tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post4727432718003831085..comments2024-03-24T21:12:27.165-07:00Comments on 100 Reasons NOT to Go to Graduate School: 4. It takes a long time to finish.100 Reasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13655155303350793785noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-40108164604951052862020-07-03T02:52:27.602-07:002020-07-03T02:52:27.602-07:00Given your attitude, it's no wonder you're...Given your attitude, it's no wonder you're an unemployed loser.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-65663735205895879922018-11-17T00:55:39.555-08:002018-11-17T00:55:39.555-08:00The problem is that people may think they don'...The problem is that people may think they don't want it at first (or that they don't think much about these matters at all), but have a change of heart later. It's important that they think about these things before they start.<br /><br />On top of that if you have a lack of money/career development/a lot of debt by the time you're 35 or 40, you are at a disadvantage in life.<br /><br />If PhD programs always gave enough to live on for the location (I'm not talking about a lot of money, I'm meaning enough money for tuition AND fees AND food AND housing AND just a little bit extra) and didn't last so long, it wouldn't be so bad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-65061556089650817012015-10-22T21:18:45.566-07:002015-10-22T21:18:45.566-07:00Uh oh, you just described my current situation per...Uh oh, you just described my current situation perfectly...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-46057686407254355932015-04-14T17:33:09.199-07:002015-04-14T17:33:09.199-07:00So there you have it. If money is not an issue to...So there you have it. If money is not an issue to you. If you already have a job. If you already have a romantic relationship and prospective spouse lined up. Then go ahead and do a couple of years of graduate school without thinking much of the future consequences. If you don't have all these pieces together to the extent you would like, then pay close attention to what this blog has to offer. <br /><br />It's interesting how people can make the most vehement criticisms of the blog when they have little experience or knowledge of the problem. If you already have the world licked, then you can spend your free time however you want. This blog serves people who don't have such easy choices. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-9507428730739134012014-07-31T21:28:29.625-07:002014-07-31T21:28:29.625-07:00On reflection I should have added:
It is up to ...On reflection I should have added: <br /><br />It is up to the reader to consider whether these hypotheses (or some close permutation of them) might not also apply to graduate school. For example, increased time-to-degree may also occur on the graduate level because of increased degree cost.<br /><br />Furthermore, I am now beginning to see more frequently that prior coursework is no longer considered over a certain time frame. In other words, more courses have expiration dates. For example, if I were to take partial differential equations as a prerequisite to, say, a masters' science or engineering program, more than five years previously, it wouldn't count, and I'd have to retake it. What's even worse is how these "recency" requirements stack up, so if I were to miss the window on PDEs, I conceivably would have to go all the way back to precalculus, losing an additional two years (and incurring two more years of tuition payments and time lost) in the bargain - with no opportunity to test in. One wonders whether this kind of policy is enacted to keep overall numbers down (thus giving the lie to the 'STEM shortage' myth), or perhaps just to weed out students on the basis of age/finances/continuity. However, the main point here is that this kind of policy is likely to increase time-to-degree unnecessarily, and also to increase related costs, on both undergraduate and graduate levels.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-54629705072913102522014-07-31T08:46:46.558-07:002014-07-31T08:46:46.558-07:00"I think the use of incorrect English grammar..."I think the use of incorrect English grammar is trivial compared to research and critical thinking skills."<br /><br />This explains why I didn't get in to any graduate programs last year despite having an 800 verbal GRE score (and a 770 quantitative score). I guess those universities know I just can't compete with Wo Haomei and Jagdish Ramalamadingdong in critical thinking and research.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-57336399060682789862014-07-31T08:30:33.759-07:002014-07-31T08:30:33.759-07:00Sometimes very bright, hardworking people find the...Sometimes very bright, hardworking people find themselves part of substandard graduate programs. This can happen because, among other reasons:<br /><br />a) the department misrepresented itself;<br />b) the student is geographically limited to that institution - it's "the only game in town";<br />c) the student is changing careers and upon applying to programs in the field of interest does not receive the same consideration as students in that area of study;<br />d) the institution is the 'low-cost option' or the only affordable option to the student;<br />e) the institution houses the only program for which the employer will help cover expenses.<br /><br />Furthermore, loan amounts may be less a function of students' planned expenses as much as purposeful institutional mismanagement of students (commonplace at certain under-performing state universities where "milking" of both graduate and undergraduate students is an under-reported phenomenon, and misrepresented where it is observed. These institutions commonly have low reported 4-year graduation rates; for graduate programs there may be anecdotal evidence of unduly prolonged masters' degree programs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-63397193314781902042014-04-27T14:33:44.754-07:002014-04-27T14:33:44.754-07:00"I think the use of incorrect English grammar..."I think the use of incorrect English grammar is trivial compared to research and critical thinking skills" Agree so deep English grammar not need communicate research imaginings thinkings benefit all! US student not serious not needed perfect saying make point flunk anyway I teach no teach no one care. Publish important creatively department hire "RA" make do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-10193406194697136742014-04-27T14:24:01.972-07:002014-04-27T14:24:01.972-07:00You don't get papers in English literature, la...You don't get papers in English literature, language or pedagogy comparing methods of quantifying methane produced by cow flatulence, discussions of how wild ducks might engage in homosexual necrophilia, or six-figure, taxpayer-funded parties involving Japanese quail and cocaine. That's "science."<br /><br />As far as "don't just sit there laughing as the pot boils over" goes, the whole house is already burning down and the whole neighborhood is going up in smoke. Time to get the popcorn out and enjoy the show.