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The real scandal is that the lower end of the distribution that doesn't even touch that remaining 10 - 30% keeps promoting their Ph.D. programs despite the very
by lr4444lr 5y ago
The real scandal is that the lower end of the distribution that doesn't even touch that remaining 10 - 30% keeps promoting their Ph.D. programs despite the very dubious value of those degrees. Sure, they may carefully couch their language in the brochures that the program should really only be undertaken by people who truly want to learn for learning's sake, but I somehow doubt the culture of the departments really helps applicants or current students understand this if their funding is closely tied to the number of students they bring in. Why do these programs exist, really, other than cheap grad student labor? They divert the best and the brightest resources among the faculty away from undergrads, which overall cheapens their experience too. And for what, so the tenured and tenure track people can focus on publishing? American academia is so dysfunctional in some ways, despite its overall excellence.
- abcc8 5y agoI agree with this outlook. The 'product' of elite academic institutions is academicians capable of working within elite academic environments. In other words, these elite institutions act as their own incubators, selecting only a small proportion of their PhD students and post-docs to join their faculty. As you say, it is unclear what the actual 'product' of low tier schools actually is - yes, many will graduate with a PhD funded by public and/or private grants, but ultimately low tier PhDs aren't valued much by either the academic or industry job markets. One possible explanation is that the 'product' of the low tier PhD programs is to further the existence of the PhD program. Edited for clarity