Why Unemployment is better than Graduate School
2009 August 24
Funny because it's true.
The definitive unemployment blog.
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I’m doing both. Since I have 6 months left on NJ employment (up to $560/week), I’m applying for an online MBA in Economic Crime Risk Mgmt at Utica College.
There are now plenty of programs to help students with loan repayment.
Graduate school ruined me financially. I was laid off about three weeks before I began my master’s program. My student loans did not pay me enough to live and I developed serious health problems during the course of my studies. Now I have a master’s degree but it doesn’t seem to help me get a job because I don’t have enough work experience. A PhD might have been better, though. For some reason there are many more opportunities for grants and scholarships if you go for a PhD. Master’s students get squat.
agreed, however the pay/demand for PhDs can be little, the competition for those professor seats are fierce and if you do not get a teaching job, then you are basically a gypsy going from one commutter campus to the next without benies and paid as a 1099 contractor. The PhD has led to probably more divorces than drinking, infidelity, or illicit drugs.
I’m doing both too. When I got laid off last December, I immediately signed up for some remedial college courses (math, anyone!). Now I am in Grad School at night and weekends while getting unemployment. The student loans worry me, I could be dead before I ever pay them back.
Still, having a Masters degree should help when I eventually find another job.
Wow. This is startling. I just finished my Master’s degree and currently underemployed. Yes, I have a job but it is completely unrelated to my field of study! Thanks for the post. I just created a blog called Jobless Genevieve which centers around jobless, recent graduates and unemployed young people. Don’t forget us!
It is true…there is not too much demand for those with PhDs outside of academia. I’ve considered academia, but I don’t think I’m interested in the publish-or-perish lifestyle. I like teaching, though.
Even though I had wanted a master’s for a very long time, the main reason I went to graduate school at the time that I did was because I was so sick of holding low-level, low-wage jobs. Well, guess what? Those are *still* the only jobs I seem to have access to due to my lack of experience. I hate the world.
My name is Bessie and I am a journalism grad student at Columbia University. Pretty much getting back into school has saved my butt because I was able to get student loans and defer the painful job search for a year. Now that I am here, a partner and I are working on a mini-documentary about unemployment for our class, under the theme of “Hard Times.” We are looking for one person to be our character.
This person needs to:
-be in unemployment benefits, about to run out of them or has ran out
-Live in New York (Manhattan area)
-Feel comfortable sharing his or her experiences
-Most importantly feel very comfortable being taped
We need to talk to people and have two potential candidates for our professors by this coming week. I have been looking everywhere but haven’t been lucky. Although you wouldn’t get paid this would be an interesting project and you would really help in putting as face and tale to this huge problem our country is facing.
The mini film will be featured in the university’s class website along with a written story, which are available for the general public and press allies. Any help is appreciated and serious inquiries can contact me directly.
Thanks in advance,
Bessie
bessiejking@gmail.com
I’m current unemployed but had already planned on going back to school when I got laid off. I’m going for a Masters in Social Work with the eventual goal of being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. That will allow me to have a my own counseling practice where I can earn a decent living (and more if I’m willing to work longer hours). I don’t think this is a bad plan because although I will have some loans, I’m going to a state school and getting some assistance.
Gentlemen and Ladies,
I disagree that student stipend in grad school is 18,000 p.a. in fact it is closer to 30k p.a.
I went to grad school at north carolina state university for a masters in civil engineering program. I did not pay a penny in fees. I was a teaching assistant for 2 yrs and drew 1200 per month for 20 hours of work a week.
Show me any place on earth where you get paid 14G a year to get a good degree? Ever wondered why there are so many indian and chinese grad students in U.S colleges? pricisely the same reason.
I cant say this hold for undergrad studies, but for grad studies, there is tons of money just sitting there for taking.
Zoe Doe- “It is true…there is not too much demand for those with PhDs outside of academia. ”
Do you have any idea what kind of money PhDs in any of the sciences(statistics ,engineering ,chemistry, etc) get outside of academia? We are talking $100-150k to start with a signing bonus( if you go into finance). There is a HUGE demand for very smart people who can apply what they have done in their studies.
-I’m in PhD program for Statistics and I can assure you that there is serious demand at very luxurious salaries.
Since grad school is really tough, and I’ve been unemployed for over a year, I kind of get the feeling that my decision to attend an elite private grad school may be immature. I am not looking forward becoming a professional after graduation and I may face the prospect of going broke or deeper into debt if a job doesn’t turn up right after I finish with the program. I guess the prestige of the school factors more in my decision to go back to school than actually learning about the profession I envision doing. I gamble with the idea that Iwill develop an interest once I get there, but I may sucumb to all the pressure and competition. College ended for me over seven years ago and after I graduated I swore I would never return to school. However the stress of how I am living now, without a job or any social interaction is enough motivation for me to attend. As it stands now, I prefer dreaming and planning for a better life now than being stressed out and miserable working at Burger King.