Pursue passion in academia?
Hello everyone,
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but it's my understanding that BCG/McKinsey will hire the occasional PhD grad in lieu of MBA students. Would it be wise for me to give up 4-5 years in my twenties to pursue my passion for history, assuming I get into a HYP PhD program? I'm quite sharp at algorithm problems and brainteasers (I've been programming and practicing them all year in this new COVID downtime before matriculation). And I don't think the level of critical analysis in history or literature is that different from the work required in consulting. To what extent will pursuing my passion for the humanities at the graduate level preclude me from high finance and consulting? Thank you.
that sounds fun, would be sick to do a PhD in history at Harvard or Princeton. If you think you'll finish, then go for it. Also assuming you have the finances. If you go to a top 3 program like H/P/Y, then I would do it if I were you.
https://medium.economist.com/why-doing-a-phd-is-often-a-waste-of-time-3…
Doing a PhD without a desire to be a professor seems misguided.
If you're capable of getting into a HYP PhD program, in terms of resume, test scores, and grades, and BCG/McKinsey is your end game, you are probably also capable of getting there without a PhD.
Might instead be interesting to get a dual degree, like MBA + Masters in whatever else
As others have hinted at I think you're vastly underrating the difficulty of getting into a top 10 PhD program let alone HYP, regardless of field you are competing against people who often already have advanced degrees from the best uni's outside of the US with years of research, dedication, research and experience to back it all up. On the flip side any kid from an Ivy who did above average has a solid shot at MBB given enough prep. Furthermore, simply finishing a PhD is no trivial feat in and of itself, especially in any "hot" field like STEM + Econ/finance. Slaving away for 4-8 years on one subject and often times on one question within said subject is a massive commitment and many of the best and brightest end up mastering out.
I agree with the sentiment above. PhDs at top programs are grueling. You are paid very little, have a ton of work/pressure, and have teaching responsibilities. Grad students tend to be incredibly stressed. Also, Princeton and Yale are in not so great locations to be spending your mid 20s in so you do have genuine opportunity cost in terms of your social life and development. The process also tends to really select for people who are committed to staying in academia/research so you have to do a really good job of convincing your adviser that you will do so.
I think the smartest thing is to follow the advice above and to just MS+MBA or something to balance out the practical with your passion.
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