by Ted Sherman

Created on: April 04, 2007   Last Updated: May 02, 2007

This isn't bragging, but answers the question as it applies in my family. One of my kids earned a bachelor's degree in communications, while two cousins each majored in strictly academic subjects.

The two cousins continued in college, while my kid opted to go out into the cruel world and start a career. The results are clear. Both cousins spent another three or four years as students, and eventually earned PhDs. Now, after 20 years, are part-time faculty members at universities in our home town. For each, their annual pay is about $20,000. They supplement their income by freelancing as tutors and counselors. That brings in some $5,000 more for each.

My kid, who apparently inherited a lot of creativity from humble dad, right out of college got a job as a production assistant on a TV show. After only a month or two, and proving to be at least as creative as the junior writers, the talented kid was promoted to junior writer. After another year, a new afternoon talk show was looking for writers, and recommendations from the original boss got my kid on the staff with her first high-level salary.

It wasn't all easy, and there were job-hopping months of unemployment and low-paying freelance for awhile, but soon talent came through again. Today, that kid without the PhD is earning $200,000 a year as a writer/producer on a major TV show, and supplements that income by at least another $50,000 a year writing and doing on-stage stand-up in major Las Vegas comedy clubs and elsewhere.

All right, this true story is just one example put forward by a boastful dad. But you must admit, isn't it a great example of how a PhD isn't always the answer?

Learn more about this author, Ted Sherman.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.