![]() What he means by that is that the production of any science article and academic career, even high profile articles and careers, is often messy and knowing all the details can make it unappetizing. Maybe that's important to you, maybe it's not, but I do think opportunity costs are something to be considered.Ī wise professor once pointed that loving science and pursuing an academic career are quite different - as he put it, obtaining a PhD, pursuing a post-doc and becoming a tenured professor teaches one "how the sausage is made". Depending on your career, you may never make that up. As alluded to above, you also lose a lot of money by being in graduate school and not working during those years. I changed labs in my second year and thought about quitting more than once. There were a LOT of experimental complications along the way my thesis ended up being so much less interesting and impactful than I thought it would be and I didn't publish as much as I'd hoped. Our program averaged 5.5yrs in length and I took 6.5yrs. It was also one of the more difficult experiences. Our faculty was very non-hierarchical and supportive and the culture fostered tremendous growth as a scientist and a human being. I met so many incredibly bright, motivated, well-rounded, kind people- the type I strive to be more like everyday. I will add that, although I am not currently working in neuroscience, my PhD experience was the most rewarding in my life to date. The students should be able to give you an idea, though, if there's any support for this route. As mentioned, asking this from faculty may be unpopular, particularly at top research universities, and could affect your acceptance. I strongly agree with everything in this post but I would suggest that, during interviews, you ask the current students what opportunities they've had for non-academic career preparation. TL DR: Think about what you want to do after you get your PhD, and prepare for it alongside your studies. It is a long, arduous, and financially difficult (~$25k stipend) road, and there are many fulfilling scientific careers you can go into without a PhD. You should also consider if you can achieve your career goals without getting a PhD. When interviewing at grad schools, you should ask how they prepare students for careers outside of academia (although this may be an unpopular question with some faculty). Many mentors, and even graduate program directors, are really reluctant to accept the fact that most of their graduates will not end up staying in academia, and that is not a helpful attitude. Your participation in any of these is of course dependent on having an understanding mentor. ![]() ![]() ![]() Many governmental departments have internship or fellowship programs available. Many institutions now have consulting clubs you can participate in. For example, if you want to work in pharma, some companies have internships or mentor ship programs you can participate it. If you want a career outside of academia, you should participate in activities outside of the lab that will prepare you for that career. There are very limited faculty positions, so if you want that to be your route, it is going to very difficult. I think even before starting your PhD, you need to very seriously think about what you want to do when you finish. ![]()
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