A Hire Education I read with interest your article on Ph.D.s by Teri Bachman. I graduated from UCD (M.S. math, 1997). I am just completing my master's in recreation and public administration after a long layoff from formal education. After I complete my master's, I would like to pursue a Ph.D. in a related field. Many of my peers will also attempt to earn a Ph.D. as well. As far as I know, none of us will be looking for employment at a research university, college or junior college, for that matter. We are simply interested in our field and would like to continue our education to the greatest possible heights. Doing the research, attending class and seminars, plus the various contacts that I make during the process enrich my own personal and professional life. It has little to do with employment. I realize that Ph.D. candidates at UC may be much younger than I and most of my associates, and not have the work experience that I have but are attending school full time, giving academia their full attention. Well, there are many others of us who have families, full-time jobs and additional interests and who make the time to pursue formal advanced degrees--thus the preponderance of schools around this country that cater to working adults and offer advanced degrees. If you had more time to research, I think you may find that many students simply want to learn as much as they can in a lifetime. Your article appears to address my situation to a certain degree, but I did not really care for the elitist tone of the piece overall. Please, do not encourage the UC system or any other institutions of higher learning to restrict access to Ph.D. programs, if individuals are qualified. Rob Pine, M.S. '97 via e-mail Editor's response: Thanks for your comments and the additional perspective on the Ph.D. Yes, we realize that a growing number of people are returning to college for an advanced degree and didn't mean for the article to sound elitist by not addressing that issue. The article reflects the fact that the majority of UC Davis' graduate programs are still geared toward the more traditional, younger student and are designed to prepare students for professorial careers--though that is slowly starting to change. An M.B.A. degree, for example, can now be obtained through part-time study on evening and weekends, and other graduate programs are also looking for ways to better accommodate working professionals. New degrees are being considered, too, including the "terminal" master's degrees mentioned in the article, which will provide advanced study for people who do not want to teach at a university.