you can't compare phd to mfe strictly in terms of monetary value since mfe would win hands down i don't see how anyone can argue otherwise. the biggest part of doing a phd is passion for research and it's the only way to make it in academia and get the elusive tenure track which is considered to be far more prestigious than any quant finance job (at least in math). if you're trying to get in finance mfe is the best those statistics posted by baruch are amazing in this economy no? i'd like to see comparable ones from any phd program.

I think 50% of the Phds graduating from north america today may not have cut it for admission back in the 40s to 60s where purely the genuine go for a Phd. Now for the "average joe" math/phys major, a Phd is an escapist path where you can spend until the age of 30 getting paid a bit and do some research and gain respect of your friends/family. More than 50% of the Phds are from non-top tier schools, so they "most likely" from my experience, had no motivation to find a real job. Infact I know many who use a Phd at an avg univ as a backup incase they are unable to find a job! So it should not be surprising that even after their Phd was over, that they still weren't able to find one!Then they complain that they are overqualified and that employers discriminate, when really they were not hiring material in the first place. On the other hand I definitely do have a lot of respect for most of the top tier phd grads at selective schools, since it is pretty damn hard to get in without being a fighter or a stud.So if you are a stud or a go-getter and you have a Phd then you most likely tried to "call" your future job situation and research into skills that would be valuable or choose a topic that is "cross-disciplinary" in application. If not, you are most likely complaining about not finding a finance job or getting tenure after a 6 year phd at an average uni.

QuoteI think 50% of the Phds graduating from north america today may not have cut it for admission back in the 40s to 60s where purely the genuine go for a Phd.73% of statistics are made up.

Apparently MIT graduated 337 engineering PhDs in 2007, I didn't think it would be that many.

QuoteOriginally posted by: ehQuoteI think 50% of the Phds graduating from north america today may not have cut it for admission back in the 40s to 60s where purely the genuine go for a Phd.73% of statistics are made up.LOL... genius!

by 50% I meant the 50% who are from non-top tier univs, which is an underestimation. So I should have said "atleast 50%". Unless you wanna argue that I am making up the fact that elite phds are not the majority of the workforce . I could have used the word "half" and eased out your insecurity Eh ?

QuoteOriginally posted by: ehQuoteI think 50% of the Phds graduating from north america today may not have cut it for admission back in the 40s to 60s where purely the genuine go for a Phd.73% of statistics are made up.Good point....but doesnt that mean there is a 73% chance for your statement to be made up?

eh's comment is subtly ironic. 73% of statistics are made up, which is obviously a statistical result...

QuoteOriginally posted by: CaesariaI think 50% of the Phds graduating from north america today may not have cut it for admission back in the 40s to 60s where purely the genuine go for a Phd. Now for the "average joe" math/phys major, a Phd is an escapist path where you can spend until the age of 30 getting paid a bit and do some research and gain respect of your friends/family. More than 50% of the Phds are from non-top tier schools, so they "most likely" from my experience, had no motivation to find a real job. Infact I know many who use a Phd at an avg univ as a backup incase they are unable to find a job! So it should not be surprising that even after their Phd was over, that they still weren't able to find one!Then they complain that they are overqualified and that employers discriminate, when really they were not hiring material in the first place. On the other hand I definitely do have a lot of respect for most of the top tier phd grads at selective schools, since it is pretty damn hard to get in without being a fighter or a stud.So if you are a stud or a go-getter and you have a Phd then you most likely tried to "call" your future job situation and research into skills that would be valuable or choose a topic that is "cross-disciplinary" in application. If not, you are most likely complaining about not finding a finance job or getting tenure after a 6 year phd at an average uni.yes but it doesn't matter specifically for math/physics because they couldn't get in in the first place. that's why they made all those other degrees.