[seanmcdirmid]

> On a slightly different note, every PhD I know, self included, has a story about how they almost failed out of or otherwise left graduate school if not for some serendipitous event. I have yet to meet someone who doesn't have such a story.

Ya, neither have I.

The PhD for me was a personal journey that I'm better off personally for taking. It hasn't made me much richer, however (no one should go to grad school for the money!). Also, getting a PhD should NEVER be your plan B.

[go1979]

I regret the PhD. To be precise, grad school won't just not make you richer, it will make you poorer.

Forgetting about the money bit (ha!), lets talk pure knowledge. I learned a lot more on the job than I did in school. In my specific case, I wouldn't have gotten those jobs without the PhD. However, I firmly believe there are high learning jobs that can be had without a PhD.

In CS, a PhD gets paid mid 6 figures. That is also what the average mid career developer gets paid. Go figure.