2 ms·
For me at least: 1. I want to improve the world 2. Intellectual freedom matters to me 3. Money doesn't matter to me Market forces be damned.
by Blahah 13y ago
For me at least:
1. I want to improve the world
2. Intellectual freedom matters to me
3. Money doesn't matter to me
Market forces be damned.
- tehwalrus 13y ago["Me too" comment.]
- dnautics 13y agoThis is market action. Market != money. You're making a value choice between different outcomes and exercising an unrestricted choice to pursue what you want out of a marketplace of options. You should also consider that nonprofit != "helping the world". There are lots of non-profit efforts that don't wind up helping one bit, and just consuming resources. (for that matter, this happens with for-profits, too). And, having been through the mill, A PhD does not guarantee you intellectual freedom. I'd say it might even be worse in some sectors of the academe.
- Blahah 13y agoAgreed on all points. But market action != market forces. I was not persuaded by a disparity between supply and demand in the market to do a PhD. My PhD has a very direct route to helping the world, and I chose it because after about a year of searching I considered it the most efficient way to use my skills to do so. My next move might well be in the for-profit world; Ive seen some very effective stuff happening there. Similarly, the PhD in general doesn't guarantee intellectual freedom, but mine does. This was a major factor in choosing my supervisor (there are ~20 in the consortium I wanted to work in, and I rejected several).