Most PhDs are irrelevant

, sadly is a quote I can understand well.

Elon Musk once said, “Most PhDs are irrelevant. The number that actually move the needle is almost none.” It’s the reason he gave for not going to graduate school (albeit being enrolled while simultaneously founding zip2, his first company).

I did my PhD thesis on mathematical singularity theory, and yet whenever someone asks me how that helped me become better at my job, I feel awkward.

Of course doing a PhD helps you to solve super complex problems and learn complex topics fast, but if you think about it, people who do PhDs often already are inclined to solving hard problems and learning fast (like I am).

So does a PhD really help you move forward in life and your career? I don’t know, at least I’ve learned to become sceptical.