Is a PhD in Science worth it?

[Alex K]

You also shouldn't underestimate what a harrowing experience doing a science PhD can be. You're toiling away for 3, maybe 4 or 5 years on projects, often working your ass off on weekends for months on end and not getting results because if you're at the frontier of research, many ideas simply don't work, or because you have an idea but are too stupid or lack the skills to pull it off in finite time. I don't think I would have stuck with it and suceeded without a strong passion for the subject. It's too much agony to just do it because you'd like some pretty letters in front of your name at the next job interview.