To PhD or not to PhD, THAT is the question.

I had a very interesting conversation with two of my coworkers the other day. Both of them have PhD's (in different things) but they both work with me at the university. So what else would be better to discuss than the relevance of PhD's in the scientific field?

Well, I received a very unusual wake up from Reality, which inevitably shows up but still sneaks up on us. In agriculturally based sciences, in this day and age, the PhD has become almost irrelevant. No, I don't mean that you shouldn't become super focused and knowledgeable about your field; however, it might be a better choice to stick with a bachelor's or master's degree.

But, if I get a PhD, I'll make more money. No, you won't.

Here's the issue: companies are more willing to hire a person with their MS in certain fields rather than PhD's for the following reasons, to name a couple:

• MS's will do the same job for way less money. Seriously, they might work for around $60,000 a year, comfortably, but PhD's are on a completely different pay scale, often starting at $100,00.
• MS's aren't completely specialized, so a company can have a hand at training and shaping them.

Due to this unfair circumstance of fresh PhD's, you have a couple of options:

1. Get your Master's. Seriously, so you can start getting money right away (probably a good decision if you are in debt from grad school). You can always get your PhD later after saving money, getting great experience, and networking. Plus, Master's Degree credits transfer to your PhD, so it will take less time to complete.
2. Get your PhD and do post-doc work for the next 5-10 years.
3. Be like me and dream of being a genetic engineer, which would allow you to get a PhD and a high likelihood of getting hired soon after. (This field, as well as bioinformatics, are growing and in high demand of PhD's. So get ready for the big leagues!)

Unfortunately, like many other fields, there are major cutbacks being suffered all around science. You have made it so far as to decide that you have this passion, so be smart, save money, and follow your dreams. You don't have to deal with a PhD in Genetic Engineering just to make money, start with a MS in the field you like, and you can always gain pay grades later.