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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I would also have a conversation about a fellowship vs a tenure-track job. Fellowships last only a few years at most, TT jobs are (assuming tenure) lifetime. You need to have a frank discussion about how often you are willing to move. I have known quite a few colleagues who have moved their families multiple times. Is this something that you are willing to put up with?[/quote]

[b]If a TT position is in offered, you have to take it.  Those are few and far between (at least in my field).[/b]  [/quote]

This attitude can be problematic.  If you are in a field where there are options to work in the private sector, government, or non-profits (such as statistics), then I think this fetishization of professorships over other excellent (and at times more lucrative) jobs you can do with a PhD is a huge problem.  While college towns can be lovely places to live, academia offers a great amount of freedom, the job security of tenure is huge, and getting an academic job is few and far between, academia comes with other problems.  One big one is that moving to anywhere in the country (including small university towns) can really mess up a spouse's career and cause a lot of tension and inequalities in the relationship.  You have to determine all the options and see if buying into the "any academic job, anywhere" mindset really works for you and your family.  I have found that professors really push the idea that academia is the goal over all other employment, and this can lead recent PhDs to see other options as a "fall back plan."  When in reality, sometimes you make more money, have more control over where you live, and are able to balance career desires with your spouse better outside of academic settings.  If you are truly OK with moving wherever (have a portable career, or are interested in taking a step back from work to raise your kids) this can be fine, but it's not fine for every couple.[/quote]

Agree. I turned down a TT offer in BFE making $38k and accepted a NTT offer making more than double that in a much cooler place. TT is not he holy grail it used to be--especially in a political climate like this (see Wisconsin). And plenty of people leave tenured spots to do interested, more well-paid work in the private sector. [/quote]

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