Just found this forum, so glad I did as I'm desperate for some advice/persepctives.

I am just completing a BSc and have a telephone interview for a research studentship which is lovely, they liked my idea to continue to study my dissertation topic. It has been incredibly absorbing and I feel there is a lot more research to be done. My department asked me to apply which is incredibly flattering too. Trouble is, I had always seen myself as going into web design full time (as opposed to freelance), I am in the middle of brushing up my cv to send out. I feel like I am at a real crossroads, I went to university late - I'm 26, am married and we had always envisaged starting a family after working again for a couple of years. These plans would have to change, though my husband is incredibly supportive.

I know perhaps people can't advise me on the personal choices, however I feel the career choices are at opposites, one way to design and one possible way to academia. I just don't have a clue what to do, any perspectives would be much appreciated.

Thank you

Don't count on getting rich quick [or even slowly for that matter] in webdesign. Cut throat business with LOTS of competition. Rather like graphic design, lots of highly talented people chasing not a lot of money. Just my opinion.

If you really enjoyed your dissertation and your motivated to go on the answer should be very simple. You can always do web design later but it strikes me you have a great opportunity to do a PhD. If you go into web design now you'll always wonder "what if" for the rest of your life and, after all, life is too short. I'd say 26 to start a Phd for a female eventually wanting a family is perfectly fine. You'll be done by 30 and have a few years before the family thing gets important. The flip side is that if you don't do it now, you'll not get another opportunity for another 20 years, if at all. Go for it!

You talking about MsCrow or yourself sylvester?

OK, maybe there is a smidgeon of me in that response, especially the 20 years bit! As I say, if it's something you really want to do then do it. Web design is not exactly going away so loads of time for that.

As for regretting doing a PhD. Maybe, but like Marmite, you won't know until you've tried it. Better to have regretted doing it than regretting not doing it.

Another Sylvester profound statement, perhaps I should get back to bison or Fame again.

Well I like marmite but good analogy, you love it or you hate it. Thanks for the replies, I'm very grateful for the interesting perspectives. Having worked for a long time before the degree, I do miss the money, and web design is a passion as well as a skill I enjoy using and have done for a long time, I had envisaged joining an agency for projects since I'm a project consultant at the moment (self employed), so I worry that my skills my fade a little if I did a Phd. People keep saying to me though 'but you can do web design on the side too' *shrugs* tough one.

continued...

Sylvester, I really did enjoy my dissertation, so many people asked if I was carrying it on and it was so incredibly absorbing, there definately is enough work and motivation to carry it through to a Phd though at the moment, having handed it in I am more exhausted at the moment and sans enthusiasm, I just need a break.

The age thing doesn't worry me so much, it's my husbands happiness I am more worried about, he is a little older, we've been together for 10 years, and we're both desperate for child. I guess I am conscious about making him/us wait longer. But he is so enthusiastic, he says, when will you get another chance like this? Is there a way to have your academic cake and eat it too (buy a small house/have a garden)?

Is it unrealistic to have a Phd finished in 3 years? I have done a lot of the ground work already, it taking longer would depress me.

Well, I am grateful for your answers, I am studying abroad and have no one to discuss this with, so thank you.

Hello

I wanted to say thanks for the advice, I took all your comments on board and thought about them with everything else. I felt the interview went ok but could have done better, however they felt differently and I was offered the post the next day which is lovely. Later that week I got a 1st for my degree. All the feedback has been so positive, and with time it's all begun to sink in, I have been offered a great chance and I'd be louco not to take it. So with trepidation and excitement, I'll be a Phd student from September.

Well done MsCrow!!