我们为什么申请读博士?

刚走上申请道路的时候想过为什么读博士,其实并没有真的想清楚,现在拿到了OFFER的时候,又问自己,读美国博士这么辛苦,这么远,要放弃很多东西包括时间精力金钱和机会成本,而且读博士不一定能找到好的工作,为什么仍然要这么执着的要出国读博士,而不是硕士,本科?仅仅因为读博士奖学金好申请吗?是因为理想,志向,抱负,兴趣还是觉得博士是学术的最高学位,在年轻的时候读到顶?

这个问题仁者见仁,智者见智,下面摘录引用了两篇过来人的意见,奉献给所有立志读博士的GTER,

首先,谈谈为什么要读博?

1、如果你压根就没想好这个问题,完全是随波逐流,或者证明自己是一个"好学生",或者认为考博可以带来生活的翻天复地的变化,或者认为读博就是混个学位,为了以后好提升,那么,请你谨慎考虑。 首先,博士并不一定意味着高收入。

其次,既便为了想进高校而读博,也要事先考虑一下是不是喜欢那种生活方式,能否接受那种清苦?能不能坐冷板凳?不然,高校的日子也不好过,竞争一样激烈。而考博只不过是"多米诺骨牌"的第一个环节。等你博士毕业之后,不继续自己的科研,可是又已经付出那么多青春、热情和心血,放弃是否舍得?如果继续从事科研,就要考虑自己是否热爱这种寂寞的无人喝彩的工作,并且身边都是精英,你能否承受那种压力?要知道,真正的名专家名学者毕竟是少数,大多数人是要默默无闻、平平淡淡过一生的。你也可以有更好的未来,但那意味着加倍的付出和努力。

2、如果已经想好了,比如就是为了提高自己的科研能力,扩大自己的知识面,或者仅仅是体验一下这种生活,或者证明一下自己,或者临时没有更好的出路,想过渡一下,或者干脆就是喜欢从事科研,那么,无论任何理由,只要是坚定的,能说服自己的,那么你就可以选择自己的活法。祝贺你,你就可以尝试。 接下来,我们看一下读博士可能需要什么?

1、高智商就不要说了,还要有高的情商。这样才能保证自己高处能胜寒,或者寂寞的时候依然美丽着。 但凡读到博士的人,总是一些人群中的佼佼者。要么是绝顶聪明,要么是极端有毅力,要么就是非常灵活,总之,可谓八仙过海、各显神通。我在读博期间的感受之一就是,周围的人的确不简单,都有令人非常佩服的一面,可能再"混"日子的人,跟一般人相比也有一份自律和坚持。所以这是一个可以相互约束、相互见证、共同进步的群体。高智商基本是读博的第一要素。

但是不要以为光有高智商就有好的生活。高情商也很重要,比如你要经常想一下自己是什么样的人?想过和适合过什么样的生活?你怎样让自己在纷繁的乱世中保持一份清醒,远离物质诱惑?你怎样让自己保持快乐?因为,的确是有一些人没想好就进来了,所以学得很累,日子过得很牵强,时不时可能还觉得"活着没劲"。如果这样的话,倒不如及早融入社会洪流更让你能安静下来。既能出世也能入世是最好的,如果压根做不到出世,就绝对入世一些,让自己实际"生活"起来,也就运转自如了。

因为如果没有高情商,那么读博不但可能不会给你带来更多的快乐,而且会带来很多负累。因为你可能会跟社会上的人比物质,跟潜心做学问的人比成果,跟那些滋润的"小家庭"比幸福,等等。那就比较麻烦。因为老天爷毕竟不会把所有的好事都给一个人。你得到了一些,就要坦然面对可能因此失去的。

2、读博需要有点毅力,沉得住气,至少一段时间内是这样。

读博可不是说着玩的。如果只是想混混,也不是那么好混的。现在的毕业论文盲审制度,还是能卡住不少没下功夫或者功夫下得不到,或者下了功夫但没下到当处的人的。而且,平时博士还有论文发表的数量和档次的要求,动不动就是国家核心期刊几篇,理工科的可能还需要在国际刊物上发表。虽然大多数博士都完成任务,拿到了学位,但那是付出了很多焦虑、睡不着觉、掉头发等等代价的。当然,视个人天资和基础不同,可能各有差异,但不努力就可以完成任务的还真没听说过。

