there's lots of online resources to keep learning (coursera, udacity, mit open courseware, etc), but the real benefit of the phd is the structured environment and the experience of a mentor to help guide you. Getting a phd just cause you want to learn more is like joining the army because you want to get into shape.
If you are really self motivated and passionate you will enjoy your phd experience, though at that point you probably don't need a phd to begin with...
Despite these cons, going through a phd is amazing (in my experience). You're surrounded by lots of smart people studying the same thing (or close to it), which is significantly different than just relying on those who reply to your forum posts. When i go into the office and talk shop with students/other professors/my advisor i get to talk details (math, different approaches, similar work, etc) as opposed to having to setup the problem over and over again, simplifying the idea and methods... Ideas move fast, and with a good advisor and research group it's easy to stop caring about who is on what publication and be excited about contributing to a solution
Edit: there are a lot of people who take the stance that doing a phd is working slave labor for a professor over the course of 4-5 years of your prime - in a sense they're right, but then again, if money is all you care about then by all means don't do a phd...you won't enjoy the experience...there are lots of other ways to make money if that's what makes you happy
> there are a lot of people who take the stance that doing a phd is working slave labor for a professor over the course of 4-5 years of your prime
There are many benefits of doing a PhD, but I couldn't get past the enormous feeling of opportunity cost. I saw enough graduating students and multi-stint postdocs failing to "make it" in academia and struggling to transition out that I realized it wasn't a road I could afford to go down. Better to start a new career at 26 by choice than at 36 out of desperation.
Also, the money issue does matter. You might think it's worth radically diminished wages it to live the "life of the mind" (I certainly did at one time), but be aware that it may have significant long-term impact on your earnings. After a couple years of seeing the lifestyle and economic milestones of friends who started careers after college I felt like I was being left behind socially and economically in enough ways that I might never be able to catch up. The contrast between successful college friends with my older academic friends "aging out" of the academic system into financial chaos and despair couldn't have been more clear.
The whole experience has made me somewhat anti-credentialist in my outlook. Since leaving with a masters and changing fields I've met a lot of genuinely smart people that I never would have run into while living in an academic silo. Now I tell everyone to learn whatever they want, whenever they want, and don't be intimidated by anyone's PhD in bullshitology. Because being an expert in some tiny ultraniche does not make them smarter or better than you.
> When i go into the office and talk shop with students/other professors/my advisor i get to talk details (math, different approaches, similar work, etc) as opposed to having to setup the problem over and over again, simplifying the idea and methods... Ideas move fast, and with a good advisor and research group it's easy to stop caring about who is on what publication and be excited about contributing to a solution
It sounds like either your dept is a lot less cutthroat than mine was, or you're early enough in the program that the novelty hasn't worn off yet. Regardless, I'm glad it's going well for you so far.
If you are really self motivated and passionate you will enjoy your phd experience, though at that point you probably don't need a phd to begin with...
Despite these cons, going through a phd is amazing (in my experience). You're surrounded by lots of smart people studying the same thing (or close to it), which is significantly different than just relying on those who reply to your forum posts. When i go into the office and talk shop with students/other professors/my advisor i get to talk details (math, different approaches, similar work, etc) as opposed to having to setup the problem over and over again, simplifying the idea and methods... Ideas move fast, and with a good advisor and research group it's easy to stop caring about who is on what publication and be excited about contributing to a solution
Edit: there are a lot of people who take the stance that doing a phd is working slave labor for a professor over the course of 4-5 years of your prime - in a sense they're right, but then again, if money is all you care about then by all means don't do a phd...you won't enjoy the experience...there are lots of other ways to make money if that's what makes you happy