When I started college, my intention was to get my Bachelor’s degree in history, then go on to get a Master’s and, eventually, a doctorate. My end goal was to teach history at the university level. Now that I’m almost done with my Bachelor’s – if all goes well, I’ll have it this summer – I’m not so sure about my plan.
It’s not that my time at college has sapped me of my love for history, or that I don’t think I could do the work to get the other degrees. I still love the subject, and, not to pat my own back, but I think I would excel in graduate school. Rather, it’s that I’m afraid that there’s a very good possibility that I could spend 5-7 more years in school and end up not being able to find a tenure track position – and quite frankly, I don’t really have any great desire to join the droves of unemployed PhD holders.
Then again, it’s what I really want to do, or at least think I want to do. I’ve enjoyed the academic setting, the learning, the sharing of ideas. I’m worried about jobs later on down the road, yes, but I’m also fairly positive that if I don’t at least have a go at “The Plan,” twenty years from now, I’m going to be kicking myself.
I suppose I’m basically just waffling here. I know what I want to do, and I’ve known it since basically day one of college. But now that push is coming to shove, I’m (naturally?) having doubts. Friends and family that I’ve spoken to have all urged me to go for it; now if I could just convince myself that it’s what I should do.
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Wow. This sounds like my own situation back in ‘08 and even a little bit now. So I’m going to open up a bit here cuz I need it. Hope it’s alright
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If I may offer some advice here. If you want it, and are certain you want it above all other things then you should do it. If you can handle the egos (as they get more visible the higher you go in studies) and you can handle the lack of funding (history unfortunately isn’t in high demand) and can accept that you if want to succeed it’ll come with quite a price tag (in time, energy, etc) then do it.
I’m going to be finished my own master’s degree in May/June and I’m having a similar debate with myself now and the phd level. The University of Aberdeen in Scotland has just opened up four slots for phds in 2010 and four slots in 2011 and they are partially funded (fees only). I’m debating applying.
However, my life is not such that I needn’t worry about finances. I’ve been accepted into an MBA at a university in Canada and I’m probably going to do that because I need a job. I’ve also reached some kind of limit and I’m tired of being a student in many ways. I’ve got other things I want to do in my life, I want a family of my own, I want to seriously study finance and economics and I want to travel.
If you love history and can accept that by focusing your studies you’re by necessity cutting out other things (both in your life and in other fields of history studies) then you should go. You will not regret it I think, and it will change who you are in a positive fashion in ways you can’t imagine. Depending on where you go of course but being surrounded by people who share the same passion is intoxicating and addictive. They are individuals who are serious about their studies and therefore are a joy to be around. Most of them are very intelligent and kind people who are like yourself in so many ways it’s frightening. Like in my case, I had no idea there could be so many people studying the various aspects of Egil’s Saga or the Heimskringla. Paleography, linguistics, literary studies, propagandistic studies, economics, history. It’s unbelievable what people dream up to study and it’s multiplied when you go to a conference etc.
On the flip side, if you have the slightest doubt or nagging feeling stop considering it. It’ll crush you like water does a submarine with a breach at 2000m under the surface. The pressure can be considerable both from the institution and from family and friends. So many people have expectations in the world. If you’re blessed in the way that those surrounding you are themselves educated highly then you’ll be golden in that respect but your own nagging doubts have a tendency to grow I think especially if they’re in the fertile environment of adversary from any number of external factors.
Do it!
Posted 06 Feb 2010 at 8:24 am ¶Sorry about that preaching. But as I said, this is playing on my own mind especially since I just learned about these phds in Aberdeen a few days ago
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Posted 06 Feb 2010 at 8:25 am ¶Didn’t see it as preaching, Tom; I appreciate your input, particularly seeing as you’re just about done with your master’s!
Posted 09 Feb 2010 at 7:04 pm ¶Post a Comment