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Almost 20 years ago, I went back and earned my PhD in computer engineering after serving a 4 year military commitment I incurred for my ROTC scholarship.

A few things I should point out: 1) You can finish in 4 years. I did. You just have to be organized and not allow your advisor define your pace. I finished ahead of some of my undergrad peers who went straight through. They waited for their advisors to tell them when they were ready. 2) I did my PhD mainly because I wanted the challenge. Life isn't just about money. I had fun doing it, I learned a lot about myself and my field, and I'd do it again. 3) The payoff isn't just the credential. Having done it, I am no longer intimidated by things I don't know how to do. 4) This quote is silly: "Once you have a PhD -- and even during the process of getting one -- you are able to be your own boss. Rather than working on someone else's vision, you are the one to define the vision" You don't need a PhD to be your own boss, and getting a PhD is not a ticket to being your own boss. That quote leads me to think the author doesn't have much of a clue about the world outside academia.




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