by Jim Gardner » Mon Nov 29, 2004 4:26 pm
1. I agree with the other two respondents--it varies. When searching for a grad program and an advisor it is worth considering the track record for that program/advisor on the time it takes for their students to get the PhD. I picked a school and an advisor with a decent track record for getting students through in about 5 years (and occasionally less). It still took me nearly 8 years to get through.
2. In all the programs I looked at (in Neuroscience)--being a PhD candidate was more (way more!) than a full time job. There was no way you could hold down an industry job at the same time.
3. Back in the late 1980's when I was looking to get into grad school, the differences in stipends between schools were quite dramatic. One of my potential targets (prestigious private school in expensive-to-live area) offered three times the stipend of another target school (a state university in a place with a relatively low cost of living). I'm sure (or at least very hopeful) that stipends are much higher now than they were in the 80's (but you'll still be below the poverty line). You'll generally get enough for food, room&board, and perhaps a little extra. Don't worry--over time you'll develop a taste for store-brand macaroni & cheese and a "sixth sense" for finding events where free food is being offered.
Note that in the PhD program I finished, all the "studying" was essentially complete after the year 2. All students had to take (and pass) general and specialized examinations at that time. It is the research part that was unpredictable. My first PhD project completely failed and I had to start all over again with another project.
If I had to do it all over again I would have focused on finding a more technically "doable" dissertation project and just escaping grad school as early as possible with my PhD. I was way too ambitious and tried to get both the PhD and the Nobel prize at the same time. (I hope that this doesn't sound like a complaint--I've had plenty of good fortune and I'm very happy with the way things have turned out in my career.)
Good luck!
Jim