Play Ph.D. Casino!

[WarrenAch]

Well if you have a 3 page CV, then you're already doing something wrong.

If youre applying for something straight out school with a 3 Page CV, it's unacceptable.

Employers spend like 30 seconds checking each CV, 3 Pages won't improve your chances.

Oh and a "good research" University doesn't mean shit, every University in the T2-T3-T4 claims to have "top-notch" programs but fail to place most of their students.

For a Ph.D., it's Top-15 or gtfo.

[sergioapuzzo]

PhD = pretty horrible deal

I got a PhD in Biochemistry and published 6 papers during my PhD and still no decent job, so guess what, I went to med school and had to postpone my life another 10 years.

Please tell the world to avoid higher education in the form of PhDs or Master's - it is actually dangerous for your future - for example I have to consider staying childless since I have no time with med school and being older I get tired more easily. Again please do not do a PhD

[brahud]

I am working on a PhD. in Business....that is a better bet. This country is all about business.....for God's sake...... Dr. Ruth is a sexologist (doctor). That would be my second choice for a doctoral degree.

[Buddha2you]

Answer: Dont do a PhD in humanities! Seriously, why would you? It has never paid well... so dont choose to do one, then complain about the low wages. It has been thus; and thus shall always be.

[Trinivalts]

@Buddha2you what if I'm a retard at math, more than half of all possibilities closed.

[mlabit1985]

When Progressivism takes root, the leaves and Fruits of Liberty wither and die...

[SuperKugel]

Shouldn't the P.h.D. candidate know a thing or two about how our society as a whole is based on voluntary transactions? In order to provide high wages and benefits to the unemployed doctorates, some organization will have to intervene again and again to undo the bad effects of the choices these doctorates made themselves. Liberty upsets patterns.

[JogBird]

20th Century Literature

[SanguineBullet667]

Unless you're a scientist or an engineer, there's no reason to pursue a phd, it's a waste of money

[WarrenAch]

@SanguineBullet667 True true...

[goma3]

I agree with the main points of these videos, but it's not the same across all fields. Humanities and such are experiencing the biggest exploitation. There is simply no other job for most literature PhD's other than teaching.

Biology and Chemistry suffer some of the same exploitation if they end working in areas that have absolutely zero industrial pharma interest, such as taxonomy or phylogenic relationships.

Finance and Engineering PhD's do much better, but still not as good as it used to be

[WarrenAch]

@goma3 Well,Engineering and Science require Ph.D.s and jobs are easy to come by.

Finance/Accounting/Law only require an MBA to perform well on.

There is exploitation in Science fields but only if the dude wants to work with just a Bachelor...

For litterature/humanities,why the fuck would you invest time there anyways?What a waste of time...

[MultiSmartass1]

@gurgix I agree. You need a few articles at least. You can spread that out.

[the0fart0machine]

I was informed that failing a Phd was near enough impossible. It makes the supervisor and university look pretty stupid. From what I've seen, too many are now studying for Phd's.

[mackabeel]

Life will bring what it may. never give up on your dream. No matter what the degree achieved we must continue to strive after the graduation to get the what we deserve to have. Try being creative and start a business or add on to one to elevate success .Their is more than one way to achieve your goal after the graduation. If you are intelligent you surly can't be a loser and hold a PhD or a Doctorate in any career.

[chrslbrt]

Anything outside of medicine, science and technology in terms of graduate education depends on who you know and a bunch of luck. MBA's, PhD's, JD's, etc. All of those fields are flooded with people, and chances are you'll get lost in the shuffle. There is no way to filter the absolute best out of the crowd and unfortunately, the smartest are left w/o jobs. And don't think IT is a set field either. Thats a flooded job market and it's also subject to outsourcing.

