The Ph.D Bust: America's Awful Market for Young Scientists
theatlantic.com
The Ph.D Bust: America's Awful Market for Young Scientists
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Re: The Ph.D Bust: America's Awful Market for Young Scientists
#2This goes well with Philip Greenspun's "Women in Science:" http://philip.greenspun.com/careers/women-in-science, though I don't think his argument about medical school is a good one.
(See my view on the perils and opportunity costs of med school here: http://jseliger.wordpress.com/2012/10/20/why-you-should-beco... ; Greenspun hosted this: http://philip.greenspun.com/careers/why-i-gave-up-practicing... in 2011.)
Re: The Ph.D Bust: America's Awful Market for Young Scientists
#3Most jobs, even technical ones, truly do not require a Ph. D. This is just the market sorting things out. Why have zero (or negative) income to get post baccalaureate education if you can go work somewhere (for money) and learn on the job?
Re: The Ph.D Bust: America's Awful Market for Young Scientists
#4Most jobs, even technical ones, truly do not require a Ph. D. This is just the market sorting things out. Why have zero (or negative) income to get post baccalaureate education if you can go work somewhere (for money) and learn on the job?
maybe cause some things are more important than money?
Re: The Ph.D Bust: America's Awful Market for Young Scientists
#5It will no doubt be shocking news to Mr. Weissmann to find out that factors such as a desire to learn more or to make new contributions to human knowledge can motivate aspiring PhD candidates. It's also rather ironic to see such analyses promoted by someone who chose a career in the notoriously unprofitable field of journalism.
Re: The Ph.D Bust: America's Awful Market for Young Scientists
#6The article fails to compare Computer Science PhD's who are in high demand and job openings for them far exceed the supply of CS PhD grads.
Re: The Ph.D Bust: America's Awful Market for Young Scientists
#7It will no doubt be shocking news to Mr. Weissmann to find out that factors such as a desire to learn more or to make new contributions to human knowledge can motivate aspiring PhD candidates. It's also rather ironic to see such analyses promoted by someone who chose a career in the notoriously unprofitable field of journalism.
It will no doubt be shocking news to Mr. Weissmann to find out that factors such as a desire to learn more or to make new contributions to human knowledge can motivate aspiring PhD candidates.
"A desire to learn" and "Make new contributions to human knowledge" are laudable goals that I admire. But, even leaving aside the important question of whether grad school as it is currently structured is a good way of pursuing either, it's hard to make new contributions to human knowledge when you're having trouble making enough money to support yourself, and it's frustrating to see your new contribution made when your buddy is working for Google and writing software that millions of people use every day—and getting paid well for it.
It seems not unreasonable to me to balance life / career goals with learning and wealth. The opportunity costs of grad school are incredibly steep. If you are the rare person who doesn't care at all about material possessions or the physical quality of life, then by all means go to grad school. But if you go expecting a tenure-track job at the end—which most people seem to—then you're making a mistake. I am not at all opposed to someone who simply says, "I don't care at all about income."
Re: The Ph.D Bust: America's Awful Market for Young Scientists
#8It will no doubt be shocking news to Mr. Weissmann to find out that factors such as a desire to learn more or to make new contributions to human knowledge can motivate aspiring PhD candidates. It's also rather ironic to see such analyses promoted by someone who chose a career in the notoriously unprofitable field of journalism.
Love your comment!!! I have met people who gave me weird looks because I want to do a PhD. And she said "what is so good at doing a PhD. A professor can't make more money than me as a small restaurant owner." She just doesn't get it..It is not about the money...sigh
Re: The Ph.D Bust: America's Awful Market for Young Scientists
#9As far as desirable traits, a job can be:
1. Interesting
2. Secure
3. Lucrative
You get to pick two at most, and that's if you're lucky--most people only get to pick one, or none.
Jobs in academia are certainly no exception to this rule.
Re: The Ph.D Bust: America's Awful Market for Young Scientists
#10It will no doubt be shocking news to Mr. Weissmann to find out that factors such as a desire to learn more or to make new contributions to human knowledge can motivate aspiring PhD candidates. It's also rather ironic to see such analyses promoted by someone who chose a career in the notoriously unprofitable field of journalism.
It will no doubt be shocking news to Mr. Weissmann to find out that factors such as a desire to learn more or to make new contributions to human knowledge can motivate aspiring PhD candidates. "A desire to learn" and "Make new contributions to human knowledge" are laudable goals that I admire. But, even leaving aside the important question of whether grad school as it is currently structured is a good way of pursuing…
I've been to graduate school and disagree with your comment about expecting a tenure-track job. When you get to know them, PhD students are not poor deluded souls slaving away in the misguided expectation of a plush, secure position at the end. They are rather intelligent, motivated individuals, who choose to work on projects that are more interesting/important than optimal ad placement or crafty financial swaps, and who are prepared to sacrifice some Caribbean cruises and latest model cars in return.