平时上课、读书的要求就不要说了。为了完成博士论文,或者在那样一个氛围中,为了自己至少像个博士,理工科的人要无数次地做实验,甚至通宵达旦,而文科的学生则要天天泡在书堆里,基本上3年下

来,看小说的时间是没有的。大家都比较训练有素,就是自己浪费了时间会自责。所以为了逃避自责的痛苦和外在的压力,大家一般还是要选择一点点的去面对和积累。没有点做冷板凳的功夫是不行的,至少在一段时间内是这样。

博士同学中已经是硕导的,在博士论文的冲刺阶段,也会形容枯槁,也有老师们形容"做完博士论文就像扒层皮",毕竟抛却客观要求不说,就自身而言,大家也知道专心在学校搞点研究不容易,所以基本上博士论文就是一段时间内的最高水平。何况博士论文的最高要求,也是最基本的,就是"创新"。这两个字,可是会把人折磨坏的。结果是,做博士论文的时候,大多数同学都"自然减肥"。一个抱着侥幸心理,本来以为混混就可以过关的同学,在博士论文写完之后,说了这样一句深刻的推翻自己以前逻辑的话——"以后,谁要再说博士是混出来的,我跟他急!"

接下来看一下读博可能带来的一些负面影响。

1、读博可能会改变一个人的生活节奏和轨迹。比如恋爱、婚姻和家庭。

说这个好象是废话。但是我们可以算笔账,一个人中间一直不停地读书,等博士毕业也是接近30的人了。这时候的社会工作经验还可能是零。如果不是足够幸运地在读书期间遇到合适的另一半并且已经成家的话,那么就要在毕业之后不但面临找工作,适应新环境的问题,也要面对建立一个小家,适应婚姻和家庭的问题,还要考虑是先在工作上干出点成绩还是抓紧要孩子的问题。这时候大多数小家庭都是无产阶级,可能早先工作的同龄人已经拥有了自己的房子、车子和孩子,心理上的落差需要自己摆平。

也有很大一部分人是有了一定的工作、家庭、孩子之后又去读博的,这种辛苦就不要说了。面对家庭和自己的前途之间的不调和,需要自己判断、选择。有时候,有所选择是痛苦的。所以有很多人说,早知如此,宁愿不要选择的机会。可是时光是无法倒流的。校园里有不少带着孩子读书的母亲,有的将孩子放在周边的幼儿园或者学校里,自己面对多重压力,孩子也跟着受苦。精力、财力和爱心、责任之间的冲突和压力,让很多母亲说:"等我拿到学位的那一天,我可能最想做的就是找个没人的地方大哭一场。" 有的时候,鱼和熊掌的确不可得兼,这是事实。所以大多数博士在毕业后都会多多少少有些尴尬,来自情感的、家庭的、工作的,等等。

2、读博可能会加重取舍之间的难度。

有人认为,读完博士,工作等等可选择的余地更大了。实际上不是这样的。博士阶段着重培养的是在某一领域具有独立进行研究和解决问题的能力的人。它不是一个通才教育,只会将人的研究领域和学习领域越限越窄。所以,除非是在高校或做科研,不然,博士并不是最好的选择。

而且,读博可能多多少少还会产生这样的效应,就是你在长期的研究和投入中已经多多少少对这些研究产生兴趣。明知继续研究可能热情和动力不足,但是放弃却着实可惜,那时该怎么办?其实周围很多同学都是这样的。最后选择的未必是最初想选择的生活道路。我学的是文科,我的很多同学,本来想进新闻媒体,或者出版单位,或者机关等等,机会并不是没有,但是真正抉择的时候,却又割舍不下对专业培养起来的感情,最终继续选了高校进行教学科研,也有的虽然进了新闻出版,却做的并不开心,有点后悔的意思。不得不搞学术的时候不觉得热爱,反倒是真正离开了觉得自己"还是有点"喜欢学术的。这是一种悖论。会带来很多困惑和尴尬,这些问题的解决需要智慧、对自己的了解,还需要决断能力。一旦上了这贼船就必须面对,由不得你了。

