<p>tokenadult:</p>
<p>Yes, you're right. But in some fields, students are encouraged to take their Generals in their first year. That seems to be the case for math--at least at Harvard.</p>
<p>Teriwtt:
My own Generals were a very relaxed affair as I watched two of my examiners arguing over Hegel instead of grilling me about Hegel :)</p>
<p>My Ph.D. qualifier was a two-parter: Part 1, written, during the summer after year 1; Part 2, an oral exam, was generally completed by the end of year 2, but it was not a completely strict deadline. That part required putting together a committee (not the dissertation committee).</p>
<p>Neither was a pleasant experience. I distinctly remember my H bringing me a glass of something alcoholic late on the night before the written part, and strongly suggesting that I have a drink and go to bed.</p>
<p>from EK4:</p>
<p>
[quote]
my perspective is that the class divide comes from not how much it actually costs to attain a upper level degree, but because those who come from a first gen background- are going to have attained quite a bit just recieving a bachelors degree.</p>
<p>To think about taking 4-7 more years out of the workforce to go for a Phd, let alone living on stipends and TA income for years, is not easy for someone who doesn't have experience with that level of education to consider.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>dstark:</p>
<p>
[quote]
emeraldkity4, you're right; although, I am sure you will get the argument "well I did it".
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, dstark, I wanted to make sure you are not disappointed, so just as you predicted, here I am. </p>
<p>My parents finished school at the 8th grade. In some ways, this made it easier to just keep going with formal education. I'd never had any money, so the poverty of graduate school life was just more of the same. There was no debt involved, since my field paid a research stipend and my award included a tuition waiver.</p>
<p>I postponed having kids for a very long time, though.</p>
<p>midmo, I'm glad things worked out for you.</p>
<p>
Yes -- and I am a second-year. :) Compared to the other biological sciences programs at Harvard, my program is about four or five months early, though, as this January of second year date was the latest I could take mine, while other programs have students take them in late spring of second year at the earliest.</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone for your warm wishes, and I am definitely celebrating tonight. Like midmo's qualifier, mine had a written component due before Christmas as well as the oral defense I passed today, so I feel like I've been living and breathing my qualifying exam for about two months now. It is nice to be done!</p>
<p>Wow, Mollie, I thought you were still in your first year of graduate school. And to think I can still remember the thread that brought you over here. Congratulations all around.</p>
<p>mollie,
Warmest regards and heartiest congratulations! My S is in a first year Ph.D. program and is talking about how he will spend his summer-he's thinking of taking one set of his "field" exams in September. What a relief this must be to you. But of course WE knew you could do it. ;)</p>
<p>Congratulations Mollie! Big milestone!</p>
<p>What kind of careers can humanities Ph.D. students have outside academia? What if I was an English or History Ph.D. student but I desired a non-academic job?</p>
<p>Tenisghs</p>
<p>First of all, welcome back and congrats on graduating and landing a job.
As to your query, you'd have to ask yourself about the type of jobs you'd be interested in and whether a Ph.d. is necessary. Typically, a Ph.d. in history takes about 7-8 years. It's a lot of time invested in getting the degree.<br>
People with Ph.D.s in the humanities and social sciences may get jobs in academia that are non-teaching, e.g., in career offices, study abroad programs, in deans' offices. admissions, etc... They can also get jobs in academic foundations and organizations. I've heard of Ph.D. candidates being recruited to work in consulting firms, on the grounds that their analytical skills are what the firms are looking for (as opposed to the knowledge of their specific area of research). Some people work in think tanks such as the Hudson Institute, the Brookings Institute, etc... Others have found work in publishing, especially at academic presses.<br>
But you need to think long and hard about whether you want to devote such a long period of your life pursuing that Ph.D.</p>
<p>The over production of Ph.D's means that the so-called third tier Univ.'s are getting extremely talented young faculty that only the top Univ.'s could attract in past years. This is one reason why one can get an excellent education in many places.</p>
<p>As to employment, I recently hired three young Ph.D's for research & development positions. Each is paid significantly more than a starting Assistant Professor would make even at the most prestigious universities. They are encouraged to write, publish, and attend professional conferences as part of their job (at company expense). There is meaningful professional work outside of the academy.</p>
<p>@ Marite</p>
<p>Thank you for the sound advice. I will consider this when I apply for graduate school in the near future.</p>
<p>This is the reason I'm doing a JD and maybe an MA, but not a PhD. I don't have the patience, I don't have the money, nor do I have the desire. The Law & Society MA at NYU sounds more and more interesting to me.</p>
<p>Maybe I'll do a JD/MSF. Or I could just do a JD.</p>
<p>I have no plans to be a lawyer so a JD is definitely out. I'm more of the teacher/writer/archivist personality type. I will consider dual degree program.</p>