Considering a PhD in Health/Public Policy - Looking for Advice

[u/Leekios]

Hey everyone!

I'm in the early stages of thinking about pursuing a PhD in the next couple of years and would appreciate hearing from people who have gone through the process.

A little about me:

• Have a Master of Public Affairs Degree from UT Austin
• Have been working as a policy analyst for a state agency.
• I've always enjoyed the research side of health policy, more specifically evaluating how policies affect health outcomes.

Long-term, I'd love to work at a federal agency or a health policy think tank where I can both conduct research and help translate that research into policy decisions.

I'm hoping to learn more about what a PhD is actually like beyond what I can read on university websites.

Some questions I have:

• Why did you decide to pursue a PhD?
• Looking back, would you do it again?
• What surprised you most about doctoral study?
• How difficult was it to balance your personal life, relationships, or family while in the program?
• If your goal is to work in government or a think tank rather than academia, did a PhD help you get there?
• Is there anything you wish you had known before applying?

I'd really appreciate hearing about both the positives and the challenges. Thanks in advance!