Voices of the defenders of grad school. And me crushing them.
It’s pretty well established that non-science degrees are not necessary for a job. In fact, the degrees cost you too much money, require too long of a commitment, and do not teach you the real-life skills they promise.
Yet, I do tons of radio call-in shows where I say that graduate degrees in the humanities are so useless that they actually set you back in your career in many cases. And then 400 callers dial-in and start screaming at me about how great a graduate degree is.
Here are the six most common arguments they make. And why they are wrong.
1. My parents are paying.
Get them to buy you a company instead. Because what are you going to do when you graduate? You’re right back at square one, looking for a job and not knowing what to do. But if you spent the next three years running a company, even if it failed, you would be more employable than you are now, and you’d have a good sense of where your skill set fits in the workplace. (This is especially true for people thinking about business school.)
2. It’s free.
But you’re spending your time. You will show (on your resume) that you went to grad school. Someone will say, “Why did you go to grad school?” Will you explain that it was free? After all, it’s free to go home every night after work and read on a single topic as well. So in fact, what you are doing is taking an unpaid internship in a company that guarantees that the skills you built in the internship will be useless. (Here’s how to get a great internship.)
3. It’s a time to grow and get to know myself better.
If you’re looking for a life changing, spiritually moving experience, how about therapy? It’s a more honest way of self-examination—no papers and tests. And it’s cheaper. Insurance covers therapy because it’s a proven way to effectively change your personal disposition. There’s a reason insurance doesn’t cover grad school.
4. The degree makes me stand out in my field.
Yes, if you want to stand out as someone who couldn’t get a job. Given the choice between getting paid to learn the ropes on the job and paying for someone to teach you, you look like an underachiever to pick the latter. If nothing else, you get much better coaching in life if you are good enough and smart enough to get mentorship without paying for it.
There are very very few jobs that require a non-science degree in order to get the job. (And really, forget about law school if that’s what you’re thinking.) So if you don’t need the degree in order to get the job, the only possible reason a smart employer would think you got the degree instead of getting a job was because you were too scared to have to apply or you applied and got nothing. Either way, you’re a bad bet going forward.
5. I’m planning on teaching.
Forget it. There are no teaching jobs. In an interview last week, the head of University of Washington’s career center even admitted to a prospective student that getting a degree in humanities in order to get a teaching job—even in a community college—is a long-shot at best. And, the University of Washington career coach confirmed that there is enormous unemployment among people who are qualified to teach college courses but cannot get jobs doing it. This is not just a Washington thing. It’s a welcome-to-reality thing.
6. A degree makes job hunting easier.
It makes it harder. Forget the fact that you don’t need a graduate degree in the humanities to get any job in the business world. The biggest problem is that the degree makes you look unemployable. You look like you didn’t know what to do about having to enter the adult world, so you decided to prolong childhood by continuing to earn grades rather than money even though you were not actually helping yourself to earn money.
Also, you also look like you don’t really aspire to any of the jobs you are applying for. People assume you get a graduate degree because you want to work in that field. People don’t want to hire you in corporate America when it’s clear you didn’t invest all those years in grad school in order to do something like that.
7. I love being in graduate school! Everything in life is not about careers!
Sure, when you’re a kid, everything is not about careers. But when you grow up, everything is about earning enough money for food and shelter. So you need to figure out how to do that in order to make the transition from childhood to adulthood. This is why millionaires have stopped leaving their money to their kids—it undermines their transition to adulthood. But instead of making the transition, you are still in school, pretending things are fine. The problem is that what you do in school is not what you will do in a career. So if you love school, you’ll probably hate the career it’s preparing you for, since your career is not going to school.
When I met the farmer, one of the first things he told me was that he went to school for genetic biology. But in graduate school his research was in ultrasound technology for pigs. But he missed being with the pigs, which is what he wanted to do for his job. So he left school.
And every time I see the pigs on our farm I think about how he took a risk by dumping a graduate program in order to tend to pigs. I love that.
