The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D.

Imagine a circle that contains all of human knowledge.

By the time you finish elementary school, you know a little.

By the time you finish high school, you know a bit more.

With a bachelor’s degree, you gain a specialty.

A master’s degree deepens that specialty.

Reading research papers takes you to the edge of human knowledge.

Once you’re at the boundary, you focus.

You push at the boundary for a few years.

Until one day, the boundary gives way.

And, that dent you’ve made is called a Ph.D.

Of course, the world looks different to you now.

So, don’t forget the bigger picture.

Keep pushing.