The drawbacks of PhD program fast tracks: Opinion

In an article for University Affairs, McGill University doctoral candidate Hongyu Zhang discusses the drawbacks of fast-tracking to a PhD from an undergraduate program. The uncertainty involved in thesis research and the challenges along the way can prolong the process or lead students to drop out of their program. PhDs are also very specialized degrees, Zhang writes, and students would benefit from exploring other fields or subject areas before taking up a PhD. Finally, Zhang notes that PhDs are often poorly paid early in their careers and the programs do not help students to explore non-academic career choices. Instead of pursuing a PhD fast track, the author advises students to pursue a standalone masters or gain first-hand research experience during an undergraduate degree. University Affairs Note: Archived stories may contain dead links or be missing source links.