I really resonated with your comment about how mentors can accidentally put students in the grad school trap. That was me! A well-meaning professor said "it would be a shame if I didnt do a PhD," even though he was years out of the job market. And here I am, feeling guilty years after a masters for never going back to school. I could jus…
I really resonated with your comment about how mentors can accidentally put students in the grad school trap. That was me! A well-meaning professor said "it would be a shame if I didnt do a PhD," even though he was years out of the job market. And here I am, feeling guilty years after a masters for never going back to school. I could just never justify the stress and the cost. The idea of making poverty wages (not that I even make all that much in my career field of choice, but at least the work is engaging) for 6-8 years already seems to trigger my mental health. And now seeing that the other side of that (save for a lucky few willing to sacrifice it all) there isn't even that great of salaries...I think the entire national conversation on jobs need to shift.
Students need honest conversations with mentors and job counselors that can get through to them. What salary number do you need each month to take care of yourself and your family? Based on that, sadly, students should make choices. Going about it the other way is a recipe for failure in this late capitalist world of rising costs and stagnant wages.
I really resonated with your comment about how mentors can accidentally put students in the grad school trap. That was me! A well-meaning professor said "it would be a shame if I didnt do a PhD," even though he was years out of the job market. And here I am, feeling guilty years after a masters for never going back to school. I could just never justify the stress and the cost. The idea of making poverty wages (not that I even make all that much in my career field of choice, but at least the work is engaging) for 6-8 years already seems to trigger my mental health. And now seeing that the other side of that (save for a lucky few willing to sacrifice it all) there isn't even that great of salaries...I think the entire national conversation on jobs need to shift.
Students need honest conversations with mentors and job counselors that can get through to them. What salary number do you need each month to take care of yourself and your family? Based on that, sadly, students should make choices. Going about it the other way is a recipe for failure in this late capitalist world of rising costs and stagnant wages.