[djoldman]

Many PHD programs might best be described as cults:

Most of the people in charge (faculty) are true believers and the acolytes (grad students) are as well.

They believe that a PHD and the years spent in pursuit of it will:

  1. get the student a college or university professorship in the USA; and/or
  2. allow for future opportunities that will outweigh the cost in time and money spent in pursuit of the PHD; and/or
  3. advance the state of science/research/knowledge that will justify (in feel-good vibes/emotions?) the lost years

... despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

It is ironic that some of the brightest people ignore the data.