Dear professor, with all the modesty that is mine, I find your question excellent; especially for novice researchers like me. Before I started looking for a PhD, I asked myself the same question. In reality, I was skeptical and wondered if it was the right path for me. After my analysis based on the experiences of my elders, I came to the conclusion that I had to do it for my well being and in this case, the PhD would help me in three points:
The title of doctor (PhD) for me is like an authorization to speak to an audience that now listens to you and gives you a minimum of credit; that would allow me to convey my ideas in a methodical way while being sure that there are people who take me seriously. In fact I had the choice between trying to get a doctorate and trying to be a star (musician, footballer, etc.);
Like many of us here, I am a permanent challenger. I like to have new challenges (avoid routine) and interact with people from all over the world. What better way than to be a confirmed researcher so as to be able to try to bring new answers to current questions and thus contribute to the evolution of science and humanity?
The last point that definitely convinced me was the economic and social conjecture of my country Cameroon; this one guarantees a less hard and more decent life for confirmed researchers. Thus, I could build a beautiful family and ensure the future of my potential cherubim.
Me? I decided to get a PhD degree first because I wanted to deep my knowledge about a specific topic, which it is Acute Kidney Injury. This because rhabdomyolysis, which is a condition that can be developed during physical exercises can cause acute kidney injury in humans. So to try improve my knowledge about the risks and to learn how can better the safety in physical exercises practice, I decided to get a PhD degree in second place. And third, I decided to get a PhD degree in this field because I saw it as a challenge for me, I mean, do a research entirely from the conception until its conclusion by my own hands, to try to increase the meaning of my own life and maybe to help others with my work.
And you sir, why did you decided to get a PhD degree?
It was not a decision, but rather a continuation of the sight of a vegetable tissue under the ordinary microscope at the age of 8 by chance, Research into the depth of things became, continued
As a personal case.Getting PhD. represent a challenge in unfavorable conditions i live in .I have an Academic Leave for the first time after 16 year of profession .The surrounding environment (Financial one mainly because of Economical Embargo our country faced in that time) are unfavorite for this step ,but high degree of personal motivation due to my thirst for knowledge pushed me strongly toward the success in this challenge.