[futureslugger]

Agreed. But I prefer it that way, individuals pursuing a degree in such fields should have networked eariler in their academic careers in order to set up a fundamental basis of clients when they were ceritified to practise. You are making it seem like no one should ever get an MBA, PhD or JD, but these are all interesting fields that if one were to prepare for, they can get great things out of. PhD itself is not a great choice for students who are looking to enter the financial upper class.

[WarrenAch]

It really depends what you study in your Ph.D...if you study letters,philosophy,it's kind of evident that you won't find any good job...

But if you got it in the Science-Psychology-Engineering fields...your future is traced...

It also depends on your passion,if you're gonna make a 200+ pages thesis just for a good job then you won't make it.

But really,getting a Ph.D on letters,languages,philosophy is totally worthless if you want a decent job...

[digitaldion]

I'm afraid this is a rather sad reality - it is further complicated in some parts of the world (South Africa, Malaysia etc.) by stringent affirmative action. I was fortunate to hold a good academic post for a number of years, and still remain on adjunct faculty. The secret is to work harder, publish more, and do as much novel research as you can! Malcolm Gladwell's 'Outliers' is a must read in this regard.

Thanks for the video!

Dion (PhD - neuroscience, Artificial Intelligence and Theology)

[Packersfan303]

I honestly didn't know people would get a Ph.D because they wanted tenure pay. I plan on getting a doctorate just for the educational value of it. It's a fantastic life achievement, having that much knowledge at one's disposal. Why on earth a grad student would go for a doctorate just so they could get a better field of employment. That goes entirely against the logic of obtaining education at that level, that you're going for it because you love the field of study.

[Nullifidian]

Packersfan,

Get back to us when you have gotten your doctorate, are staring at tens of thousands in college loan debt, and can't get a job or don't earn more than $30,000 a year, and then tell us how salary is irrelevant and a Ph.D is all about loving the field you study.

[sansanben85]

This is the result of working in an Arts field. If you were in s Science based subject you would find a very different experience, where your position the position you achieve relates to your work. As your work relates to your ability, this makes the field a meritocracy. Often as well the amount of time it takes you to do your Ph.D is a good indicator of whether or not you should be doing it in the first place. I am 23 and I am a final year Ph.D student.

[QuantumReality1]

No, you're not.

[Silas1066]

I should point out that those of you who think a Ph.D. (in any field) can go get a high school teaching job are sorely mistaken.

No high school is going to hire a 35 year old Ph.D., even if he or she has a teaching certificate (believe me, I know). Why? That person is "too expensive." Most school districts have strict policies preventing the hiring of teachers with advanced degrees--they want "BA, no experience."

Also, secondary and middle schools want people with Education degrees.

[Ethesis]

Our local schools in Plano, Texas have hired a number of PhDs. Some school systems still find them valuable.

[Silas1066]

What were the PhD's in? Bilingual education? Physics?

I some high-need areas, school districts might be forced to hire a PhD, but as a general rule, teachers with advanced degrees do not get hired (or even looked at).

The teachers who have advanced degrees got them after being hired, years later. Schools don't want "content people" (as they call them)--they want education majors with no experience--cheap and easy.

[Ethesis]

I was more thinking the Humanities and such types.

The three Physics PhDs at her Sr. High don't count.

Though, come to think of it, her Spanish teacher did not have a PhD.

Too bad about the general rule, schools would be better served if they were hiring PhDs, at least if they got ones like I've seen here.

[tsneal101]

Maybe in America here in aussie i think they're looking for highly qualified teachers atm..

[Youradumbassbarnes]

There is a Ph.D at my former high school, he was a vice principle

[logloglife]

Yeah I had three phds in my high school.

[amondude]

PHD is not about job,

[openjob]

complete a degree and the start to find a job phd master is a waste of time only is useful if you want to do that in another country learning other language like english, spanish ecc ....

[katyonok]

No really. with BA in English, you qualify for positions requiring high school diploma; you often need a Masters in other Humanities to prove that at least you can do some applied research.

[SoberInsanity]

PhD in language? Go for a real field, like business or science.

