Careers in academics
I read Positive Liberty and Adventures in Ethics in Science, both of which have been focusing on careers in academics of late. Here’s my question to readers who are presently in doctoral programs, or who have completed them. Is it worth it?
Considering that we are juggling two female academic careers (which adds sexism and homophobia together into the mix) in two different fields (medicine and religion/philosophy), and two different timelines (fellowships are two years, PhDs are five to seven), we’re under a bit of stress trying to match up programs.
Add to that the fact that I think I’m interested in Indian Buddhism–based on my own reading–but I haven’t a lick of Sanskrit to my transcript, or any religious studies courses. How can I convince a high ranking program to take me on? Am I fooling myself? Should I stick with an MA and just work on my own writing projects, get a job at a community college–or find some publishing company or interesting start-up (I’m a business analyst and handy with technology)? Or is it worth the grueling work, for the chances of having no job at the end of it?
Thoughts and rants are welcome.