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"The PhD system is a Ponzi scheme." "It is mathematically impossible for the majority of these students to find a professor job." Assuming that PhD's are 'sma
by alexasmyths 9y ago
"The PhD system is a Ponzi scheme."
"It is mathematically impossible for the majority of these students to find a professor job."
Assuming that PhD's are 'smart' people, I would gather they understand all of this.
And of course 'prof' is only one role for PhD's in the world.
- gozur88 9y agoWell... there's intellectual understanding and then there's emotional understanding. These are people who were the very top in their high school and the very top as undergrads. They've always made the cut when most everyone else didn't, so why should a tenure track position be any different?
- paultopia 9y agoThis. Plus psychological investment in identity as a scholar. Makes it very hard for some people to hear “it’s not a good idea” and harder to see when it’s time to cut losses.
- alexasmyths 9y ago"So why should a tenure track position be any different" Economics and reality come into play as we are adults. There's basically no excuse for 'the smartest among us' to not have a basic grasp of the dynamics of how their education will play out into their careers.
- gozur88 9y agoBut they've always been the smartest in a group of the smartest people. It's not that they're not being smart or not being adult. It's that they feel this is just another step in a road they've been traveling since they were kids.