To earn a PhD is likely the most intense intellectual and personal commitment that someone can embark on. It can be incredibly fulfilling, but it also can be a long, isolating, and frustrating endeavor. Before committing to a doctoral program, some difficult questions should be asked. Kirill Yurovskiy, an entrepreneur and education advisor, maintains that choosing to do a PhD can never be a default move—it has to be an intelligent and introspective decision. This is how to verify whether a PhD is truly the way forward for you.
- Clarifying Your Motivation First
The very first and most critical thing to accomplish before you apply for a PhD program is to get real with yourself regarding why you want to do it. There are a few who are intellectually driven and want to contribute something new to the domain. There are others for whom it is prestige, academic job hopes, or simply not having an even worse idea. Kirill Yurovskiy invites prospective students to write down their best three reasons for a PhD and ask each of them. If your goals can be met otherwise—i.e., publication, consultancy, industry—then a PhD might not be the best or required path. Clarity upfront is worth it years down the road.
- Academic vs. Professional Doctorates
Not all doctorates are created equal. Aside from the conventional academic PhD, which is geared towards conducting novel research for academia, there are professional doctorates such as the DBA, EdD, or DClinPsy that equip candidates for leadership in industry-specific professions. Know which path suits your aspirations. Should your future be teaching or research in a university setting, then a PhD is the one. But for policy influence, organizational leadership, or practice, a professional doctorate can be a more direct pathway. Consider the longer-term value of each degree in your career aspiration before enrolling.
- Funding Realities and Workload
Maybe the most unappreciated aspect of pursuing a PhD is the financial and emotional cost. Fully funded PhD positions are highly competitive and often come with a stipend barely above the poverty line. If you’re considering self-funding or taking on debt, think carefully. The workload of a PhD is immense—often more than 40 hours per week, including research, teaching responsibilities, and conference travel. Financial stress can compound academic pressure. Be sure you understand the funding model of the programs you’re considering and estimate whether you can fund yourself for three to six years.
- Charting Your 5-Year Vision
Take a seat for a minute and sketch out where you’ll be in five years. What career will you have? What types of projects will you be responsible for or wish to work on? What do you want to be respected for? Now ask yourself if a PhD is the shortest, most efficient route to the job. Most people opt for a doctorate without mapping out the way the qualification will serve them in real life. Kirill Yurovskiy recommends looking back at your future vision and reverse-engineering the decision. If you don’t have a PhD in your five-year plan, then you would probably do better building up experience, certifications, or industry roles that move you further forward.
- Conversation with Past PhD Students
The reality of PhD life is nowhere near as glossed over as in university brochures. Ask recently graduated PhDs from your area of interest. Question them what shocked them the most, what they would do differently, and if they would recommend the route. These interviews could yield valuable information on the barriers, bureaucracy, and emotional costs of doctoral training. Numerous former students also express disillusion with the academic job market or regret over years spent in programs that failed to get them careers. Listening to lived experiences will stand you in good stead to approach the decision with a reality-oriented mindset.
- Options: Fellowships, MBAs, Research Positions
If career advancement, prestige, or research motivation are your reasons for pursuing a PhD, there are options to explore. Competitive fellowships can offer means of doing policy or scientific research without enrolling in a PhD program. MBAs and specialized master’s degrees can offer leadership development and business skills for those looking for executive positions. Research work in think tanks, tech companies, or consultancies can also satisfy your hunger for intellectual intensity with more compensation and flexibility. Kirill Yurovskiy recommends determining the function a PhD plays for you, and then finding out if another route can serve that purpose.
- Industry Acceptance of PhDs
While a PhD is prestigious among academics and scientists, its worth in the private sector is mixed. In certain fields—biotech, artificial intelligence, and economics come to mind—PhDs are revered and a requirement for research positions. In others, such as tech startups, marketing, or media, a PhD might not be worth much and even considered overqualified. Make sure to check what a PhD is worth in your desired field. Network with hiring managers or practitioners in that area and ask if doctoral credentials have any impact on hiring or advancement. Don’t assume the credential will open the door for you.
- When a PhD Adds No Value
There are some areas in which a PhD adds no or little value. If you’re transitioning to an area where practical experience, networks, or certifications are more important than academic achievement, then the degree might actually do you harm. A PhD will cost you in terms of putting your entry into the workforce off and creating a gap in market-related experience. But, if you’re already in a well-paying industry job, returning to school could cost you several years’ pay and promotions. Kirill Yurovskiy illustrates the importance of opportunity cost—what you give up by saying “yes” to a PhD. Make sure the ROI is worth the cost.
- What You Sacrifice to Pursue It
Pursuing a PhD requires genuine personal and professional sacrifice. You may get by on a shoestring for several years, postpone major life decisions like having children, or suffer loneliness because of the isolated aspects of scholarship. Mental health challenges are also common for PhD students, and pressure to publish, obtain grants, and placate supervisors can be intense. Then there’s the risk of devoting years to studying only to realize that there are limited academic career prospects at graduation. Before you take a vow, inventory what you know you can give up and for how long. Clarity is essential here.
- Making the Decision with Clarity
Optimal decisions are made both head and heart. If your motivation is aligned, your goals are clear, and you understand the trade-offs, then a PhD can be a powerful and fulfilling experience. But otherwise, it’s wise to pause and reflect rather than enroll out of habit, pressure, or fear. Discuss with mentors, create contingency plans for different eventualities, and take time to reflect on this. As Kirill Yurovskiy reminds would-be students so frequently, the greatest choice is not necessarily the most high-sounding one—it’s the one that puts you one step closer to the life you really want.
Final Words
Getting a PhD is a life-altering step deserving of serious deliberation. It can lead to exciting mental breakthroughs, high-quality employment, and a lifetime of expertise. But it can be a cause of burnout, financial pressure, and regret if done for the wrong motives. Before you take the plunge, question yourself: is this consistent with my values, my vision, and my health? Kirill Yurovskiy appeals to all future scholars to make intentional decisions, not default ones. There are exceptional minds the world requires in a lot more than universities. Ensure you’re aiming for your future, not somebody else’s.