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-74074245470386804162014-04-16T00:58:54.875-07:002014-04-16T00:58:54.875-07:00Moreover, perhaps these things won't matter t...Moreover, perhaps these things won't matter to you but they will matter to many people (easily over half) by the time they are in their late twenties. A carefree, bohemian life style is less appealing when broke, lacking health care and pushing forty. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-40955694574087436672014-01-21T12:53:04.588-08:002014-01-21T12:53:04.588-08:00Also the person is 40 and just entered a PhD progr...Also the person is 40 and just entered a PhD program, you have no clue about the quality of their early English education, or their accessibility to one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-53770975152136706682014-01-21T12:49:29.384-08:002014-01-21T12:49:29.384-08:00How do you know the person isn't from a non-En...How do you know the person isn't from a non-English speaking country? I think the use of incorrect English grammar is trivial compared to research and critical thinking skills. I am not a PhD nor do I intend to get one, I just think this is a callous comment. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-72009409802095653592013-12-14T16:18:36.052-08:002013-12-14T16:18:36.052-08:00As a PhD student in Biophysics, I would emphasize:...As a PhD student in Biophysics, I would emphasize: 1) The MA Anon. got is a complete joke compared to a PhD. 2) When it comes to doing research, English is a joke compared to Science. 3) Nature, perhaps the most respected scientific journal, has not only been running a spate of articles on how the entire global Academic system is broken, but has also failed to publish anything that amounts to proposed solutions.DCRiecknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-69759395808139589172013-06-13T02:14:04.643-07:002013-06-13T02:14:04.643-07:00See the second hypothesis above - why do the under...See the second hypothesis above - why do the undergrads have to work? Because the degrees cost more. This increased cost tends to require increased paid employment which limits course loads and increases time-to-degree.<br /><br />On the first sentence of the second paragraph, see hypotheses 1 and 4. As for the bloated PhD CV, I blame American aping of the European standard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-27938651015507518832013-06-05T18:21:44.856-07:002013-06-05T18:21:44.856-07:00For undergrads, it's because many of them have...For undergrads, it's because many of them have to work and limit their course-load. <br /><br />For graduates, it seems that expectations are an inexorable inflationary spiral in terms of quantity, not quality. The sheer number of items that PhD students are expected to have on their CV is completely absurd.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-48761729619983712522013-05-31T12:00:15.687-07:002013-05-31T12:00:15.687-07:00On the initial statements of the blog post, I'...On the initial statements of the blog post, I'd like to advance a number of reasonable non-exclusive hypotheses: <br />1) Increased time-to-degree is occurring at the undergraduate level because post-graduation job marketplace education demands are changing faster and becoming more numerous (rather than more qualitative), which may incur more preparation time.<br />2) Increased time-to-degree is occurring at the undergraduate level because of increased degree cost.<br />3) Increased undergraduate time-to-degree is occurring because of the increasing inadequacy of undergraduate (and earlier) education.<br />4) Increased undergraduate time-to-degree is occurring because of concomitant increased industry demands for specific prior experience.<br />5) Increased undergraduate time-to-degree is occurring because of new graduate labor market conditions that have been deteriorating for over twenty years, alongside an absolute decrease in (other) job/career training opportunities.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-68953226300176765212013-05-29T10:13:24.347-07:002013-05-29T10:13:24.347-07:00If you love publishing academic work, you can do t...If you love publishing academic work, you can do that outside of a program. By all means, it is important work. The humanities will value your insights a century after you're dead. You won't get a dollar for it. <br /><br />If you love teaching, by all means, teach.<br /><br />If you love educating yourself, don't forget the reason the Penguin Classics were established. Don't forget it isn't terribly expensive to buy a membership to academic databases.<br /><br />People forget they learn by reading the work of others as much as by writing about it. If you know a particular passage by Montesquieu, Chamfort, Franklin, or Namedrop-X, or the hundreds of sufficiently famous literary figures who have made the literary culture of Anglo-America, don't think that is without value, and don't think the time you spend reading it between shifts hasn't either saved you money on cable bills or kept you savvy for the largest questions in life. The 17th century discussed everything we discuss today (save identity formation), but with better form.<br /><br />The literature of the past is exceedingly valuable to anyone who has never felt they quite match the image of "the American." And there are practically infinite in-groups. Americans read Genet, they read Burroughs, they read Obama. Debt shouldn't come with it. The liberals of the early 20th century tried to get rid of all this class-based ignorance long ago. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-87013788780167700092013-04-08T01:26:15.615-07:002013-04-08T01:26:15.615-07:00Good discovery of a trivial person!Good discovery of a trivial person!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-22688512969447415432013-01-18T11:13:10.197-08:002013-01-18T11:13:10.197-08:00"So, if you see the system hurting, get off y..."So, if you see the system hurting, get off you ass and do something about it. Don't just sit there laughing as the pot boils over."<br /><br />You did an MA in English in 2 years, and that was the extent of your grad school experience. You already had a job while you were a student, and you also felt the need to brag to us that you're a married person with plans to start a family soon. So young, eager, and determined. <br /><br />You do seem like the kind of person who would take pleasure in telling someone who's put an interesting little project together to "get off their ass and do something" - the cry of the reactionary person who doesn't respect that people approach problems in different ways. This blog provides people with information that's not readily available, and allows them to do what they will with that information. <br /><br />I'd like to see your list of ways in which we can improve higher education - because presumably you're working on a project of your own, and not just coming here to insult another person's work. I mean, this isn't grad school.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-4076209031163655152012-12-13T19:08:45.514-08:002012-12-13T19:08:45.514-08:00"Never achieved nothing"? Way to go with..."Never achieved nothing"? Way to go with the double negatives.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-72548264558481099612012-12-13T19:06:53.630-08:002012-12-13T19:06:53.630-08:00"Feeded"?
