Whether a PhD is something someone will enjoy is so dependent on individual personality, advisor fit, etc that I don’t feel I can offer good generalized advice. Generally I’d suggest people trying to gauge fit try doing some research in an academic environment (e.g. undergrad/MS thesis, or a brief RA stint after graduating) and talk to PhD students in their target schools. If after that you think you wouldn’t enjoy a PhD then you’re probably right!
Personally I enjoyed my PhD. I had smart & interesting colleagues, an advisor who wanted me to do high-quality research (not just publish), I had almost-complete control over how I spent my time, could explore areas I found interesting & important in depth. The compensation is low but with excellent job security and I had some savings so I lived comfortably. Unless I take a sabbatical I will probably never again have the time to go as deep into a research area so in a lot of ways I really cherish my PhD time.
I think a lot of the negatives of PhDs really feel like negatives of becoming a research lead in general. Trying to create something new with limited feedback loops is tough, and can be psychologically draining if you tie your self-worth with your work output (don’t do this! but easier said than done for the kind of person attracted to these careers). Research taste will take up many years of your life to develop—as will most complex skills. etc.
Whether a PhD is something someone will enjoy is so dependent on individual personality, advisor fit, etc that I don’t feel I can offer good generalized advice. Generally I’d suggest people trying to gauge fit try doing some research in an academic environment (e.g. undergrad/MS thesis, or a brief RA stint after graduating) and talk to PhD students in their target schools. If after that you think you wouldn’t enjoy a PhD then you’re probably right!
Personally I enjoyed my PhD. I had smart & interesting colleagues, an advisor who wanted me to do high-quality research (not just publish), I had almost-complete control over how I spent my time, could explore areas I found interesting & important in depth. The compensation is low but with excellent job security and I had some savings so I lived comfortably. Unless I take a sabbatical I will probably never again have the time to go as deep into a research area so in a lot of ways I really cherish my PhD time.
I think a lot of the negatives of PhDs really feel like negatives of becoming a research lead in general. Trying to create something new with limited feedback loops is tough, and can be psychologically draining if you tie your self-worth with your work output (don’t do this! but easier said than done for the kind of person attracted to these careers). Research taste will take up many years of your life to develop—as will most complex skills. etc.