Steve Tippins asks why you actually want a PhD. Most people never seriously answer that question, even though a doctorate is a massive commitment with real payoffs. Figure out your real reasons before you start.
I talk to people frequently and I say, "So why get a doctorate?" And it shocks me when they say, "You know, that's a good question," that they haven't really thought about it. So think about this ahead of time. Why are you doing this? Because this is a really big commitment and it can be incredibly beneficial, but think about it ahead of time.