Also, it is nearly impossible..."Feeded"?<br /><br />Also, it is nearly impossible to complete a PhD while working full time, at least if you want to do so in a reasonable length of time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-56583253747582602572012-11-25T18:43:51.945-08:002012-11-25T18:43:51.945-08:00With all due respect, while I have decided against...With all due respect, while I have decided against pursuing grad school for my STEM field, I disagree with the notion that I am "middle-of-the-road." I appreciated this blog until I got to the earlier entries, where people made claims that owning a home and having kids = adulthood (i.e. the be-all, end all of life), and that colleges are basically gatherings of circus clowns nowadays because we do not study Greek or Latin.<br /><br />As someone who earned a BA and wound up in tech, I have had to put up with English and Philosophy majors sneering at my career and aptitude in STEM ever since I entered the job market. My skills lie in math, science, and computer-related fields, but humanities people seem to race to see who can sneer at those talents the most. According to them, if your talents and passions don't lie in studying dead languages and deconstructing esoteric literature, if you write about AIDS research in simple, declarative sentences and design interfaces for high salaries (two things I have done), and above all, if your math and science grades are higher than your humanities grades, you're a stupid, illiterate, culturally bereft American, and part of the reason "other countries hate us."<br /><br />Academics aspire to intellectual freedom, but for many in the humanities, that freedom doesn't extend to people whose talents lie outside the humanities. To be fair, a lot of the flack I've gotten comes from over-educated humanities graduates working jobs that pay so little they can barely afford to live, so perhaps the author has a point after all about material comforts. Lack of them, or the ability to afford them, makes life difficult, and even people who have their basic needs met, but not much more, can grow very mean as they perceive what they're missing out on. How else would you explain someone getting snotty with me because I'm not great at spelling, or don't really like to read 17th-century British literature "for fun" – which to them, makes me a moron, even if they failed high-school algebra?<br /><br />Actually, now that I think about it some more, the author did point out the snobbish attitudes that higher ed in the humanities can cultivate. I am guessing he started out this blog with the financial pitfalls of earning a master's or PhD in the humanities because he assumed that those issues were more pressing to the majority of Americans than struggling with depression, confusion, and feelings of being stifled and locked out of various parts of life. <br /><br />There are no easy answers. I mentor younger people, and too many of them pursue humanities post-baccalaureate degrees because they fear the current job market. Rightfully so, I think – I've been in it for over a year, with all that much-vaunted experience and hard skill, and management experience to boot, and oftentimes, I find myself shut out of opportunities in favor of the 25-year-old who will work for peanuts and no health insurance. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-66058171531948178362012-10-17T09:05:47.674-07:002012-10-17T09:05:47.674-07:00YES!YES!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-21726977163448501822012-09-28T09:40:03.889-07:002012-09-28T09:40:03.889-07:0010 Years is a LONG time, but not accurate as the a...10 Years is a LONG time, but not accurate as the average time to complete. Bachelor's 4 years, Masters 2 years, Ph. D. 4 years are the normal completion times for those degrees. It is a select few who actually complete the Ph. D. in 4 years... so realistically speaking, 10-12 yeas is common with 10 being a typical best case scenario for most people. Less than 10 is extremely rare.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-67828140818231043182012-06-18T15:37:33.682-07:002012-06-18T15:37:33.682-07:00We're not arguing against it, just saying that...We're not arguing against it, just saying that there are alternative options, if you are concerned that taking 3 or 7 years to do a Masters or a PhD seems like too much then the UK/European equivalent may be something to think about. If you are already half way through your studies and hate it obviously this isn't going to help. And for the record, taught UK/European Masters are fundamentally different than North American ones as they don't have the same research component. Most employers are aware of this and obviously in some fields may not be recongised, but for those that are it's an enticing alternative, especially if you plan on returning to the private sector. <br /><br />As far as not understanding the issue, the blog is titled 'Reasons to NOT go to grad school' with the length of time being the highlighted problem in this entry. We put forward a way to go to grad school without the time commitment thereby allowing you to both have and eat the proverbial cake.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com