What’s all thcis fuss about Masters degrees? In math, the PhD is a union card-you can’t get a good job (university faculty, tenured) without it. And if you really like math, grad school is great fun.
With a Masters, you can teach High School. Fairly good pay, no arguments from students, and jobs are going begging. You can choose wherever you want to live, and easily get a job.
If you get to really ,ike math, there are whole worlds of remarkable ideas to learn. Math can be a lifetime pleasure.
While I understand your argument, and do agree that in a lot of fields graduate school is not necessary, there are many fields in which a high degree is required. And no, not all of these fields are within the traditional realm of science.
There are a lot of really important jobs of there that call for more schooling. I was just reading your article on “Do what you love”, and I think that perhaps that often becomes misinterpreted. I love cats but I would not make a career of it. However, I also love people, and helping people, and specifically helping those that are underprivileged. My life is made better by helping others.
I currently have a bachelors and am in a job that U am excited to go to everyday. The thing is, I want to be able to help even MORE. Thus why I am in grad school for social work. Social Work is so, so, so important. And its very important to have people who are truly committed and genuinely love what they do to go into this field. Imagine having a social worker who could care less and just did it for the money? How terrible would that be?
Anywho, just saying that I understand your point but believe that you are making a huge generalization. Not all grad school is pointless.
When I graduated from USC in 1976, all my friends decided to go to grad school. Why? Because they were suddenly terrified about what the real world is like outside the ivory tower. In very few cases did that degree help them in any way.
A lot of comments on this hot topic. I am currently in Taiwan having come from Canada. I teach at Taiwan’s number one university. Taiwanese, like most Asians, attach a great deal of importance to formal education. Hence going to graduate school is not considered optional for many. Unfortunately in Taiwan there are thirty PhD graduates for each appropriate position. They cannot find work in their chosen field. It may not be all about money, but in the end we need to work. In Taiwan PhD graduates, much like North America, end up working at McDonald’s or convenience stores. Its about wasted resources, wasted lives, disappointment and frustration. We function as a society and in my view collectively we should fight waste, especially of lives. We should encourage people to pursue their passion, but not allow them to be freeloaders. In early generations this was not acceptable, I don’t know why it is now.
Universities have become businesses. It’s not about education, it’s about professors’ salaries. Students become customers. Customers call the shots. The system gets corrupted. Politicians meddle because they want to show the world they have an “educated population”. It’s about the volume of university and college degrees, not the quality. Just my two cents.
I know that this article is old and the comments section is scrambled, but I’d still like to go ahead and put in my two cents, as I find this article is notable for several reasons. Let me start off by saying that I have a master’s degree in mediastudies and am about to finish up a second master’s degree in American Studies (technically a history MA). A humanities-kid if you ever saw one, and probably already disliked by Penelope. Note that I have in fact attained hard skills in these MA degrees, a wide range in fact. From American history, to political and social analysis, text analysis and a strong base of theory…and really just lots and lots of tangible knowledge. However, I wanted to go ahead and point some things out about the soft skills gained, which Penelope seems to forget entirely.
First of all, Penelope is clearly under the impression that a career, or even life, is all about being liked by others. A person in their early twenties who is weighing the pros and cons of going out to find a mediocre job with their BA degree or going on for a master’s (or two), should rationally decide on the former, according to her, because future employers will be more impressed. In my opinion, this is just a silly notion (one that you would think all of her therapy would have made her see). A person should choose to go to grad school if they want to learn more, it’s really that simple. When I finished by bachelor’s, I wanted exactly that, which is the reason why I chose to do not just one, but two masters, regardless of the hard work and perpetual broke-ness. It was a marshmellow test: I could eat the marshmellow, and go out and get a fulltime job without further specializing my academic skills, or I could save the marshmellow, spend years in the library, and receive my second marshmellow when I was done, and fulfilled with knowledge (and TWO marshmellows. You’re jealous, aren’t you? Marshmellows are great). After having gone to grad school, you will simply KNOW MORE about a topic than a peer with a BA. For some reason Penelope seems to have missed this obvious fact. If no one, even those in humanities, had ever gone on to enrich themselves with knowledge, we’d all still be living in a cave. Plato’s cave, probably.
