A'fucking'men

[sabbat]

Why go to university?

http://www.canadianliving.com/Family/whatsnew/why-go-to-university-n239141p1.html

That's what I've been saying all the long...
knx

Comments

[sabbat]

I think my perspective is different: ever since grad school, I've seen too many academic parasite that just hang around because they don't know what to do with their lives and are afraid of the job market. We were actually discussing this morning that there are not bottle necks or real tangible hurdle to jump until you actually have to write a grant. So a lot of people wander the bedlam of academia until they get hit hard on the nose and realize they are over qualified. Most of them would have made damn good research assistant managing someone else's lab and doing bench work. But now, they have too many years of post-graduate experience and because everyone is unionized (don't get me started on this!!!), they would cost too much to a researcher. So they are pretty well fucked.

So basically what I'm saying here is that not everyone is made for university. Not that they wouldn't perform, not that they are not smart, but they would do a much better time and money investment getting on the job market earlier or investing more time in their craft extra-curricularly (new word just added to my dictionary).

Even after my PhD, I'm even more conscious that it's just a piece of paper saying your spent more than a quarter of your life in school studying something. Your REAL worth is in your passion for, dedication to and critical knowledge of your field. No piece of paper will prove that.

I'd take an eager BSc or MSc lab assistant instead of a disabused PhD lab professional any day.

Taking that into consideration, I still find it honorable that your want to get your piece of paper. Just make sure you are aware of the cost-benefit ratio.

Be good,
KNX