> (...) and it is supprising to me how many future doctorate students don't understand the difference until it is too late. Oh don't be confused. I assure you

> (...) and it is supprising to me how many future doctorate students don't understand the difference until it is too late. Oh don't be confused. I assure you each and every single one of the understands the difference very well. What it seems you're not understanding is that to them it's not a matter of having picked the soft money track over the tenure track. No, that choice was never on the table. Their choice was between the soft money track and no track at all. Thus the ones who are fortunate enough to be in a position to choose will pick the soft money track in hopes that it puts them in a better position to transition to a tenure one.