Anonymous
Post 10/26/2018 22:36     Subject: Started my PHD and parents think I’m making a mistake
Anonymous wrote:
OP, you need to do some placement research and be sure to get in with an advisor who is willing to make the calls on your behalf to get you one of those interviews. It's literally the dirty secret that they never tell you.


No kidding. I'm in another social science field, and the department graduates about 10 PhD's per year. However, the department only has 1-2 position openings a year, due to someone retiring/dying, or leaving for another position. Other universities are in a similar situation. So where are all the jobs in academia for all these PhD's we're producing?

It's pretty common that a fresh PhD will be stuck as a contract lecturer getting paid to teach on a per-course basis at a couple community colleges and things like that. Not sure how they are able to pay off their student loans. They're earning $5k per course total.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2018 22:36     Subject: Started my PHD and parents think I’m making a mistake
Anonymous wrote:You are in good shape. They mean well (they can't see financial security for you just because of where they stand/have been)...but stay on your path. It can lead to a solid future and fulfilling career.


...at McDonalds. Corporate research on how to market to women maybe?
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2018 22:34     Subject: Started my PHD and parents think I’m making a mistake
Anonymous wrote:Totally disagree. These responses are coming from people with limited world views. I have a PhD in Social & Behavioral Sciences (a public health specialty). I have a very successful and fulfilling career as a professor. Great quality of life.

If this is what you are passionate about, pursue it. There are fields and jobs that the uninformed cannot imagine. You could have a fascinating life, and enlighten thousands of people in the future (imagine yourself teaching Gender Studies at a university or consulting with the department of Education or corporations about gender issues, OR helping UNICEF work on girls' education around the world???!!!) Don't let the naysayers squash your dreams. You be you. Best of luck!!


When did you graduate with your PHD?
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2018 22:33     Subject: Started my PHD and parents think I’m making a mistake
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My parents were not happy about my earning a PhD in a humanities field. Signed, prof who now makes 6 figures


And my parent were happy about my earning a PhD in a humanities field. Signed, one of 400 applicants for the same assistant professorship. Multiple times.


So much this. And OP won't even gain an advantage by being a WOMAN since her field is gender studies. If OP is a minority, well okay, that at least will give her a tiny bit more of an edge in the pool of 400+ candidates for the could-be-real-or-could-be-imaginary postings to get to be one of the 4 candidates who are granted about 90% of the interviews in a given year.

OP, you need to do some placement research and be sure to get in with an advisor who is willing to make the calls on your behalf to get you one of those interviews. It's literally the dirty secret that they never tell you.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2018 22:25     Subject: Started my PHD and parents think I’m making a mistake
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You shouldn’t have to pay for a PhD.


+1. The degree should be fully funded with some combination of teaching and fellowship.


Agreed.


+3. I took out a little bit in loans for pocket money, but never got any from my parents, and didn’t need to. Tuition was waived and I had a graduate student stipend for doing research.

OP, why is it so important that your parents are on board? If you’re okay with the financial aspects of this career path and love the field, why not just forge ahead?

-social sciences Ph.D.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2018 22:19     Subject: Re:Started my PHD and parents think I’m making a mistake
Anonymous wrote:EdD's are less well respected, to those in the know.

But maybe she is getting a PhD?

If not, probably would need to work for a school district or as an education professor in the future. Fewer options, but not zero options.

If she is getting a PhD (in some aspect of Gender), I applaud her.


The subject of the thread is about a PhD. It says PhD. It says "Started my PHD." [sic] How did you not read the subject before you clicked and commented on the thread?
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2018 22:17     Subject: Started my PHD and parents think I’m making a mistake
Anonymous wrote:OP here: it is a PhD but my parents are not very well versed
in my interest, so they think it’s a waste of time. I have a small stipend but they help with miscellaneous costs. They wanted me to be an engineer and well that was not my fit so this whole Women and Gender Studies is something they are trying to see as being worthwhile yet can’t comprehend. I try to help educate them when they are in the mood but it’s like pulling teeth. Maybe when I present at a conference I’ll have them go.


You already have your master's and you haven't presented at a conference yet? I'm in behavioral sciences and even undergrads have done at least a poster session.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2018 22:17     Subject: Re:Started my PHD and parents think I’m making a mistake
This the ultimate troll post.
So surprised at people buying it and wasting their time responding.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2018 22:13     Subject: Started my PHD and parents think I’m making a mistake
Anonymous wrote:OP, I am assuming you are doing a doctorate in Education, so Ed D, not Ph d.

Education degrees are Mickey Mouse degrees. The requirements are far less rigid than those for "real" degrees (in liberal arts AND science). I'm sorry, but the writing/thinking/"research" skills demonstrated by people who hold Education "doctorates" are deplorable, in my experience.

I have a graduate degree in Education, plus a graduate degree in another field. The Ed degree is from a highly ranked university. The work was shockingly easy/simple compared to the requirements for my "real" graduate degree.

Your parents are right.


Idiot.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2018 21:41     Subject: Started my PHD and parents think I’m making a mistake
My husband and I both have PhDs in the social sciences. We both make good money. It is a psychologically tough process. A lot of people don't understand academia or alt-ac. I don't know what your research interest is in but I would say take a few quant/survey courses. The skills are invaluable and can translate into a good position somewhere--shoot you could sell your soul and do market research for a large cosmetic company or something.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2018 21:17     Subject: Started my PHD and parents think I’m making a mistake
Anonymous wrote:My parents were not happy about my earning a PhD in a humanities field. Signed, prof who now makes 6 figures


And my parent were happy about my earning a PhD in a humanities field. Signed, one of 400 applicants for the same assistant professorship. Multiple times.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2018 21:04     Subject: Started my PHD and parents think I’m making a mistake
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You shouldn’t have to pay for a PhD.


+1. The degree should be fully funded with some combination of teaching and fellowship.


Agreed.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2018 20:54     Subject: Started my PHD and parents think I’m making a mistake
Women’s studies is almost universally viewed as a joke. It’s not even a pseudo science, it’s just SJW garbage.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2018 20:33     Subject: Started my PHD and parents think I’m making a mistake
Anonymous wrote:My parents were not happy about my earning a PhD in a humanities field. Signed, prof who now makes 6 figures

Signed, someone who doesn’t understand statistics.
Anonymous
Post 10/26/2018 20:32     Subject: Started my PHD and parents think I’m making a mistake
My parents were not happy about my earning a PhD in a humanities field. Signed, prof who now makes 6 figures