Physics Student Earns PhD at Age 89 (brown.edu)

Article summary

An 89-year-old physics student has earned a PhD, inspiring others to pursue their dreams regardless of age. The article highlights the dedication and hard work required to achieve a PhD, particularly in a field like physics. The Department of Physics at Brown University is mentioned, emphasizing its commitment to teaching and research. The story serves as a reminder that it's never too late to pursue higher education and achieve academic goals.

Main themes

• PhD dedication and hard work
• Age and pursuing higher education
• Balancing responsibilities with PhD studies
• European vs American PhD programs
• Success and achievement strategies
• Time commitment and workload expectations

What commenters say

• Pursuing a PhD is a full-time commitment that requires dedication and hard work, making it challenging to balance with other responsibilities.
• Some argue that it's possible to work twice as hard as average PhD students and still achieve success, while others disagree, citing the already high expectations and workload.
• The PhD system in the US is often tailored towards students who can devote themselves full-time, making it difficult for those with other commitments to participate.
• European PhD programs may be more accommodating to part-time students, with some programs taking only 3-4 years to complete.
• The value of European PhDs is not considered less than American ones, but rather, the programs are managed differently, with a sharper distinction between PhD and Masters degrees.
• The idea that one can be exceptionally good at two things and still achieve success is proposed as an alternative to being the best at one specific thing.
• The amount of time and effort required to be a successful PhD student is debated, with some arguing that 60 hours of research per week is excessive and unrealistic.