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Several possible reasons why there might be too many people getting Ph.D's:

1) It's the only way to get a job in certain really interesting fields

2) Ph.D's garner massive respect from peers

3) Disrespect for industry, there's a perception of tedium, and looking down on people who are "code monkeys" or "project managers"

4) Some kind of academic momentum - it's socially and psychologically easier to stay in college/academia than to switch to industry




I have to disagree with you on points 1-3. They are the minor points. I think number 4 should be on top of your list. Number 4 and then number 3 together probably make up 90% of the real reason why people end up doing a phd.


Perhaps. But the minor points are the ones most Ph.D's will say are their reasons. The last one (social/psychological) is probably the least likely to be admitted.




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