>>13940674It is a measure of wealth, usually generational, but that doesn't mean it's not hard to get one.
Really, it takes money to put up with challenges of getting a PhD. Taking away the money problem just removes one of the barriers to earning the degree.
>>13940822The stipends are absolutely garbage though. They hardly leave anything left for savings, much less rent. I'm an M.S. student making about $22k a year, and my university pays PhDs like $25k. It's ridiculous.
To get a PhD, even if you earn a stipend, you still have to pay to take the GRE, pay application fees, pay to move somewhere, and pay student fees (even when tuition is waived). That can be prohibitive for a lot of poor people.
