<p>Most of the things I've read about the academic job market have ranged from bleak to down-right awful, and it seems like most people can expect to spend a few years adjuncting or, if they're lucky, getting short-term visiting positions, and in some fields, most PhDs never get a tenure-track position (I read stats that only about 25% of people who have PhDs in English ever get TT positions). How, if at all, did this affect your decision to apply to/go to grad. school? Was it just something you wanted to do so much that you threw the statistics aside?</p>
<p>As for me, I'm looking at grad school mainly in applied fields (clinical psych and clinical social work, which I know have some very big drawbacks of their own) because I realized that even though I really, really like research, I probably won't enjoy the realities of academic life (i.e., having virtually no say in where you live), plus I'm uninsurable via private insurance, so adjuncting (no benefits) wouldn't work for me. Who knows, in a few years, the situation may change, and I may be eating my own words... ;)</p>
<p>I have a <em>lot</em> of respect for academia and the vast majority of people in it, by the way--I'm just curious as to how, if at all, the realities of the academic job market affected your decision to go to grad school or what you are doing/did/plan to do while there.</p>
<p>The so-called bleak job outlook in academia (my university department has hired at least 8 new faculty members in the 2 years I've been here, so I can't believe it's all terrible) didn't affect my decision to attend grad school in the slightest. It has never been my intention to work in an academic setting. I'm going to take my Ph.D. and work for the government or industry.</p>
<p>I have not yet applied to Graduate School or a PhD program, but I intend to 100%. I also intend to seek employment in Academia, but not because the job market seems rosy right now. All careers have difficulties and academic jobs have their fair share, too. </p>
<p>However, the reason to desire a job in Academia should be mostly personal fulfillment, in my opinion.</p>
<p>It all depends how open-minded and flexible people are. Academia isn't for people who have very narrow goals in life. </p>
<p>As for job outlook, it's definitely not too great. But I am optimistic that things will improve as baby-boomers start to retire within the next 10 years or so (I'm just starting this fall). A lot of top historians in my field are in their late 50s, early 60s so there's room for me to jump in as they start to move out.</p>
<p>I'm willing to take a lot of jobs out there that need someone with history PhD or research experience with foreign language sources as long my job description will let me research and teach to some extend. I'm actually keeping mum about my real dream jobs because they're not what my professors want to hear that's the real reason why I want my PhD.</p>
<p>So... I did consider the job market a bit but when I found other options besides the academia to use my history PhD for, it was less of a factor in my decision to go to grad school.</p>
<p>^
What I've heard about the "baby boom retirement boon" is that, as a whole, professors tend to retire much later than other professions (due to tenure, etc.), which will delay this a bit (or a lot, depending on who you listen to) for academia.</p>
<p>How is the non-academic for history PhDs, by the way? I'm seriously, honestly curious...</p>
<p>Disclaimer: I am an undergraduate computer science student.</p>
<p>Based on what I have read and heard from other professors about the academic job market, it depends on the field. In computer science, for example, there are plenty of industrial research positions available, so if you do not obtain a desirable position in academia after earning your PhD, there's always industry (which is a great option in my field; there is a lot of interesting industrial research in computer science, and the compensation is much higher). Some computer science PhDs enter industry as advanced software developers; although they could obtain those positions with MS degrees, a PhD should be able to apply their non-research skills (such as programming, documentation, and other skills) to software development. In other disciplines, however, academic positions are even harder to obtain because there is no traditional industry route (e.g., English PhDs don't have an "English industry" as an option). Other disciplines sit in between.</p>
<p>As for me, I want a PhD in computer science such that I can obtain a computer science research position. Ideally, I would love to work at a top-notch research institution or a company that still does largely open-ended research similar to the old Bell Labs (such as Google or Microsoft). However, becoming a professor at any university, let alone a highly-ranked research university, is very tough due to the competition for few slots. Industrial research is appealing to me, especially companies that do open-ended, "pure" research. However, I also don't mind doing in a traditional industrial research setting, where the problems are more geared toward company problems and R&D. The worst case for me is to take up a software development position, which isn't a bad option at all, although I could obtain good software development positions after I get my BS.</p>
<p>If you enjoy research and the academic life, going to grad school and working as a postdoc will not feel like "concessions" you have to make in order to be a professor. Grad school/postdocs are not a means to an end, they are to be enjoyed in their own right. If you like research, you'll prefer spending those 5-10 years in academia even if it doesn't help you get a better job in the end. The higher pay and potential for a t-t position that come with a PhD are just perks.</p>
<p>Example: Let's say you earn a BA in Art History. Would you prefer to flip burgers for your whole career, or spend five years on a PhD in Art History, and then start flipping burgers at entry-level pay? If you enjoy research more than burger-flipping, then the choice is obvious.</p>
<p>^ sounds like putting off the Real World :) which is half true...</p>
<p>Another thing...I've met too many people who are just "blah" about their jobs and hate their lives. I haven't met too many people who are excited about getting up on Monday mornings. I don't want to be one of those people. Then what's the point of living? I want to do something with my life and take chances. At least I know that when I pay off my master's loans, it was worth spending time meeting and working with other people with similar interests and I learned a lot along the way. I'm taking risks, which many people are afraid of doing because risks lack security. Life is too short.</p>
<p>So for me in addition to what I said, that's part of the reason why I'm just going to go to grad school.</p>
<p>
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As for me, I want a PhD in computer science such that I can obtain a computer science research position.
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</p>
<p>Ditto.</p>
<p>I haven't ruled out academia, but would probably go with industry (mostly because it avoids the race for tenure and gives me more control over where I live). I'm in an industry CS research position right now, but low on the totem pole, and I want this sort of job, but more advanced.</p>
<p>Slightly OT, but--I'm looking into the possibility of an English Ph.D. Anyone have experience with the obvious risks inherent? Unlike CS, there's no fallback industry.</p>
<p>Interesting thread!</p>
<p>Over the summer, I spent time with several "recovering academics" who were in college or grad school with me. All of them have found successful and interesting new lives away from the college/university setting. Each of them, along with the one friend who has survived the academic meat-grinder and has a tenured position at a university she loves, would tell you the very same thing: Don't go to grad school unless you feel in your heart of hearts that you absolutely must.</p>