Grad school is something one should do for oneself. And although Penelope (and sometimes this world) may make it seem like doing things for oneself is selfish, this is not true. The only one responsible for your happiness is you. If you’re happy, those around you are happy (Cheesy but true, and I think Penelope might agree with me on this one). Additionally, one cannot possibly compare the educational value of grad school to the idea of reading one or two articles when coming home from work at night. Grad school will push you to improve your skills, as you will constantly be criticized and forced to workshop your work before turning it in. You are taught by people that know better than you (and this is a great thing), and in a position where you can relentlessly (ab)use their knowledge. Grad school teaches you to be a better writer and reader. Additionally, the seminar-setting of grad school is unbeatable. You have the luxury of debating with like-minded classmates, to learn to flesh out an argument, listen to counters, and form a well-structured and grounded rebuttal. A valuable skill in the workplace that will allow you to stand out from your colleagues. I can go on and on about the soft skills that grad school actively teaches you, but then this statement would turn into a book. When you think logically about the advanced critical educational setting grad school offers a student, I am sure you can think of these skills yourself.
Secondly, Penelope compares therapy to grad school. Now, I am not one to bash therapy. I have been overworked in the past, and have greatly benefitted from therapy. My bi-weekly talks were nurturing and taught me very much about myself, as well as my surroundings. It taught me how to deal with perfectionism, boundaries, and ambition. Since then I have gone through a traumatic experience, and I was glad to be able to go back to therapy and learn how I, personally, could cope with the repercussions of your whole life turning upside down in a matter of minutes. However, I would never, ever say that it taught me as much as grad school. Grad school is tough. It’s not a matter of going through the motions, finishing the work, and racking up the credits (which a BA experience might be). It is difficult. There are weeks where you stare at your computer screen for hours on end, simply not knowing how to continue, no matter how much scholarship you read or how many primary sources you analyze. And then somehow, you push through. You get advice from your peers or advisors (that’s what they’re there for), and will end up producing scholarship that adds to existing schools of thought. This causes not only an amazing feeling, (one that the business industry may never offer, because it is inherently pragmatic, while academics is inherently questioning and progressive), but also productive. If I should believe Penelope, grad school offers a student two or three years to goof off and not take life seriously.
This isn’t true. If you miss a deadline or fail a course, the repercussions aren’t abstract. They are real. You will lose time, and oftentimes money. Additionally, she seems to think that grad school means avoiding the real world. What?! I must’ve missed a memo, because as far as I know, grad students also have insurance, rent, food, clothing, and gas and light bills to pay. I work parttime while I study fulltime. A 70 hour week for me would be considered a break. I honestly cannot remember the last time I had an actual weekend. If that’s not hard work and facing reality, I don’t know what is. And you know what? That’s fine by me, because I am in the incredibly fortunate position that I get to consciously and continuously enrich myself.
Now, all of this isn’t to say that working right after a BA won’t do these things for you, but Penelope seems to think that grad school won’t, and I am here to tell her she is wrong (and let’s face it, I have experience in the matter). Of course, she has some points. The job market sucks. But I have developed skills that BA students simply do not have, and one cannot compare two or three years of working to two or three years of grad school. The set of skills gained from the two things are entirely different. At least with grad school, you are SURE to develop the skill set that comes with your diploma, while work-experience is entirely contingent (and I have also gained work experience from my parttime job, and will catch up on work experience with those who have BA’s only).
If you are a BA student reading this to try to make up your mind about grad school, please take my notes into consideration. I haven’t gone on to contest all of Penelope’s points, but I would if I didn’t have a paper deadline tomorrow. If you like to learn, please continue studying. Do it for you. It is an incredible luxury, and if you have the opportunity, seriously consider grasping it. Finding a job will be difficult after a MA as well as a BA, but at least with a MA you’ll know who you are, and what you can do.
