<p>So basically how does the professor profession work? What do the top schools look for when they recruit professors? What do professors do to obtain their tenure and become a full professor? How long does it usually take? Do most schools only care about the $$ the prof is making for the university? How does one prepare to be a professor starting from undergrad? I curious because I am seriously considering a carreer as a professor.</p>
<p>My dad is a prof. at the University of Cincinnati. Sure its NOT even close to being a top 20 school, but it is about the same at all Universities. I can't answer how they recuit/what universities are looking for, but I do know that most profs get their tenure in about 5-6 years, and become a full prof in 8-11 years. As for making money for the school, you might be looked upon more favorably and you might become a full professor faster (as you have more funds for research, papers, etc.), but once you get your tenure it doesn't matter too much because you are basically guranteed your job. To become a prof., all you have to do is be good at whatever you want to teach. For example, my dad graduated from UIUC in mechanical engineering, and worked at a variety of companies including Ford, and then went on to U. of Cincinnati teaching mech. engineering. As for the money, it's not the best or fastest way to make money, but in a top 20 school, you certainly make in the 6 figures, not to mention touching the lives of the smartest kids around. My dad's friend works at Harvard, and he reaps in about $200,000 + plus royalties, consulting, and such. Even at U. of Cincinnati, I know some math profs who make $300,000. Also, the work schedule is very lenient. As long as you arrive for class, you can get there when you want, and leave when you want. You can even have a teacher assistant teach for you if you can't make it. For example, my dad leaves at 9:30 to 10:00 in the morning, and gets back at 5:30. He actually "works from home" about one or two days a week. The professor lifestyle is very confortable, and you actually make a nice living. Good luck with your future career!</p>
<p>What is hard about the lifestyle is first getting a tenure-track assistant prof position, and then once you got it, getting tenured. Most newly minted PhD's who want a tenure-track assistant prof position do not get one. And a significant number of those who do get that position will not get tenured. </p>
<p>This depends also on the discipline in question and on the level of school. For example, it's ridiculously difficult to become a tenured prof in many of the humanities. Honestly, if you get a PhD in English, what else are you going to do except try to be a prof? That's why practically all of those graduates are competing for the few tenure-track positions available. It also heightens competition at the back-end. For example, if you're up for tenure review, a school can decide to either grant you tenure, or simply deny you and replace you with another new assistant prof from the crop of new PhD's. Not surprisingly, schools often times choose the latter. Disciplines such as engineering, business, and economics are less competitive primarily because many industry jobs exist. I would say that the majority of engineering PhD's go on to industry, which lessens the competition for academic spots. </p>
<p>Furthermore, hiring and tenure decisions have a lot to do with the quality of research you produce. This is particularly true at the very top schools where a publish-or-perish mentality rules. </p>
<p>However, I agree with scop_ion that once you have tenure, it's all gravy. Tenured profs have a job for life, and it's not a very hard job. Many profs, particularly in the disciplines mentioned above, make a significant amount of money off side-consulting work. B-school profs in particular can make millions from side consulting. </p>
<p>Many tenured profs still do work ridiculous hours, mostly on their research. But that's because they WANT to work those hours. They certainly don't have to.</p>
<p>Thanks for the valuable advice guys. But what are the top schools looking for when they hire a newbie PHD ass prof in the engineering or business fields? Are faculty relationships and teaching abilities a big factor in getting tenure as well, or is it just research grants and pubs? Also, why do the B school profs get more $$ doing side consulting?</p>
<p>It's a very competitive field. Most top 20 schools want PhDs. And for every two people who graduate with a PhD, I think less than one find a job as a professor.</p>
<p>academia is much more competitive than the equivalent in industry. very very low growth (at the most desired places anyway), almost zero turnover (someone has to die or retire). don't go in expecting to be a tenured prof at an ivy.</p>