What exactly are the “right reasons”? For some, I’d argue that the approval of another person is a “right” reason…but not if it is the only reason.

For me, I pursued my master’s degree because I wasn’t happy with the options open to me with my bachelor’s degree, because I wasn’t happy with my own performance at the undergraduate level and recognized that I needed to learn more, and because I wanted to show my father (and others) that I really was capable of academic achievement (something I hadn’t demonstrated before). All those reasons were “right” for me.

I pursued my Ph.D. because I wanted to teach college students. My dad was a university professor and I appreciated the working conditions and benefits he enjoyed. I got a small taste of teaching in the master’s program and knew it was something I would enjoy and would be good at doing.

With all respect to Dr. Taranto, not all faculty positions require you to devote yourself to research. In fact, I’d argue that there are far more positions in post-secondary education that emphasize teaching than there are positions that emphasize research. Yes, if you are affiliated with a top doctoral-granting research institution (like the University of Pennsylvania), you’re expected to spend your time doing research. However, I’ve worked at three institutions since earning my Ph.D. that all emphasized teaching over research…only one required faculty to publish and at that college, they rewarded teaching-related research (e.g., publishing papers about new teaching methodologies). I’m at a higher-tier institution now that does require some research, but the overwhelming bulk of my time is spent teaching.

I am currently working on a PhD. I would say that you need to think carefully about your decision and make sure that this is something YOU want to do, and not something that people around you are pushing you to do. Also, as some other people have mentioned, most jobs available for a PhD are research-based or have a large research component (except at community college, which is only teaching), so you should only pursue a PhD if you really want to do research. The best way to determine whether you really want to do research is to do an internship or volunteer to do research as an undergraduate. I’m not sure about the humanities (not sure what your field is), but this works fairly well in the sciences.

Based upon my personal experience, the PhD is a long and difficult process, and can be very frustrating. I cannot emphasize enough that you need to think this over very carefully and be sure that this is really what YOU want before you make this important decision.

First ask yourself whether you want the higher education or not. If yes then next question for yourself would be the reason why. I think it wouldn’t be a right reason if you go to Master/Doctorate because you don’t know what to do next or just because you aren’t ready to go for job.

There are lot of things you should consider and think beforehand, especially for your future plan. People who are most successful in grad school have a reason to be there, i.e., they know what type of job they want and realize the degree is necessary.

I did my master and while working, I now trying to figure out whether I need to pursue PhD.

Check out some advices here:

http://www.phd-survey.org/advice/chemistry.htm

(you can find the other link for other discipline too).

All the best for you.

There is only one reason to get a PhD — because you can’t not get it — because you are so driven to do the research that you would do it even without the degree.

Most people think that you get a PhD so you can teach college. But colleges don’t care if you can teach — they care if you can do research.

If you don’t want to spend the rest of your life doing research — don’t get a PhD.

I have both of those advanced degrees.

I wanted them because I felt that:

I would learn more.

It was a sign of achievement.

No one else in my family at that time had a doctorate.

It would help me advance.

I would earn more money.

You have to answer your own question yourself. The above was my reasons which are not necessarily your.