What's a good major to get a PhD in?

Generally the best is to get into a field you like and can be motivated to do research in. That said everything else being equal, some of the best are:

>biology (mainstream areas)
Easy funding, plenty of subject to dig deep into, just make sure you are not getting a phd to work in the industry, there are better choices for that
>physics
Easy to transition to IT for a non-CS field. Generally good funding.
>computer science
Especially deep learning and data science. Not much to say, you are getting it because it's a free education and you need to transition to CS to look for work. If you already has undergrad it's probably not worth it although plenty are hiring deep learning specialists which you cannot be with undergrad degree.

Some to advice against:
>math
Unless you know what you are doing and which program you are going into, you may well end up teaching a lot. I think that's a complete waste of time
>obscure field with suspect funding, such as microbiology, geology etc

French

>chemistry

It's pretty much required for our industry at this point. You don't learn any practical chem knowledge from undergrad, and if you do it's just pitiful. A PhD knows how to evaluate a problem and solve it in chemistry. That's pretty much the end goal you want to be able to boast before you can get your PhD. It is incredibly hard.

is it even possible to get a PhD in something you don't enjoy/capable of doing

Bible studies all the others are well to get PhDs in but not good.

What if I want to do deep learning and integrate with tech with humans?
I was thinking
Cs associates-I'm here
Computer engineering bs
Bioengineering masters
Computer science phd
?
Would an associates be an adequate prereq for the phd and would bioengineering be niche enough for me?

Nigga, in what world would lower division credits taken at a CC be enough preparation for graduate classes?

You're obviously in high school. They don't give out associates in computer science - they give out associates in IT or something similar. It's the trade version.

Your "plan" is too unrelated and would take you forever. Your undergrad and graduate degrees don't have to be in the same field, but generally your masters and phd do, since you would typically get your masters while in your phd program, otherwise it's going to take you 4-5 years to get a bachelors, 3 or more for a masters since you'll need to take undergrad courses in chemistry, bio, and bioengineering before you can take graduate level bioengineering, and then another 4-6 for your phd in computer science, again on the longer side since you'll need to take some undergrad cs courses before you can take graduate classes in cs.

Also, planning to take graduate degrees before you've even started your bachelors is dumb since you'll probably switch at least once, especially if you're planning on cs and CPE (fields that attract a lot of people because they "like computers" and can run and antivirus program for their mom without realizing there is a lot of maths and physics they probably aren't prepared for)

>they don't hand out associates
My certificate says different
It would be quicker for masters and PhD in the same field, but it's not mandatory.

How would you suggest having sufficient knowledge of biology, electrical engineering, and programing (and being able to price it) to work in research for DARPA or other highly respected cutting edge places?

I responded to you earlier but apparently it didn't send.

I think your plan is good. I would advise you to take every single course your school offers with the word algorithm in it. Also I advise you to take a course on computation biology (although I'm not sure how relevant it would be, it deals with a lot of string matching). Next make sure you take some courses in biology and physiology.

I would recommend not going the masters route since masters are not funded. You will be out 40k and it won't matter since you're going back for a PhD. At my school PhD students who already have a masters take the same amount of time to graduate as straight from undergrads (like myself).

I think if you really want to do deep learning you should just go for deep learning groups. I know people who come from biomedical background and other backgrounds but in the end it's the machine learning labs that are actively working on the real stuff e.g. the architecture, the training. The other party is often supplying data, funding and a few researchers.

So why go the indirect route when you can just do deep learning. Besides you may end up working on chemistry, particle physics etc.

Also in terms of the route, go directly for a PhD regardless of which field. That is unless you have bad grades and can't get into a good program. Then you may want to get a master degree to overwrite that but it's a huge waste of time and money (a lot of the PhD programs offer masters along the way and you are almost never cutting your PhD years).

Can confirm, my advisor told us to never get PhDs, just get a job.

Thank you guys for your input
How can I get funding for a PhD?

I like to get certificates from the courses I complete so I may aim for a biology minor then

What deep learning groups would you recommend?

All PhD's in the areas of your interest will be funded. First you will likely be supported as a TA for a year, then you will be dependent on your dissertation advisor's research grants. So, if they don't have any research grants you may end up having to TA more.

I'm personally still in the TA phase but I have funding lined up for the summer although I'm not sure if I will have to TA in the future again or not.

Also minors don't show up anywhere but on your transcript and maaaaybe on your diploma. Really they are meaningless.

I honestly forget that I have a minor in applied mathematics all the time lol. I know my one friend had 3 minors at one time although I'm not sure if he followed through with them. They really don't matter, take the courses that you think will benefit you the most and minors may or may not come in the end. I was only 1 class away from an archaeology minor, but it honestly doesn't matter.

Get an MPS. Academia is a shithole.

Depends on the field. Some degrees are literally college degree needed for office job tier without a higher degree. Some like psychology even need a phd do to shi

no one wants to get a phd on sci huh

Why? Shit job.

Surprisingly good pay, you're the boss, only thing you have to do is lecture and research.

Super political bullshit however

>you're the boss
Not until tenure
Until then you're a slave to your grant committees and department head

Yeah probably.

If you're in a good field then a PhD can launch you into industry research positions at an opportunity cost which probably will never be made back.

If you're in a garbage field then there's no real option is there?

Microbiology has suspect funding? I thought CDC and other health agency jobs are pretty good

i just finished my phd and my advisor is about to take a job as department chair at another university. would i have a better chance of getting tenure at his new school? i already know he's a good boss from working for him for 4 years during grad school. the only thing is i think he might try to offer me visiting assistant professor. in other words, non tenure track, and i dont want that

He's your advisor - just ask him for the job you want. He's supposed to help secure you a job

ok thanks. i guess my question is whether it will be easier to get tenure with him as the department chair compared to another department where i don't have that relationship with the chair

im set to get a ECE bachelors this semester

professors are trying hard to get me to go into their phd program

it's scary thoguh, 4 year commitment to living on a shit stipend for 4 years

PhDs are memes.

None unless you are a golden boy.

And you are not.