Some Observations about PhDs
If you’re a grad student, it’s best to read the latest report from the National Science Foundation with a large glass of single-malt whiskey in hand. Scratch that: The top-shelf whiskey is probably out of your budget.
This is the lead for a recent article in The Atlantic entitled Jobs Are Scarce for Ph.D.s.
The article cites a few sobering findings in National Science Foundation (US) survey entitled Doctorate Recipients from US Universities. It is an annual survey of people who have recently received their doctorates.
- almost 40 percent of graduates had not secured employment upon graduating
- debt loads were high, especially in education and the humanities
- the number of doctorates in the US is increasing each year
- those who decide to toil on in academe in the faint hope of landing a tenure track position, find themselves in low wage jobs
This article and a few others published in recent years in The Atlantic may be somewhat sensational and not reflective of realities over time. The long-term prospects of graduates are bright once they get established in the work place - something that might take a few years. Further, while Ph.D.s might not find employment in their specific field of study, their skill sets are usually transferrable to jobs in unrelated fields. The following article presents a more realistic assessment: How Good Are the Job Prospects for Science Ph.D.s?
I have had to good fortune to work with many scientists who landed jobs related to their academic specialities. Most of them do not work in universities but those who do, generally worked on applied problems. As a general observation, they are among the happiest, most satisfied people I have ever met in the work force. And if ever they decide to "graduate" to management, the transition is usually fairly easy as they have a capacity to acquire the formal credentials for advancement e.g. MBAs etc.
Here is a snapshot of the situation in Canada.
Where Are Canada’s PhDs Employed?
It all comes down to following one's heart and interests. Usually, everything works out in the long run.
One Last Thought
Some naive doctoral students labour on in the hope that they will obtain faculty positions upon graduation. If they do not graduate from a prestigious university, their chances of landing on the tenure track are remote.
These facts bring up an uncomfortable question for nonelite universities, which account for the large majority of all Ph.D.-granting institutions. Both Clauset’s and Oprisko’s research suggests most universities are not very successful at generating professors, and most people only get doctorates because they intend to go into academia. Should these lower-prestige institutions even bother granting Ph.D.s at all?
The Academy’s Dirty Secret
Masters Degree
This is one of the best and most comprehensive articles I have encountered to date.
Should I get a master’s degree?
It addresses the wage premium over undergraduate degrees for a wide variety of occupations.
The financial rewards for getting a graduate degree are compelling. However, if one is interested in employment following graduation, one should ensure that the academic studies have content which is relevant to the job market - especially if a thesis is involved.
Look Before You Leap
Many students accept blindly, the recommendations of their thesis advisors - people whose outlook is often confined to their personal academic interests. I can't believe the number of students who are seduced by a professor's offer of a jointly published article based on the student's labours. I ditched my first advisor after two months. I commenced work on a topic recommended by him only to find that he was planning the use the literature review (a component of any thesis) as input to a contract that he had with an outside agency. It's amazing how the grapevine works, especially if one establishes good relationships with support staff, the lifeblood of most organizations.
It is much better to decide on a thesis topic on one's own and then search out the best person to advise you on your work. The topic should be relevant to prospective employers and be on the cutting edge. The best sources of information on potential topics do not include the professorate. Rather, it is best to survey trade publications and people who actually work in your field of interest. On a few occasions, I have seen industry and organizations actively supporting thesis work. This happened to me and it meant a great deal, especially as the work was "useful" and not relegated to the archives of a graduate department.
I have had to good fortune to work with many scientists who landed jobs related to their academic specialities. Most of them do not work in universities but those who do, generally worked on applied problems. As a general observation, they are among the happiest, most satisfied people I have ever met in the work force. And if ever they decide to "graduate" to management, the transition is usually fairly easy as they have a capacity to acquire the formal credentials for advancement e.g. MBAs etc.
Here is a snapshot of the situation in Canada.
It all comes down to following one's heart and interests. Usually, everything works out in the long run.
One Last Thought
Some naive doctoral students labour on in the hope that they will obtain faculty positions upon graduation. If they do not graduate from a prestigious university, their chances of landing on the tenure track are remote.
These facts bring up an uncomfortable question for nonelite universities, which account for the large majority of all Ph.D.-granting institutions. Both Clauset’s and Oprisko’s research suggests most universities are not very successful at generating professors, and most people only get doctorates because they intend to go into academia. Should these lower-prestige institutions even bother granting Ph.D.s at all?
The Academy’s Dirty Secret
Masters Degree
This is one of the best and most comprehensive articles I have encountered to date.
Should I get a master’s degree?
It addresses the wage premium over undergraduate degrees for a wide variety of occupations.
The financial rewards for getting a graduate degree are compelling. However, if one is interested in employment following graduation, one should ensure that the academic studies have content which is relevant to the job market - especially if a thesis is involved.
Look Before You Leap
Many students accept blindly, the recommendations of their thesis advisors - people whose outlook is often confined to their personal academic interests. I can't believe the number of students who are seduced by a professor's offer of a jointly published article based on the student's labours. I ditched my first advisor after two months. I commenced work on a topic recommended by him only to find that he was planning the use the literature review (a component of any thesis) as input to a contract that he had with an outside agency. It's amazing how the grapevine works, especially if one establishes good relationships with support staff, the lifeblood of most organizations.
It is much better to decide on a thesis topic on one's own and then search out the best person to advise you on your work. The topic should be relevant to prospective employers and be on the cutting edge. The best sources of information on potential topics do not include the professorate. Rather, it is best to survey trade publications and people who actually work in your field of interest. On a few occasions, I have seen industry and organizations actively supporting thesis work. This happened to me and it meant a great deal, especially as the work was "useful" and not relegated to the archives of a graduate department.
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