One can do a PhD or a Doctor of Philosophy (or Philosophiae Doctorem) in any field they like. Most universities require their research scholars to conduct a research on their proposed topic and submit either a 70,000 to 100,000 words (most dissertations are around 80,000) thesis or publish several papers or both. This takes around three to five years to finish. A PhD done with a thesis is called a PhD by Thesis, and one with publication is called a PhD by Publication. Some institutions require you to have some publications in addition to the thesis to complete your PhD. If you are planning to enroll yourself in a PhD program or you are confused about whether you should take that step or not, this guide will help you choose.
You like to research
A PhD is all about research. If you are one of those students who have devoured and loved research papers throughout their university life, then a PhD might be a good choice for you. It will let you explore the topic of your choice in ways that a Master’s or an undergraduate thesis can simply not. A PhD is the thing you should do if you want to dive deeper into your area of expertise and become an authority on it, or if you just want to learn more and contribute to the knowledge pool.
You manage your time well
Even though you have taken admission to a University, and you have a supervisor, a PhD is a solitary task mostly done by you and yourself. Everyone else is there just to help you out and offer suggestions, and everything else is on your shoulders. So, to have a good time doing PhD, you must have good time-management skills. Since the deadlines are literally in years, it is easy to slack off initially. For your PhD to be productive, you need to manage your time well, otherwise, you won’t have the will to even finish one.
You are passionate about your field of research
More people drop out of their PhDs because they don’t love their research topic and are not passionate about it. Make sure that the topic and the field you choose align with your future prospects and priorities. This won’t only help you in getting the job you want but also will make you not hate the journey. For example, if you want to work at Google, then you will have better prospects if you do a PhD in Natural Language Processing. Also, doing a PhD in a topic that goes well with your future ambitions might help you in doing further research.
You have a good academic record
In order to add something to your field of interest, you need to have a good grasp of the field. And a good academic record is a strong indicator of this. Various universities consider your academic record while judging your application. Also, when you apply for a teaching position after your PhD, your academic record gives you an edge. Having a good academic record will make your PhD easier as you will have the essential research and writing skills beforehand.
You have good writing skills
PhD is about writing. If you hate writing, then this might not be for you. You can still learn and improve your writing skills during your PhD. Because you will have to do a lot of it. You don’t only need good writing skills, but good communication skills to complement it. You will need to present your complex findings in a way that future researchers can easily access your results and be able to utilize them. If you think that you are a good writer and can communicate your ideas and conclusions in a very comprehensible way, then you have got a better chance at a PhD. In case you don’t find writing to be your strong suit, then that does not necessarily mean that you can not do a PhD. If you satisfy other signs, then you can improve your writing skills during your PhD.
You are really invested in your subject
If you have no interest in your field, then it does not matter how much effort you invest, you won’t go anywhere. But on the other hand, if you are the type who can keep on talking about their subject area for hours, PhD might just be your thing. You need to be able to answer how your field of interest is valuable and why it is necessary, otherwise, you yourself will be questioning your choices. Once you know the importance of what you are about to do, then you can very well invest your all into it. For example, if you are planning to research natural language processing then you can see how it might help millions by having better digital assistance. There are always plenty of potential reasons, all you need is to find what your research and subject mean to you.
If you have multiple or all of these signs then PhD might be your thing, and you should definitely give it a shot. Even if you lack a few, it is okay, you can get better at them while doing your PhD with some effort. At the end of the day, what matters is that if you want to do this, you are passionate about this, then it is possible. You will always have your supervisor and peer group to help you out. Once done, you will be opening new pathways to better opportunities, so even though you might have to spend a few years finishing it, look at it like an investment. Good luck!