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My conversation with two of my professors pretty much sealed my future as far as getting away from a history PhD. I did a Master's, and I'm glad I tried it, but

by ellius 8y ago

My conversation with two of my professors pretty much sealed my future as far as getting away from a history PhD. I did a Master's, and I'm glad I tried it, but when I asked the two profs I was closest with whether it was worth continuing with all of the negative things I had read and experienced, they both gave a very clear "we aren't supposed to say this, but get the fuck out while you still can." It's really unfortunate. I love history, I love teaching, but the market is just a meat grinder these days. A few years after I had quit, I was working for the back office at a bank doing anti-fraud work. A guy who had been a sociology professor for about fifteen years had just left academia to join us. I asked him, "Do you miss it?" He said, "I miss the idea of it, but that's not what it is." It's a shame, but there you go.

andrepd 8y ago
>"Do you miss it?" He said, "I miss the idea of it, but that's not what it is." I... Wow.
jseliger 8y ago
when I asked the two profs I was closest with whether it was worth continuing with all of the negative things I had read and experienced, they both gave a very clear "we aren't supposed to say this, but get the fuck out while you still can." Ditto for English: https://jakeseliger.com/2012/05/22/what-you-should-know-before-you-start-grad-school-in-english-literature-the-economic-financial-and-opportunity-costs https://jakeseliger.com/2012/05/22/what-you-should-know-befo....
ozim 8y ago
I get impression that people who are not that wealthy try to get into things that should be reserved for "high society". With Pareto distribution of wealth, most of us are just plebs. Of course we are not as poor as plebs in medieval but still we are vulnerable, one bad accident and professor is out of money and in debt. If you are millionaire or from rich family you can spend all day reading ancient philosophers. That was what high society was doing in earlier days, they had money so they could "waste" time being unproductive. Then you get all those kids and their parents who want to study something like philosophy. They feel like they are rich and their kids deserve degree. But brutal truth is if you are making $50k a year you might feel comfortable but it is still far from being rich. There are people who buy cars each year for that amount of money. In the end it is not all about money as people say, but stories like parent comment shows the truth, first make your money and then if you have time and possibility follow your passion. Which is easier for rich because they already have money.

by ellius 8y ago

andrepd 8y ago

>"Do you miss it?" He said, "I miss the idea of it, but that's not what it is." I... Wow.

jseliger 8y ago

when I asked the two profs I was closest with whether it was worth continuing with all of the negative things I had read and experienced, they both gave a very clear "we aren't supposed to say this, but get the fuck out while you still can." Ditto for English: https://jakeseliger.com/2012/05/22/what-you-should-know-before-you-start-grad-school-in-english-literature-the-economic-financial-and-opportunity-costs https://jakeseliger.com/2012/05/22/what-you-should-know-befo....

ozim 8y ago

I get impression that people who are not that wealthy try to get into things that should be reserved for "high society". With Pareto distribution of wealth, most of us are just plebs. Of course we are not as poor as plebs in medieval but still we are vulnerable, one bad accident and professor is out of money and in debt. If you are millionaire or from rich family you can spend all day reading ancient philosophers. That was what high society was doing in earlier days, they had money so they could "waste" time being unproductive. Then you get all those kids and their parents who want to study something like philosophy. They feel like they are rich and their kids deserve degree. But brutal truth is if you are making $50k a year you might feel comfortable but it is still far from being rich. There are people who buy cars each year for that amount of money. In the end it is not all about money as people say, but stories like parent comment shows the truth, first make your money and then if you have time and possibility follow your passion. Which is easier for rich because they already have money.