Getting a PhD is not a decision to take lightly. Having been a full-time student for three and a half years now, I wanted to share some of the questions I think you need to ask yourself before you apply and begin in order to be set up for success. If you can successfully answer all of these questions, then maybe a doctorate is right for you. These questions \ apply to most PhDs, however I want to acknowledge that I am coming from a higher education doctorate perspective. Some of them may make more or less sense given your field. Take a look at the following slide deck (below) and see if you can answer these questions for yourself.
- What do you want to do with it? Do you need this degree to get what you want?
- How much time has passed since your last degree? Have you gained practical experience?
- Are there big life transitions ahead? Are you in a good stage in your life?
- What type of program do you want? Practice? Research? Professional?
- Full time or part-time?
- Do you have the time to dedicate?
- Have you honed you student skills? Writing? Studying? Time management?
- What about cost? Can you pay for it?
- Are you doing it for the right reasons? Not just for status?
- Are you ready?
Pb 
I like your visual “cliff notes” version of the big “Should I start a PhD?” question… sounds like similar advice I tossed out over here: https://techknowtools.wordpress.com/2014/05/01/so-youre-thinking-about-a-phd/ Forget start – do you have what it takes to finish it? Now THAT is the question. [Not for you, by the way – #GoScholarGo]
So true. Do you have what it takes to finish… so so true.