说了这些,有人可能退缩了,觉得后脊梁骨嗖嗖发凉。其实,运用最简单的逻辑想想,如果真的读博就像地狱,哪还有现在的趋之若骛呢?不否认有一些头脑发昏,没想明白就混进来的人,但是一定也是有人是真正考虑好了并认可这种方式的。权且说其一二:

1、读博是人的一种生活方式,而且很奢侈,不是每个人都可以享受的。

相比于钱来说,读博的机会显得更是一种稀缺资源。有机会读博的人可能不觉得,但是有很多人是压根没有机会考虑和尝试的,他们的羡慕和憧憬可能不是你读博的理由,但是至少有一点是肯定的,你可以

体会跟别人不一样的人生。这也是一种生活方式。而且这种生活体验是非常奢侈的,有限的,难得的,所以自然也是有价值的有意义的。如果说有人选择冒险、挑战生命极限是一种生活方式,那么读博

也是。读博完成和实现的是一种精神追求。享受这种方式本身就是一种经历、一种财富、一种收获。 有一个同事,我在博客中提到过的,海归,放弃了原来在外企的高薪工作,跑到国外读博士,最后回到高校。就是因为她觉得在外企的工作,使人变得没有时间思考,人像机器。所以为了进高校,她选择了读博并为这个目标奋斗了10几年。她说,人是要有点追求的。斯夫!当人们解决了基本的生存问题之后,对精神的渴望和寄托就会浮出水面,而读博是使人更接近思想本身的一种方式。

2、读博可以有机会接近和聆听大师的声音,并与最聪明的人相处。想不提高都难!

有博士点的地方,大都是师资力量相当强的地方,各种资源也很多。读博士可以使人轻而易举地就接近原来只闻其名、不见其人的一些大家,聆听他们在学术、做人等等方面的一些感受和教诲。这将是受益终生的。这种视界的打开和融合对一个人的提升来说至关重要。因为这些学者的点拨,可能会使人少走很多弯路,并在一些领域迅速接近国内或国外同行。某种意义上,这有"鲤鱼跳龙门"之效。特别是在一些综合性的名牌大学,这种优势就更加明显。用原来硕导的话说:"就像从省队进了国家队"。各种讲座、交流以及图书等等资源,使人进步飞快。

再说周围的同学,都是来自各地的人中龙凤。依我的经验,每个读到博士的人,都是有一些品质可能是一般的老百姓没有的,比如那种悟性、那种天资、那种刻苦、那种执着、那种毅力,等等。所以,与这样的一群聪明人交往,无论别人是不是有一些很难容忍的缺点,但也总是有一些优点是值得学习的,在这样的一种碰撞和交流中,无论是对学术的,还是对生活的看法,都会让人获益匪浅。真的是想不提高都难!

3、读博可以积累一些资源。

博士期间会遇到很多名师,也会有很多优秀的同学,这些都是一些潜在的资源。就算日后你的同学里出不了王侯将相。至少就我而言,很多同学遍布在很多城市的很多高校,无论对搞研究,还是作为了解风土人情的交流,都是颇有助益的。博士期间的师生关系有助于建立广泛的学术联系。

毕业之后,如果选择一个中等城市或者发展中的学校或单位,那么可能意味着你会瞬间拥有别人奋斗10几年才能拥有的东西,比如各种津贴补助、比如房子,或者配偶的工作,都能得到解决。生活会有明显提高。 从这个意义上,用原来同事的话说,读博就是赚钱。或者,读博还极有可能在毕业后进入一个博士成群的工作团体。这样,你就有可能使自己一直处于一个不断学习不断上升不断进步的状态。与智者的交流毕竟是令人愉快的。对此我受益良多。

