason #1: Time Reason #2: Employment Reason #3: Salaries Reason #4: Research

3. Why NOT do a PhD? Reason #1: TIME Source: National Science Foundation Survey of Earned Doctorates for 2003 http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf06312/

4. Why NOT do a PhD? Reason #1: TIME Median CS PhD awardee age is 31.4 and Engg. PhD awardee age is 30.5 Source: National Science Foundation Survey of Earned Doctorates for 2008 http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf10309/

5. Why NOT do a PhD? Reason #2: Employment Source: PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1056

6. Why NOT do a PhD? Reason #2: Employment Source: PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=679

7. Why NOT do a PhD? Reason #3: Salaries Source: National Science Foundation Survey of Earned Doctorates for 2008 http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf10309/

8. Why NOT do a PhD? Reason #3: Salaries +6 years +6 years +9 years (also starting salary cap for most industry jobs) +7 years +8 years Sources: College and University Professional Association for Human Resources Survey, American Association of University Professors Survey, Chronicle of Higher Education Surveyof Graduate Assistants

9. Why NOT do a PhD? Reason #3: Salaries Do an MBA if you just want to earn money! +6 years +9 years +7 years +8 years PhD = Comfort [+Contentment + Happiness] Sources: College and University Professional Association for Human Resources Survey, American Association of University Professors Survey, Chronicle of Higher Education Surveyof Graduate Assistants

10. Why NOT do a PhD? Reason #4: Research while (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; } } Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

11. Why NOT do a PhD? Reason #4: Research while (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; } } Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

12. Why NOT do a PhD? Reason #4: Research while (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; } } Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

13. Why NOT do a PhD? Reason #4: Research while (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; } } Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

14. Why NOT do a PhD? Reason #4: Research while (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; } } Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

15. Why NOT do a PhD? Reason #4: Research while (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; } } Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

16. Why NOT do a PhD? Reason #4: Research while (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; } } Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

17. Why NOT do a PhD? Reason #4: Research while (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; } } Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

18. Why NOT do a PhD? Reason #4: Research while (funding == true) { thesis_topic = find_original_idea(); GOOD_ENOUGH = query(advisor); if (thesis_topic > GOOD_ENOUGH) { graduate(); break; } else { years_in_gradschool += 1; continue; } } “THE BIG UNKNOWN” Adapted from PhD Comics, http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=626

19. On a more serious note … The point of the last few slides was to present the pros and cons of choosing to do a PhD They should inspire thought, not fear Consider all aspects before you decide whether to embark on a PhD All of the reasons not to do a PhD can be overcome (Exhibit A: ME!) Conclusion: A PhD from the US is one of the best learning and rewarding experiences in the world if you make an informed choice to pursue it!