I finished my PhD at the top program in my country (which is not the US of course) fairly recently. The system is American "inspired" (fully funded, no mandatory work, international professors).
For me, the research work was enjoyable, and I was happy to do it "while it lasted".
However I think the main problem is that for the largest majority of students, there is no academic future.
All of us were top-of-the-class in every scholastic phase up to then. Smart people, all. But after the PhD, and then after the junior job market - there simply aren't many positions anymore. All your academic efforts then culminate into a pack of files describing your merit, a hasty presentation in a hotel or two, and a largely random market deciding whether you will indeed be able to do the job you trained for your entire life, or not!
It's a breaking point, and it is stressful not only because of that but especially because everything is uncertain.
Expectations are very high. After all, a lot of money has been spent on the PhD students and placing them in academic positions is crucial for the school. However, the job market is exceedingly difficult (for many different situational and even arcane reasons that differ country-by-country - I was going to write more about it, but everyone who knows knows already).
In consequence, you are never really prepared enough for the job market. At the same time, your success hinges only marginally on your research and more on prep, predigree, fit and randomness. And so, PhDs have to spend more and more time (6-7 years now) to feel somewhat "ready". Others are pushed by their advisors to stay.
During this time, you put your life on hold. You earn as little as the university can get away with in your country. You have to prepared to move anywhere in the world. Family is difficult to realize. Work-life-balance usually non-existent. And the longer you stay, the more you question whether you will ever make it.
For us, there were few tenure-tracked positions to be had in that year. People who stayed in academia started with post-doc contracts - often only for a year - all around the world. A continuation of the above. I am sure some will eventually succeed.
I myself decided to take a non-academic position, which was a breeze by comparison.
From my cohort, almost all have ended up with some sort of mental health issue. Even though I never really felt it, I did notice (after leaving) that I had been depressed during the final year. Two PhD students were admitted to the hospital for issues I am 100% sure are stress induced.
At the same time, I don't know how to fix all this. Being a tenured professor will always be the dream for many people. At least as it appears on the surface. For it to be that, there will never be as many positions as applicants.
For me, the research work was enjoyable, and I was happy to do it "while it lasted". However I think the main problem is that for the largest majority of students, there is no academic future.
All of us were top-of-the-class in every scholastic phase up to then. Smart people, all. But after the PhD, and then after the junior job market - there simply aren't many positions anymore. All your academic efforts then culminate into a pack of files describing your merit, a hasty presentation in a hotel or two, and a largely random market deciding whether you will indeed be able to do the job you trained for your entire life, or not! It's a breaking point, and it is stressful not only because of that but especially because everything is uncertain.
Expectations are very high. After all, a lot of money has been spent on the PhD students and placing them in academic positions is crucial for the school. However, the job market is exceedingly difficult (for many different situational and even arcane reasons that differ country-by-country - I was going to write more about it, but everyone who knows knows already).
In consequence, you are never really prepared enough for the job market. At the same time, your success hinges only marginally on your research and more on prep, predigree, fit and randomness. And so, PhDs have to spend more and more time (6-7 years now) to feel somewhat "ready". Others are pushed by their advisors to stay.
During this time, you put your life on hold. You earn as little as the university can get away with in your country. You have to prepared to move anywhere in the world. Family is difficult to realize. Work-life-balance usually non-existent. And the longer you stay, the more you question whether you will ever make it.
For us, there were few tenure-tracked positions to be had in that year. People who stayed in academia started with post-doc contracts - often only for a year - all around the world. A continuation of the above. I am sure some will eventually succeed. I myself decided to take a non-academic position, which was a breeze by comparison.
From my cohort, almost all have ended up with some sort of mental health issue. Even though I never really felt it, I did notice (after leaving) that I had been depressed during the final year. Two PhD students were admitted to the hospital for issues I am 100% sure are stress induced.
At the same time, I don't know how to fix all this. Being a tenured professor will always be the dream for many people. At least as it appears on the surface. For it to be that, there will never be as many positions as applicants.