另外,比较重要的一点,也是一个老教授曾经说过的,做研究工作,所有的科研成果的发表,名利都是自己的,不象在机关等单位工作,在年轻的时候多是为别人做嫁衣,而到了退休,往往是人一走茶就凉。而现在看来,读博直接地与以后是否有机会搞科研密切相关。

4、读博可以愉悦身心,是难得的生命体验。

因为博士不象本科生那样有天天上不完的课程,有各种各样的活动的约束,有各种检查和评比,所以基本上属于比较天马行空的、自由的一群。而高校大都有优美的环境和小资的气氛,博士生里面,大家基本上要么是有收入的,要么是可以自己赚些外快的,思想相对比较成熟了,各方面处于学校和社会的结合带,并可以暂时脱离家庭的束缚,做一些自由自在的个性的事情,是难得的生命体验。对于工作多年的人来说,这是一种放松、调整和休憩,而对于从未走上工作岗位的人来说,也从别人那里直接间接得到一些启迪。

我的博士生活就是丰富多彩的。有一帮朋友,大家经常轮流坐庄,出去吃饭、喝茶、野餐,或者就在校园里散散步、打打球,或者在学校的食堂里进行"学术午餐"和"学术晚餐",关于学术的、人生的、社会的,无所不谈。现在回想起来,我的同学和朋友都颇为留恋那段时光。我们都曾说过这样的类似"痴人说梦"之类的话,"如果条件允许的话,真想一辈子当学生,一辈子在校园里待下去。让读书变成一种生活方式。" ......

我想说了这么多,不知那些想了解些什么的人是更清醒了还是更晕乎了?其实,大家都是时而清醒时而糊涂的,这都正常。关键是,主要问题想明白了就行,小事不妨糊涂一点。某一时间和地点,我们只能有一次选择人生的机会。是否读博?这本身就是一个考卷。想好了再下笔,一旦下笔就坚持下去。相信,你会看到传说中的彩虹!

以上内容分别引用自Dr Katte和中山大学一位博士生的博客,

The Basics

A Doctor of Philosophy degree, abbreviated Ph.D., is the highest academic degree anyone can earn. Because earning a Ph.D. requires extended study and intense intellectual effort, less than one percent of the population attains the degree. Society shows respect for a person who holds a Ph.D. by addressing them with the title ``Doctor''.

To earn a Ph.D., one must accomplish two things. First, one must master a specific subject completely. Second, one must extend the body of knowledge about that subject.

Mastering A Subject

To master a subject, a student searches the published literature to find and read everything that has been written about the subject. In scientific disciplines, a student begins by studying general reference works such as text books. Eventually, the student must also search scholarly journals, the publications that scientists use to exchange information and record reports of their scientific investigations.

Each university establishes general guidelines that a student must follow to earn a Ph.D. degree, and each college or department within a university sets specific standards by which it measures mastery of a subject. Usually, in preparing for Ph.D. work in a given field, a student must earn both a Bachelor's and Master's degree (or their

equivalent) in that field or in a closely related field. To demonstrate complete mastery of the subject, a student may be required to complete additional graduate-level courses, maintain a high grade average, or take a battery of special examinations. In many institutions, students must do all three.

Because examinations given as part of a Ph.D. curriculum assess expert knowledge, they are created and evaluated by a committee of experts, each of whom holds a Ph.D. degree.

Extending Knowledge

The essence of a Ph.D., the aspect that distinguishes Ph.D. study from other academic work, can be summarized in a single word: research. To extend knowledge, one must explore, investigate, and contemplate. The scientific community uses the term research to capture the idea.

In scientific disciplines, research often implies experimentation, but research is more than mere experiments -- it means interpretation and deep understanding. For Computer Scientists, research means searching to uncover the principles that underlie digital computation and communication. A researcher must discover new techniques that aid in building or using computational mechanisms. Researchers look for new abstractions, new approaches, new algorithms, new principles, or new mechanisms.

To complete a Ph.D., each student must present results from their research to the faculty in a lengthy, formal document called a dissertation (more popularly referred to as a thesis). The student must then submit their dissertation to the faculty and defend their work an oral examination.

