<p>I came across this and thought it might be useful to those of you considering a PhD in econ:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.econphd.net/guide.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.econphd.net/guide.htm</a></p>
<p>Summary:</p>
<p>Don't even try, because you will only get a job if you graduate from one of the top 10 programs in the nation, and your chances of getting into any of those is zero to none.</p>
<p>Encouraging read. Really.</p>
<p>You love to take the most negative view of everything, don't you?</p>
<p>It doesn't say anything that recent posts from econ PhDs have said. However, it does go into far more detail. It also addresses how to overcome weaknesses in the application or going to a less than top program, which I think is encouraging. Sorry I'm not Suzy Sunshine for you, but the reality is that stuff in life is sometimes difficult, and knowing what you're getting into is generally the best strategy.</p>
<p>You're no Suzy Sunshine, I'll give you that. If you can't pick up on the general trend of your own posts, namely soul crushing "information" about how bleak the job market it for pratically every possible form of employment on earth, than I suggest you reread some of your recent entries.
Are Econ PhD's hard to get into? Yes, very much so. Do we need yet another indivation of how hard it is to get into a good Econ program, especially from a poster who insists that there are "hundreds of applicants" fighting tooth and nail for teaching positions in American high schools? No, we don't.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure my posts aren't "soul crushing." if you feel so, fine. Don't read them. But as other people appreciate them, get over it.</p>
<p>As for my assertions on teaching positions, I believe I have a bit more experience than you on that. Regardless, running around a forum just to complain about people is immature and a waste of time.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Encouraging read. Really.
[/quote]
And? If it's true - who cares?</p>
<p>Yep. If you find DSP's posts soul crushing, you'd better grow a tougher soul or stay far away from Econ PhD programs.</p>
<p>As one highly published and cited full professor told me last semester, the only positive feedback that you should expect in research academics is the relative absence of negative feedback.</p>
<p>For those who are interested in Econ, you might want to checkout what Greg Mankiw has to say about it. See:
<a href="http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2007/08/sociology-of-economics.html%5B/url%5D">http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2007/08/sociology-of-economics.html</a>
<a href="http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2007/08/phd-or-not.html%5B/url%5D">http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2007/08/phd-or-not.html</a></p>
<p>Also see his list of posts under the heading "Advice for Students" on the right-hand side of the page. The comments on these postings are nearly as valuable as the postings themselves as many come from other Econ faculty and PhD students.</p>