What is a Ph.D.?

So, according to Matt Might, having a PhD is like being a pimple on the ass of human knowledge?

What does it cost to get a degree, say $50,000 or so? Now take two people, one who pursues that degree through a standard university curriculuum and now give the other $50,000 to spend as they see fit pursuing the same area of discipline. At the end of the allotted time period, who do you think would be more knowledgable or be able to make a greater impact in their field.

Personally, I think I could have done better given $50,000 and free reign, (thinking paying people in the field to apprentice, etc.), but I'm sure others need the structure of university.

You just need to find out which sort of person you are.

Doctoral program incorporate many elements of apprenticeship. PhD candidates teach conference sections, grade papers and assist with research as part of their instruction.

They have cream for that.

$50K - maybe at some flaky art school.

Some PhDs are worth more than others.
Depends where you get it from and what
you study.

In the hard sciences, in the US, if you're paying for graduate school you're doin' it wrong.

There's still the opportunity cost of going to school for an additional six years instead of working, and on average people do not make that money back. If you're in it for the money, the PhD isn't worth it.

Okay, that WAS neat!