[Youradumbassbarnes]

good point sober, why would you PhD in a language

[goback3spaces]

I agree with philosphermarti. Take the degree with the purpose of learning. I work as a proofreader in a print shop, but I write plays and I love Greek drama. Specifically, my favoriate play is IPHEGENIA IN TAURUS by Euripides. I have to believe that there are others like myself, who want to learn, and who might enrich the world without the "tenure" that seems to be the holy grail of grad students looking for a career.

[28summerland]

goback3spaces: nicely said. just put a year into the degree...enjoy just the act of learning. kindest, 28s.

[utuber001001]

good video

[utuber001001]

good video

[gentedelquintosol12]

I want to start a DLitt et Phil or PhD programme in 2009. I am doing this not to make money (I sell food) but for personal development. The idea is to be an educated, refined person. If money is a consideration, why not go get a JD, MBA, or MD degree? I think if one really enjoys what they do (whatever it is) the money will come.

[Dorfeld12]

Jesus, Socrates, and Kierkegaard probably didnt have a car payment either. I love to teach, but I also have to pay my bills. As an adjunct, I could not.

[glenzhere2]

PS, I have empathy, as I live on the brink of financial disaster myself...again, however, possibly leave part-time university teaching/looking for a tenure track position/search behind, and look at grades 5-12...you may be surprised of how you can affect that student's life...and be content doing it...and be treated better by administrators...

[kikuchiyo77]

Better treatment by admin doesn't exist at any level. Put it out of your head, seriously.

[glenzhere2]

Ph.D.'s in the humanities should complete their Ph.D.'s with the attitude of learning, and whether one is an elementary teacher, high school, or university, a student is a student...do you want to touch that life? Some famous teachers who did not have classrooms--Jesus, Socrates, and Kierkegaard...Ph.D., University of Wales...and yes, I taught 5/6 grades for 13 years, high school for 1.5 years, and university for 6

[philosophermarti]

I found this video by accident, but let me tell you that I agree with you. I strongly believe in having that attitude of learning. I am going to a Graduate Program not to have a MA degree, but because I want and desire to learn. I also like to be a teacher because I lke to be a positive role model for my students. I am not a hero, but I would love to help students and to be a positive influence to them. I care less about a degree. As you said, Socrates didnt have a PhD, but we know he was great.

[piotrman26]

Totally agree with this view of the pyramid system.

*But* (and I'm not saying this is how it should be bu how it is) if you haven't gone to a big famous school for your advanced degree you're not "doing all the things right" as she says. In English there are fifteen schools at most in the US that it is at all pragmatic to get your PhD from.

[scienterprize]

Poor PhD students... perhaps stay in academia

[StatisticsQuest]

When I entered my Ph.D. program (mass comm.) at a major research university, I did not know that the job market was so bleak. I found out much later.

I ended up teaching in a small college in Georgia in a city with 5000 people, at a ridiculous salary. I see at least 5 rebel flags a day. Although it is a tenure track position, I have had a miserable experience.

I have accepted a new tenure track position at a new college, in the same city as my family. I am one of the lucky ones.

[kylekip]

brains and beauty too!

[TOILETLOG]

i think the mistake here is majoring in some critically important and desperately needed subject like "english." screw computers or medicine, let's hear about 20th century authors. lol.

tenure? welcome to the real world where 99.9% of workers have no job-security concept like "tenure" in their life.

[Jitpring]

Notice TOILETLOG'S philistine focus on the purely utilitarian. Such is the Brave New World.

[declantynan]

One has to look at the acceptance process by Universities; In Ireland it is based on

1)On Grades

2)Attitude, Ability and relevance

3)It is free, i.e. the fees are paid and a living allowance is supplied by the state

Therefore the individual is free and responsible for the merit of the work

[Y2ANJ]

Sorry but this country needs more engineers, doctors, mathematicians, scientists, etc... not more humanities professors, lawyers, etc... Shouldn't complain about not getting a tenure track position when you know going in that the job market for such positions is scarce.