Relationship To Products

In some cases, the results of scientific research can be used to develop new products or improve those that exist. However, scientists do not use commercial success or potential commercial profits as a measure of their work; they conduct investigations to further human understanding and the body of knowledge humans have compiled. Often, the commercial benefits of scientific research are much greater in the long-term than in the short-term. Research Activities

Computer Science research can include such diverse activities as designing and building new computer systems, proving mathematical theorems, writing computer software, measuring the performance of a computer system, using analytical tools to assess a design, or studying the errors programmers make as they build a large software system. Because a researcher chooses the activities appropriate to answer each question that arises in a research investigation, and because new questions arise as an investigation proceeds, research activities vary from project to project and over time in a single project. A researcher must be prepared to use a variety of approaches and tools.

A Few Questions To Ask

Many of you are trying to decide whether to pursue a Ph.D. degree. Here are a few questions you might ask yourself.

1. Do you want a research career?

Before enrolling in a Ph.D. program, you should carefully consider your long-term goals. Because earning a Ph.D. is training for research, you should ask yourself whether a research position is your long-term goal. If it is, a Ph.D. degree is the standard path to your chosen career (a few people have managed to obtain a research position without a Ph.D., but they are the exception, not the rule). If, however, you want a non-research career, a Ph.D. is definitely not for you.

2. Do you want an academic position?

A Ph.D. is the de facto ``union card'' for an academic position. Although it is possible to obtain an academic

position without a Ph.D., the chances are low. Major universities (and most colleges) require each member of their faculty to hold a Ph.D. and to engage in research activities. Why? To insure that the faculty have sufficient expertise to teach advanced courses and to force faculty to remain current in their chosen field. The U.S. State Department diplomatic protocol ranks the title ``professor'' higher than the title ``doctor''. It does so in recognition of academic requirements: most professors hold a Ph.D., but not all people who hold a Ph.D. degree are professors.

3. Do you have what it takes?

It is difficult for an individual to assess their own capabilities. The following guidelines and questions may be of help.

Intelligence:

In your college and graduate courses, were you closer to the top of your class or the bottom? How well did you do on the GRE or other standardized tests?

Time:

Are you prepared to tackle a project larger than any you have undertaken before? You must commit to multiple years of hard work. Are you willing to reduce or forego other activities?

Creativity:

Research discoveries often arise when one looks at old facts in a new way. Do you shine when solving problems? Do you like ``brain teasers'' and similar puzzles? Are you good at solving them? In school, did you find advanced mathematics enjoyable or difficult?

Intense curiosity:

Have you always been compelled to understand the world around you and to find out how things work? A natural

curiosity makes research easier. Did you fulfill minimum requirements or explore further on your own? Adaptability:

Most students are unprepared for Ph.D. study. They find it unexpectedly different than course work. Suddenly thrust into a world in which no one knows the answers, students sometimes flounder. Can you adapt to new ways of thinking? Can you tolerate searching for answers even when no one knows the precise questions?

Self-motivation:

By the time a student finishes an undergraduate education, they have become accustomed to receiving grades for each course each semester. In a Ph.D. program, work is not divided neatly into separate courses, professors do not partition tasks into little assignments, and the student does not receive a grade for each small step. Are you self-motivated enough to keep working toward a goal without day-to-day encouragement?

Competitiveness:

If you choose to enroll in a Ph.D. program, you will compete with others at the top. More important, once you graduate, your peers will include some of the brightest people in the world. You will be measured and judged in comparison to them. Are you willing to compete at the Ph.D. level?

Maturity:

Compared to coursework, which is carefully planned by a teacher, Ph.D. study has less structure. You will have more freedom to set your own goals, determine your daily schedule, and follow interesting ideas. Are you prepared to accept the responsibility that accompanies the additional freedoms? Your success or failure in Ph.D. research depends on it.

