is jonathan katz right /sci/?
http://yangxiao.cs.ua.edu/Don't%20Become%20a%20Scientist!.htm
>what you should be doing
(have a goal in mind) -> (does that goal need phD) -> yes -> (get phD)
>what people do
(I have no clue what to do in life) -> stay in school forever -> blame it on school
School isnt the problem. If it isnt school, itll be singing. If it isnt singing, itll be the next big DJ, etc.
The problem is people having no specific goal, and only a vague general idea of success
>>8164427
His phrase is pretty biased though. He is in academia.
A drug seller would say that he knows more people whose lives have been ruined by drugs then by getting a PhD...
That statement literally means nothing. That said, it is not true that people with even minor talent blindly follow graduate school because they didn't have a job lined up immediately after university and just don't want to go around for it.
(study something you really love) -> get PhD in it -> (get whatever job with it to pay the bills and keep studying it because you love it)
Whats scis opinion on getting a masters and phd purely for fun?
i just finished a pure math degree and want to keep going, but i dont want to work in any career where pure math would help me (currently running own business).
>they fell for the phd meme
>>8164535
>running own business
>the opinions of others regarding your employment situation matters at that point
Get it, or don't. It literally cannot affect you one way or the other, because you are your own employer.
I thought you were quoting this guy.
>>8164427
This is 15 years old. I am pretty sure it is probably at least as bad now as it was in 1999 but what do I know I am not a scientist.
Probably this is all even worse in mathematics.
>>8164699
Not a single aspect of academia or the job market is as good as in 1999.
>>8164699
My logic prof last semester told me that he was in grad school (around 2000), the number of pure math jobs had been halved since the 80s then and has been halved since then.
He basically told us that we'll be fucked if we don't do stats, even PDE jobs are apparently starting to dry out.
>>8164811
when he was in grad school*
