>> Most people who start a PhD don't graduate with one. They drop out.
> I would like to see some stats on that.
I was wrong. Over 55% of students get a doctorate within ten years of beginning. [Edited to correct error]
"the completion rate ten years after students begin their doctoral program remains low at 56.6% (Sowell, Zhang, Redd, & King, 2008). Additionally, the analysis indicates that completion rates continue to vary considerably by field of study: 49.3% in humanities, 54.7% in mathematics and physical sciences, 55.9% in social sciences, 62.9% in life sciences, and 63.6% in engineering."
> I was wrong. Over 45% of students get a doctorate within ten years of beginning.
I think the GP's point was that you're wrong on many fronts, simply because you've made broad, sweeping generalizations that don't necessarily apply to all fields, or even to any particular field across countries. Note even that this study you've cited is old and of very limited scope.
GP said in his experience "almost everyone graduated". If 56% graduate in 10 years that's far from everyone.
If you think I'm wrong on any particular I welcome correction. Feel free to cite some evidence that doing a PhD is a good decision for anyone who doesn't want to be an academic and doesn't view a PhD primarily as consumption.
I was merely indicating that the person to whom you initially responded (cycomanic) offered an excellent, and very detailed, point-by-point rebuttal of your initial broad comments about PhDs. I thought it provided a more nuanced explanation of how the overall training and career prospects vary by _location_ and _field of study_.
Thanks you said it better than I. I don't think my experience is necessarily representative either, but it clearly shows that in my area his statement is not true.
> I would like to see some stats on that.
I was wrong. Over 55% of students get a doctorate within ten years of beginning. [Edited to correct error]
"the completion rate ten years after students begin their doctoral program remains low at 56.6% (Sowell, Zhang, Redd, & King, 2008). Additionally, the analysis indicates that completion rates continue to vary considerably by field of study: 49.3% in humanities, 54.7% in mathematics and physical sciences, 55.9% in social sciences, 62.9% in life sciences, and 63.6% in engineering."
https://cgsnet.org/cgs-occasional-paper-series/university-ge...