[MarcBousquet]

Usually, I don't reply to user comments, except to ban the uncivil. But it's worth noting, Y2ANJ, whoever you are, that mathematicians, scientists, engineers and even physicians are all experiencing this kind of exploitation--not just humanities types.

[lguerrrr]

Y2ANJ is right. I am doing a PhD in business. Business administration is the fastest growing major in most universities and usually the only faculty that makes money. Guess what? It is a demand and supply issue. I only know of two grads from my program who are making less than $100,000 (out of about 15 recent grads). They are both employed on tenure-track positions and making over $70K.

It's not exploitation is lack of awareness from students and lack of honesty from the department.

[logloglife]

That's not true.

[mlabit1985]

@MarcBousquet

Yup, I don't know who mr/ms/Mrs/ (or whichever PC moniker it is these days...) Y2ANJ is, but it is so arrogantly rude of you to reply to what I believe are well intentioned points to be made, with such obviously flippant arrogance. I do not believe that you are being exploited, rused, socially-dis-justified, or whatever in heck, excuse my french, you think is going on. It is a very simple problem with many complicated discombobulations. Please Sir, Don't censure my remarks :-)

[BaldinLeePramer]

@MarcBousquet You are right. I sent out 120 applications, and got three offers. I am very lucky to be working at the level I am in a good research university in the mathematics department.

[faoust21]

@Y2ANJ given the fact that all these scientists you mentioned work for the multinational corporations which have already spent 3trillions in Iraq,i think you need more political scientists.

[wandtkeworld]

The sad thing is that if schools only accepted the amount of 20th century literature PhD students that would fill the needs of higher education in the future, 75% of the already small tenured faculty in this field would be out of a job. Most people I knew who went into such fields had ambitons of writing themselves - or simply teaching secondary school for which you would be quite qualified and make a reasonable salary - and probably have an opportunity to impact more individuals.

[SCOOTERBALLUSA]

Congress has betrayed us allowing our institutions to go south and to southeast asia.

Can you Say " Cultural Treason".

[Goscelin]

Here's the point: these working conditions harm everyone who is not already rich. There are more than enough jobs to go around -- those classes the adjuncts teach have to be taught by someone. What you are seeing in the video is a decline in the quality of instruction. If you had to choose between the products of a gourmet chef and teenager at McDonald's who will spit in your food, which would you choose? Exactly, you are forced to choose the one you can afford.

[zcat18]

Interesting video. I'm a first-year PhD student in Communication. I have a master's in East Asian language and culture (largely equivalent to history with a language requirement) and decided to go back to Communication for doctoral work, because the tenure-track hiring ratio for history is 500:1, as opposed to roughly 2:1 in Comm. It might be a less "prestigious" field, but it is a far more employable degree, both in and out of academia.

[ihaveajobhere]

I don't see what the point of this commentary is. Anyone who enters a Ph.D. program knows that, unless he's top crop, his chances of ending in a tenured job are quite scarce. Plus some fields, besides being overcrowded, are not that demanded in the first place, so salaries are going to be substandard anyway. Nobody is going to pay you more because you have worked hard on something they don't need.

[theoneness]

Here's an idea -- don't get a phD in a field that won't make money; such as 20th century American liturature, lol. Even better, pursue higher education for EDUCATION and not for money; if you do just want money, go into f*cking business. She's a sad and misguided person.

[pharmacyiii]

1 in 4 people can make $100,000 a year that is a good chance

[retius]

That's not a good chance either, but your numbers are off at any rate.

[ihaveajobhere]

1/4 is what she says in the video. About the salary, true, probably $100k is more than what most English doctors are offered.

[magnersnice]

$100,000? all this fuss over a £50,000 a year job? i expect to ear twice that with my pHD, right enough i researed my course before jumping in. Ever heard ofpredicted shortfalls in workforces for certain jobs?