Overrated Career: Professor

December 11, 2008 RSS Feed Print

The Appeal: After four years, you've got your Ph.D. and get to live a life of the mind on a halcyon campus. You help students to flower and conduct research that will make a difference, while enjoying maximum job security, thanks to lifetime tenure after just seven years. And with the cushy 30-week school year, you have lots of time off.

The Reality: The average total time to a Ph.D. is 10 years. And even a Ph.D. from a prestigious university far from guarantees a tenure-track professorship.

Even if you beat the odds, the professor's life is no picnic:

To get tenure, which takes seven years, one typically must, in addition to a carrying full teaching load and advising students, publish original research, serve on committees, and perform other university service. That means long hours and not even close to getting the summers off.

Even if they get tenure, many professors experience considerable frustration:

the large gap between their intellects and drive and those of their students

the desire to teach well but a lack of training on how to do so, and a tenure and promotion system that so heavily weighs research that it's self-destructive to focus too much effort on teaching

the inordinate office politics (it's been said that nowhere else does so much intellect go into fighting over so little)

the lack of ideological diversity. On many campuses, political correctness is rampant.

The Alternatives: university librarian, program analyst.

Tags:: careers,; teachers,; education

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This post stereotypes way too much. Yes, there are situations in academia in which students are lazy idiots and professors are frustrated geniuses.
There are also situations in which students benefit from and learn alongside a professor who starts an interesting conversation that is relevant to students’ lives. I see no reason to disrespect the intellect of “their students” without dealing with specific cases of behavior in the classroom, and without keeping in mind that a good professor will inspire students to learn in the same way that a bad professor will turn students off and not enhance their students’ intellect.
I think that if people want more intellectual diversity on college campuses, then all that they have to do is speak their mind freely. This is a free country, and I don’t see how specific cases of campus politics are good reasons for not entering into any field. Politics is everywhere… let’s not pretend that the same kind of fighting can’t be found in libraries, banks, etc.
And finally, on a more general note, we need more responsible and positive people to enter academia at a time when our society is in need of help. Let’s talk about how to make academia less political more suitable for society’s needs, but let’s stop discouraging people from entering positions that can make a positive difference in the lives of others.

JP of NY 2:30PM April 07, 2012

Dear Jack-
Ugghh. I totally agree. I always say to my friends that my university colleagues are so nasty to one another because the stakes are so low. People fight and backstab over nothing . . . which program gets to list a course . . . who didn't respond to an email in a timely fashion . . . what time a class will be listed . . . REALLY???? Get a LIFE people!!!

Doctor Professor of NY 8:34PM January 31, 2011

How tragic that in our society we value super models, and celebrities moreso than Educators, Scientists, Police officers, and healthcare personnel.
Back when i was a Paramedic in NYC i encountered the best and worst of humanity. We were frequently placed in physically, mentally, and emotionally high risk situations in order to save or otherwise help our fellow human beings.
It was a low paying job, at the time, and still is when you consider the danger and "sacrifice" involved.
An acquaintance of mine, on the other hand, who worked in a safe and comfortable work environment, made anywhere from $5-30K in ONE DAY.
She was a Model who averaged a monthly income of around $15-20K for just a few days of work. In a year she cleared 6 figures even with an "unemployment" lapse of 2-3 months. She was offered the world by men and companies simply because she was ~beautiful.
It didn't matter that she was not very intelligent or that she never attended college and barely made it through high school. It didn't matter that she was egotistical, self absorbed and wouldn't lift a finger to help someone.
The only thing that mattered was her beauty.
Now at the age of 44 she is "retired". Having earned so much money during her teens through her 30's there is no need for her to ever work again- anywhere.
She married a wealthy stockbroker who manages her money since she has no idea how to do it herself. (lets hope he doesn't met a "younger model" and walk out of the marriage with all the money). She has, in her life, made 0 difference in the life of another human being.
Ironically, years ago, i used to be envious of her but not anymore. Now i kind of feel sorry for her- though financially secure she is broke in so many other ways.
In contrast here i sit, in my 40's, unable to retire (though i wouldn't want to at this age anyway) yet excited at the prospect of another career change.
Unlike my Model friend, I have always had a "purpose" my whole life and have had so many amazing experiences in the course of fulfilling that purpose. Though i am not financially rich, i am rich in ways that truly matter and are much more meaningful.
I have the essentials --- a wonderful home, a healthy family, the desire, health and strength to continue working in ways that will positively impact the lives of others
I don't want for anything and prefer to have few material possessions (much less cleaning involved).
It's so important for people to stop wanting less of what they don't have and to start appreciating more what they do have. Try it and believe me you will start seeing the world in an entirely different way.
Live for today, anticipate and prepare for tomorrow but don't become so fearful of not having a million $ in your 401k.
As long as you're healthy there's no reason why you can't work into your 70's and 80's. My grandparents did and loved every minute of it!
Their secret?:
1. They had a purpose
2. They loved what they did for a living.

JackieNeutron of TX 5:04PM June 05, 2010

Overrated Career: Professor

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