Which PhD is right for you?

We have often spoken with students who plan to pursue a PhD. Some have stressed the need to do the "right" PhD, not just any PhD. We completely agree that the PhD must be the "right" one; that is, aimed at a specific professional purpose. I think it is important to seriously consider this, because it can be dangerous to compromise and undertake research in an area that is easier but that you are not interested in, just because it will lead to a PhD.

Before making any rash choices, take into account the great commitment involved in doing a PhD program; it is important to have clear ideas about the future by considering where your PhD might take you. Do you want to continue your academic career or apply for jobs in industry or other organizations where a PhD is a requirement that will help you work at a higher level? Remember that the most natural opening for a PhD is in university research; for job employment, a Master's degree is usually sufficient.

However, it is interesting to note that research on the career intentions of PhD students, revealed that about a third of them have well-defined career ideas in the last stages of their doctorate. This positive phenomenon is instead worrisome, since it means that PhD students, already having an idea of where they want to go, miss the opportunity to enrich their backgrounds by delving deeper into research.