I don’t know? Wasn’t I trying for a Chemistry degree at one point, with family working in a prominent physics institution? Aren’t all the click bait adds about getting ahead in “tech” and “security” equally bad? What about the news stories about the landscape, in comparison to “meaningful work” in the tech industry?
1 Like
Did any of your undergraduate professors encourage you to go to grad school? If so, isn’t the onus mainly on them?[quote=“tropo, post:3293, topic:76536”]
Aren’t all the click bait adds about getting ahead in “tech” and “security” equally bad?
[/quote]
Do jobs in tech and security typically involve 11+ years of higher education - more if done part time - with the conclusion a tiny chance at a job in the field, one which probably pays under $60k?
But isn’t there a difference between being in a graduate program and actually experiencing the academic job market? Hasn’t the discussion about how bad the market is, especially in the humanities, only become a real topic of conversation at the grad student level in the last few years? And can you imagine that in Chemistry there are more obvious options for someone with a PhD than there are in History?
3 Likes
Somewhat? Wasn’t it still my own choice and I take responsibility? Didn’t I feel as if I didn’t fit in anywhere else and now I don’t fit in here and now what am I supposed to do other than try and make the best of it? Aren’t they looking for teachers in private schools? Or in the private sector? Or in the public sector? Or wherever?
6 Likes
Can I suggest that while this is admirable you shouldn’t beat yourself up over it?
Also, can I suggest that - judging from stories at the CHE and IHE - the people who have the worst time of it are the ones who tie their sense of self-worth to being an academic? And that you’ll probably be OK as long as you don’t do this, and make sure you actively explore alt-ac paths in addition to academic ones?
Can I add that your odds of landing something in academics are greater provided you have some flexibility, especially geographical flexibility are committed to (and verifiably good at) teaching? Also, if you don’t give up prematurely? Will it make you feel better or worse to learn that my current TT job came after 4 non-TT jobs in 4 very different locations?
5 Likes
Or maybe every post except mine? 
10 Likes
Would it make you feel better to know I have a terminal degree and I know you are awesome?
10 Likes
Did you know that you’re not the only one who knows it?
7 Likes
Did you spot the members of Fishbone that made cameos in the video?
2 Likes
BTW, how is Iowa City treating you?
2 Likes
Doesn’t that seem rather less than even handed? What is the statistical probability of that happening randomly @OtherMichael?
4 Likes
Much better now that I’m home, right? Did you know there’s no there there?
2 Likes
Didn’t I have to google that?
2 Likes
?
1 Like
You mean there’s no there at your home? Don’t sell yourself short, your part of the country gave us such important cultural icons as Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and Chris Christie.
2 Likes
history is important though isn’t it?
wouldn’t I be happy to get paid to study and research and stuff if I could actually be that interested in some very specific subject?
aren’t I the sort that would rather get a 2nd BS in some totally unrelated field to the first one?
4 Likes
How could I have forgotten that that’s where “I used to be a lunatic” came from?!!!?
2 Likes
Isn’t the problem not being able to do that, despite years of working up to that?
3 Likes
The lights are on but nobody’s home? 
2 Likes
How are you doing that? Isn’t the current like limit set at millions? Are you using a like bot? (What IS a like bot?)
2 Likes
