The latest article on why not to even think about going to grad school in the Humanities is up on Slate. In a nutshell, because you will not get a job; there are no jobs; and getting a PhD will turn you into a horrible human being. Best bit: "No, you will not get a job—not because, like Kafka’s mouse, you went in the “wrong” direction, but because today’s academic job market is a “market” in the sense that one stall selling fiddlehead ferns in the middle of a strip mall is a “farmer’s market.” In the place of actual jobs are adjunct positions: benefit-free, office-free academic servitude in which you will earn $18,000 a year for the rest of your life."
Just in case anyone wasn't depressed enough on a Wednesday ...
I wonder similar things about students wanting to go into astronomy, with the national observatories shutting down major instruments and the job situation being so terrible. And yet, I get no shortage of takers: my astrophysics class for next semester will be the largest I've ever taught. I do give every last one of my students "the talk" about how they could make more money for less effort doing just about anything other than astronomy. Many of these jobs could be interesting, and may even do the world real good.
ReplyDeleteBut of course, 18-to-22-year-olds seemingly all think they're invincible. Every last one of them thinks that they'll be the exception, in the top third/fifth/seventh/tenth/1% that does make it.
Politicians have long exploited this for starting wars. Every few years a bunch of dumb kids come along, and all the politicians need to do is dress them up in spiffy new uniforms and give them a few pep talks, and by the time the kids find out what it's REALLY like, it's too late. Positively convenient, isn't it?
Perhaps this could be said for 50% of undergrads as well?
ReplyDeleteWhy is this article so familiar?
ReplyDelete