IS A (BIO)STAT PHD RIGHT FOR ME?

Prospective students ask me this several times a year. It’s a tough one. I am super enthusiastic about stat and data science careers. It’s an interesting job with lots of variety and a strong job market. But a phd isn’t right for everyone. 1/

Much has been said about the downsides of grad school. You will work hard for little pay. You will be stressed at times. You may have to move far away from family and friends. 2/

These sacrifices are worthwhile if the work you are doing is intellectually satisfying and is moving you towards a goal you care about. Absent either of those components you are setting yourself up for misery. 3/

Here’s what I think you should consider if this is a decision you’re trying to make:

1. Do you need a PhD to do your dream job? You need a strong goal to pull you through when the going gets tough. Don't start a phd just because you can’t think of anything else to do. /4

2. Do you like developing new statistical methods? No, I mean REALLY like. Almost any (bio)stat PhD dissertation will include some methods development component. If you are not interested in methods development a (bio)stat PhD will entail a fair measure of suffering. 5/

http://3.In  stats 101 did you ask yourself, “why does this work”? This is the heart of a PhD program: the underlying theory. Wanting to get on with the analysis and focus less on the exploring underneath is perfectly valid but may not require a PhD. 6/

4. Are you very attached to a particular application area? In a PhD, you will focus on methods and won’t be able to delve deeply into the science. If you really want to get into a specific scientific area an epidemiology or other science focused program might be a better fit. 7/

5. Do you have a strong math background? Past performance in math is a litmus test for success in a (bio)stat PhD. If you have had minimal math you may need to take more before applying. This will help you get admitted and give you a sense of how you may fare in the PhD. 8/

If you are #firstgen or just don’t happen to know anyone with a PhD in the field, reach out to faculty to learn more. Some faculty are busy and won’t respond, but if you are polite and sincere you will be surprised how many people want to help! 9/

As an educator, I love helping prospective students access educational opportunities! I would love to get everyone into a grad program! But don’t feel bad if a PhD is not a good fit for you. There are many paths to get you data sciencing and a PhD is only one! 10/