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Euphoria ran through my veins as I read the offers. Earlier this year, political science departments from some of Canada’s finest universities offered me a spot in their PhD programs. Each was accompanied with guaranteed four-year funding packages; some even added enticing scholarships.

As someone who loves learning, getting paid to do it while transforming myself into a doctor was a no-brainer. Soon enough though, sober thought slapped me in the face. Given that we’re in the season when many students are applying to PhD programs, it’s worth elaborating on why this is a treacherous path for most people.

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One obvious reason is the length of the commitment: A doctorate takes longer to conclude than many contemporary marriages. On average, it takes roughly six years to complete a PhD in the social sciences and even longer in the humanities. Moreover, any plans to secure academic employment require additional research experience within the academy – hence the typical two-plus “postdoc” years.