You may want to revisit your comments 20 years from now and see if you feel the same way when your children want to go to grad school. That will be very therapeutic.
I understand your sentiment, and I probably will rethink these considerations when/if the time comes. However, knowing how happy and fullfilled I am with my education now, I cannot imagine ever discouraging someone from learning. I have done it largely on my own, having been given 8500 dollars by my parents in 7 years of higher education at a top 50 world university. And I am eternally grateful that my parents encouraged me and gave me the freedom to enjoy it.
But, considering your comment I assume you have a few years on me, and some more (business)life experience. I will gladly take your advice and keep it in mind in the future.
Also, I don’t have the need to feel equally confident about choices I made as a 22 year old, when I am a 44 year old. A happy and fulfilled year now is just as valuable as a happy and fulfilling year when I am that age…the only difference is that NOW I am healthy, and have the time and energy. Who knows what life will look like then! I might be six feet under!
Psychobabble. Check it out. Good luck. You’ll need it.
PT definitely as Aspergers. Precisely because she understands THE effect of social cues not the social cues themselves explains why she presents so well. Get on the phone with her for a couple of hours. It will come through in subtle ways and you will know by her brutal honesty that stings (and the funniest part is she is sweet and tries to avoid this, but she missed the most scathing comments). I still love her and this blog to bits!
Penelope, I think finishing grad school would get the chip off your shoulder. But then again, not everyone has what it takes. Case in point.
Your condition is known as crab syndrome and it seems to be taking over your life. If you can’t move on, you might want to consider therapy.
I disagree with your post. I work in HR and th first thing I look at is education. Someone with a graduate degree competing with someone who does not hold a graduate degree (all other things being equal) makes all the difference. I would go for the graduate degreed person anytime.
I agree with everything you said except what about the people who do grad school while working? I obtained 2 Master’s degrees and a graduate certificate while working, and had to pay for them. They were not free at all. There are a lot of valid points to what you say but If I didn’t have my Master’s I would not have gotten the job I have now. Great article.
I completely agree with you. To me going to Grad school was like saying I’m going to be a student for the rest of my life. When I was done with my bachelors I was done, I wanted to start work and that’s just what I did. To this day I still do not want to go back.
I thought I had stumbled upon a thoughtful blog until I read this poorly argued and written article (with a grandiose title nonetheless). It seems like the lamenting cry of a frustrated graduate who had to give up any hopes of advancing to a graduate degree and somehow has to justify to him/herself why that wasn’t worth it after all (have you ever read about the fox of Jean Jacques Laffont by the way?!).
Also, “this is why millionaires have stopped leaving their money to their kids”?! In which world? Do yourself a favor and Google Piketty!
Lastly, as you rightly point out, therapy would have been a more straightforward way of dealing with your frustrations than writing a “crushing them all” article that loses everyone’s time!
Good luck!
Good point on her poorly written article. You really show how poorly written it is “article that loses everyone’s time!” I guess you learned how to write at graduate school.
What happened to the idea of being an educated person – as a end in itself? An advanced degree is as much learning how to think as it is mastering a domain of knowledge. Also, don’t diminish the value of social connections especially if you attend an ivy league school. You can look at advanced degrees as “positioning’ for a better start than if you didn’t have one.
I think the only MBA worth having nowdays is a Massive Bank Account.
And PHDs? Poor Hungry Desperate.
(whoops!)
In the real world, the smartest
people are people who make mistakes
and learn. In school, the smartest
people don’t make mistakes.
This is a very brutally honest article about the other side of graduate school and I love it. You managed to really strike up a lot of good, compelling points. I think this other “darker” side is always the elephant in the room. Strike up a conversation with any of your friends, and as soon as one person says he’s going to grad school eveyrone goes “ooh” and “aah” – whether it’s a natural reflex or something they are compelled to do because of society’s norms, I don’t know.