A few warnings:

Students sometimes enroll in a Ph.D. program for the wrong reasons. After a while, such students find that the requirements overwhelm them. Before starting one should realize that a Ph.D. is not:

Prestigious in itself

Almost everyone who has obtained a Ph.D. is proud of their efforts and the result. However, you should

understand that once you graduate, you will work among a group of scientists who each hold a Ph.D. degree. (One faculty member used to chide arrogant graduate students by saying, ``I don't see why you think it's such a great accomplishment -- all my friends have a Ph.D!'').

A guarantee of respect for all your opinions

Many students believe that once they earn a Ph.D. people will automatically respect all their opinions. You will learn, however, that few people assume a Ph.D. in one subject automatically makes you an authority on others. It is especially true in the science communicaty; respect must be earned.

A goal in itself

A Ph.D. degree prepares you for research. If all you want is a diploma to hang on the wall, there are much easier ways to obtain one. After you graduate, you will have occasion to compare your record of accomplishment to those of other scientists. You will realize that what counts is the research work accumulated after a scientist finishes their formal education.

A job guarantee

When an economy slows, everyone can suffer. In fact, some companies reduce research before they reduce

production, making Ph.D.s especially vulnerable. Furthermore, once a person earns a Ph.D., many companies will not hire that person for a non-research position. As in most professions, continued employment depends on continued performance.

A practical way to impress your family or friends

Your mother may be proud and excited when you enroll in a Ph.D. program. After all, she imagines that she will soon be able to brag about her child, ``the doctor.'' However, a desire to impress others is insufficient motivation

for the effort required.

Something you can ``try'' to find out how smart you are

Sorry, but it just doesn't work that way. Unless you make a total commitment, you will fail. You will need to work long hours, face many disappointments, stretch your mental capabilities, and learn to find order among apparently chaotic facts. Unless you have adopted the long-range goal of becoming a researcher, the day-to-day demands will wear you down. Standards will seem unnecessary high; rigor will seem unwarranted. If you only consider it a test, you will eventually walk away.

The only research topic you will ever pursue

Many students make the mistake of viewing their Ph.D. topic as a research area for life. They assume each

researcher only works in one area, always pursues the same topic within that area, and always uses the same tools and approaches. Experienced researchers know that new questions arise constantly, and that old questions can become less interesting as time passes or new facts are discovered. The best people change topics and areas. It keeps them fresh and stimulates thinking. Plan to move on; prepare for change.

Easier than entering the work force

You will find that the path to successful completion of a Ph.D. becomes much steeper after you begin. The faculty impose constraints on your study, and do not permit unproductive students to remain in the program.

Better than the alternatives

For many students, a Ph.D. can be a curse. They must choose between being at the top among people who hold a Masters degree or being a mediocre researcher. The faculty sometimes advise students that they must choose

between being ``captain of the B team'' or a ``benchwarmer'' on the A team. Everyone must decide what they want, and which profession will stimulate them most. But students should be realistic about their capabilities. If you really cannot determine where you stand, ask faculty members.

A way to make more money

While we haven't heard any statistics for the past couple of years, graduate students used to estimate the ``payoff'' using the starting salaries of Ph.D. and M.S. positions, the average time required to obtain a Ph.D., the value of stock options, and current return on investments. For a period of at least five years that we know, the payoff was clearly negative. Suffice it to say that one must choose research because one loves it; a Ph.D. is not the optimum road to wealth.

The good news:

Despite all our warnings, we are proud that we earned Ph.D. degrees and proud of our research accomplishments. If you have the capability and interest, a research career can bring rewards unequaled in any other profession. You will meet and work with some of the brightest people on the planet. You will reach for ideas beyond your grasp, and in so doing extend your intellectual capabilities. You will solve problems that have not been solved before. You will explore concepts that have not been explored. You will uncover principles that change the way people use computers.

The joy of research:

A colleague summed up the way many researchers feel about their profession. When asked why he spent so many hours in the lab, he noted that the alternatives were to go home, where he would do the same things that millions of others were doing, or to work in his lab, where he could discover things that no other human had ever discovered. The smile on his face told the story: for him, working on research was sheer joy.

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