So, you want to apply to PhD programs this fall

I opened a draft of this newsletter back in early June. I didn’t want to forget to share a few thoughts on the grad school application process. As I revisit it now, I’m reminded just how important it is to pause and really interrogate why you want to pursue a PhD. Doing this has always been important, but my experience, both as a student and now as faculty, tells me that this kind of reflection doesn’t always happen.

And honestly, I wish someone had pushed me to think more deeply about my own “why” when I was applying. The most honest answer I can give is: I don’t know…I kinda got on the train and didn’t get off, and now here I am.

To be clear, I’m not writing this post to talk anyone out of pursuing a PhD. I’m writing to encourage a kind of mental exercise I wish someone had asked me to do. Since finishing my degree in 2018, my perspective has shifted, not because I’ve abandoned the value of the PhD (obviously), but because I’ve gained distance and context. A lot has changed since then — in the world, in academia, in disciplinary norms — but what I’m offering here is my take.

So, as you read on, keep that in mind: I went through a PhD program and now work as faculty in the U.S. I’m sharing this reflection at a very particular moment — one marked by defunding of science and education, and real instability in higher ed. That context matters. But even without this content, these are still questions worth asking.

Perhaps, though, this context makes it even more important to get clear on why you’re pursuing a PhD. Plus, the opportunity costs are real. Just the other day, I spoke with someone considering a PhD, but when we talked, they didn’t articulate anything that was actually specific to the PhD. That conversation stuck with me.

So, again, I’m not here to say “don’t do it.” I’m here to say: be honest with yourself. Live your life, but understand what your choices open up, and what they might close off.

Side note: I’ve been sharing more of these reflections over on TikTok. It’s been fun! You can find me at @professormidge.

With all this said, here are a few questions I encourage people to ask themselves when they tell me they’re thinking about applying to PhD programs.

This is a valid question to ask and one I don’t think anyone ever asked me until well into my PhD program. I know some people hear this question and immediately feel defensive, like it’s accusatory or meant to undermine their ambitions. And yes, sometimes it is asked in bad faith. But taken at face value, it’s a real question and one worth asking yourself before you submit your application.

My partner once got this advice in undergrad: If you’re only 99% sure you want a PhD, that’s not enough. I actually disagree. You don’t need to be 100% sure, but you do need to be honest about why you’re doing it and what you hope it will open up for you.

If your answer is “to learn,” well…you can do that at a library. (In the words of Will Hunting: You wasted $150,000 on an education you could have gotten for $1.50 in late fees at the public library.) The PhD is not just a learning experience, it’s a professional training program. It’s long, it’s hard, it changes your relation with learning, and it’s deeply embedded in a system that doesn’t exist outside of power, privilege, and politics.

So, again, you don’t have to have it all figured out. But ask yourself the question. Answer it honestly. And keep asking yourself why.

This ties back to the “why,” but it’s worth asking directly: What are you giving up by pursuing a PhD?

For some people, the path to a PhD comes after building a career in another field. For others, it’s a continuation of their current academic trajectory. In my case, I decided I wanted to be a professor before I was actually competitive for the programs I aspired to. So, I took on lab manager and research assistant roles for a few years before applying.

That decision added to what I now consider a significant financial opportunity cost. I essentially gave up about a decade of prime income-earning (and investing) years. I’m deliberately not doing the math on what that means for my lifetime earnings. But it’s…a lot.

That said, I wanted to be a professor and the PhD was the necessary path to get there. So for me, the opportunity cost was worth it. But it might not be for you. That’s not a value judgment, it’s just something to think about with intention.

Even if the PhD is your top choice, you should still have a sense of what you’re walking away from. Know what you’re trading — not to scare yourself out of it, but to ground your decision in reality.

Always choose the PhD. The PhD doesn’t choose you.

Some people are highly averse to ambiguity (honestly, a lot of people are). But the PhD is a long game and uncertainty is baked into the process. I spent the first three years of my PhD obtaining null results. And although I could stand behind my work — my studies were well-motivated, my methods were rigorous — it was still demoralizing. I experienced a lot of anxiety (thanks, publication bias). I kept wondering: When will it be my turn? When would I land on a finding that felt “interesting” enough to build on?

Eventually, I did. I found a promising line of work exploring children’s variety seeking. But it took time, persistence, and a lot of internal negotiation to get there.

And research aside, the PhD, and the academic path more broadly, is filled with uncertainty. During my PhD, I knew I’d need to move for a postdoc. I just didn’t know where. Then, during my postdoc, I knew I’d likely need to move again for a faculty position. Again, I didn’t know where. Now, as a faculty member, I’m working toward tenure. Will I earn it? Still unclear.

I’ve been fortunate to navigate all of this with a supportive partner. But I’ve also had to reckon with the fact that he’s less comfortable with this level of uncertainty, which has introduced challenges for us.

And…well, current events only compound the uncertainty. I honestly can’t imagine starting my PhD this fall.

So, ask yourself how you deal with ambiguity. You don’t need to love it. But you’ll want to be prepared for it because it never really goes away.

Let’s say you want to earn a PhD so you can become a professor. Great! That’s a valid goal. But it’s still important to understand what other options are available just in case you can’t (or decide you don’t want to) pursue a tenure-track faculty position. Plans change. Markets shift. Life happens.

Over the years, I’ve organized and co-organized panels featuring PhD-trained professionals working in a range of industries (most recently: panel 1, panel 2):

• User experience research and tech industry roles

• Science policy, grant writing, and philanthropy

• Edtech, nonprofits, and research consulting

• Industry research, academic publishing, and more

These are all viable and fulfilling career paths. But here's the thing, although the PhD is one of the highest academic degrees you can earn, it’s not universally valued or understood outside academia. I’ve spoken with folks who are hesitant to hire people with PhDs, citing everything from over-qualification to concerns about narrow training or “academic” attitudes. Sometimes those concerns are based in real differences; other times, they’re driven by stereotypes.

So, do your research. Talk to people in and outside of academia. Understand what doors the PhD may open and which ones it might quietly close.

Yes, people complete PhDs without strong support systems. But it’s tough. One of the best tools I had during grad school was a support system that reminded me that I was a whole person, not just a researcher.

My partner, for example, took a real interest in my academic work, but he also challenged me to explain why it mattered. What was I actually contributing? Why should anyone care? It wasn’t always comfortable, but it was clarifying. My parents, too, were a huge source of emotional support. And because they lived nearby, I could escape campus when I needed to.

And dogs? Dogs are the best. Henry got me out of the house for walks and kept me on a routine. My parents’ dog, Fenway, always excitedly greeted me. He always made me feel important.

Grad school can easily become your whole world if you let it. A support system outside of academia can help you stay grounded, remind you of your values, and offer very important perspective.

So ask yourself: What supports outside the academy do I have in place? Who or what will remind me that I’m more than my research?

Until next time!

How to reach me: You are always welcome to email me (letstalkgradschool@gmail.com). You can also find me on Bluesky @bskybymidge.

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Wishing you all the best!

Margaret