I don’t think graduate school is complete rubbish but the thing is, many people go into graduate school because they have no idea what they really want to do. They know they like a particular field of study, but their intended career path is usually very blurry, and they’re simply relying on the prestige of getting a grad school degree to help them pave the way. In other cases, they simply get into it because everyone thinks it’s such a good idea and everyone who survives it is incredibly awesome and able (again, society’s norms).
I don’t want to generalize though. Some people do have a set career goal in mind and they must know that those with a grad school accolade on their resume are more likely accepted and offered higher salaries in that particular industry. We have to accept the fact that not everyone is inclined to set up their own business – some dream of climbing up the career ladder or simply doing good at a job. Just think of what will happen to our society if everyone refused to be employed and just set up a business! :)
On a last note, I’ve been working for an offshore recruitment agency based here in the Philippines for years now and have had the opportunity to talk to many people. I have met quite a number of candidates who got high grades and a degree at a very reputable university here, but admit to being motivated solely by high salaries and as a result, are more than willing to apply for blue-collared work abroad that doesn’t require such an education. There are so many different means to a person’s end and in many cases, grad school doesn’t seem to be the solution!
I guess in the end, the important thing is to know what your goal is and how you want to achieve it.
Penelope, I think you raise some very valid points that should be brought up more often. Obviously, a simple blog entry doesn’t have enough room to present all sides of the story. There are several issues: (a) what discipline you’re getting a degree in, (b) Master’s or PhD, and (c) educational value vs. payoff. Let me mention that in many PhD programs you can get paid, and thereby get a Master’s without paying. I would think that in a subject like English, it would be better to have life experience and practice writing a lot, rather than going to grad school.
Let me speak of my own experiences in math and computer science: in both cases, to do well in the coursework I had to think deeper and practice more. I also learned much that I would never have been exposed to in industry. For anyone who wants to make an original contribution in one of these fields, some grad school is definitely the way to go. But I wonder if I’ll ever financially make up the opportunity cost of this knowledge I gained. An easier industry job often pays more than harder academic research. In industry the bottom line is for the company to make money, and this does not always involve implementing the ideal solution; there is not always time for that.
Also, experience is greatly sought after in an industrial setting. I think this is because it is valuable to have employees who can do a job fast while making few mistakes. Much learning comes by doing. However, there is a lot to be said for deep understanding, originality of thought. A deeper understanding will automatically keep someone from making as many mistakes and will lead to unique insights when opportunity knocks. It may take an initial investment to bring a green hire up to speed, but the payoff can be well worth it. Someone who has a lot of experience might have been doing the same job for years while learning nothing new.
And even among geniuses, it is the rare genius who can reach their full potential without some grad school. The inventors of modern computers, von Neumann and Turing, went to grad school. Nobel laureate physicist Dyson went to grad school even though he got only a Master’s. In math, maybe only George Green was self-educated (he revolutionized vector analysis).
Um…so I have a graduate degree and it’s helped me in many ways. And I have a teaching job. And I have a great resume with great experience. I’m not going to list umpteen things about myself, but I will say – watch what you subscribe, listen to, and follow – everyone’s situation is unique and a blanket statement like “there are no teaching jobs” are just crazy.
Well, Penelope, I’m not sure if you were attempting to get as much FEEDBACK as you have from this particular post but baby you got FEEDBACK!!!! I have to say that No. 5 hit me as a definite absolute. I’m currently a Master’s degree student (as of 2012) and have yet to get employment as an adjunct faculty in ANY university. I’ve heard at least 2 dozen reasons why this has become difficult, all of which you pointed out within your blog.
One of your comments included that what you stated in your blog was an untruth, well I beg to differ with them. I have both the credentials as well as the ‘experience’ in facilitating and lecturing as well as volunteering my time in teaching and instruction, however, I’ve not received any responses to my applications.
Just in case anyone may want to discredit my degree, it’s in Psychology with a concentration in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.
You got what I think about graduate school! For me, I did not take my company’s reimbursable MBA because I believe in myself that it’s up to a person how he or she can earn big and many undergraduates (college graduates) are rich because they are streetwise smart. It’s useless to learn MBA if you cannot apply it unless you will develop excellent grades.