Attitudes like this irk me to no end because they imply that career & money is everything in life. Maybe spending three more years on something you are passionate about instead of slaving for the capitalism overlords is also valuable?

@mjuric @KarinaVoggel I agree with all of this except I’d be careful with the term “best years”. Opportunity comes at all stages in life and it only does us a disservice to think of our young adulthood as The Best Years. It’s true that it’s *easier* to find opportunities when you’re younger.

@K_Bonson @KarinaVoggel True.

@mjuric @KarinaVoggel I would add that postdocs and to a large degree PhD time doesn’t count as experience in most circumstances, so after a PhD and two postdocs, you start where someone who just graduated from undergrad in terms of credentials. Except you’re a decade older.

@mjuric @KarinaVoggel Agree. The cost-benefit analysis would not point to pursuing a Ph.D. What would drive somebody to it is bigger than that, very individual, of course, but has to do with a sense of personal fulfillment, attitude, and higher intellectual ambition & ability that need to be realized.

@mjuric @KarinaVoggel Well summarized @mjuric . You mentioned data scientist positions which I think a lot of those with physical science bachelors can access. I think the delta is even larger for those with a comp sci degree since they can more quickly enter industry with less training..