Comments on: Is Grad School a Scam? http://themelononline.com/2011/08/is-grad-school-a-scam/ Your Daily Dose of Vitamin World Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:39:59 +0000 hourly 1 By: Bob http://themelononline.com/2011/08/is-grad-school-a-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-37064 Bob Fri, 23 Sep 2011 23:16:38 +0000 http://themelononline.com/?p=6202#comment-37064 "As though only the independently wealthy deserve to spend their time doing things which take up a lot of time/moneyand which may not have a future doing that one activity alone. Replace “getting a Ph.D” with almost any other activity and the inherent arrogance of the statement is clear. Only travel if you are independently wealthy or well-connected. Only develop an interest in producing art or music if you are independently wealthy. Only develop a taste for fine wine and food if you are independently wealthy. You get the idea. Apparently anyone without an inheritence doesn’t deserve to fritter away a few years getting paid to do stuff they like." - The author isn't giving a moral imperitive of "Thou Shalt Not get a PhD". He's giving advice based on economics. If you're not wealthy, then buying a PhD is a poor economic decision. If you desire that information, why do you need to pay for it via the University. You can get the info from the library, from Amazon.com, from TheLearningCompany. Do you need another human being to pick your books and give you little assignments to complete, little accomplishment hoops to make you feel happy? There are so many other efficient ways to get humanities info. Or do you covet the cache' of a PhD? (As if intelligent people confer status on that designation. Most intelligent people can identify other intelligent people through conversation.) In fact, for a middle class person to pay for a PhD shows economic ignorance, and a romantic view of information and wisdom. “As though only the independently wealthy deserve to spend their time doing things which take up a lot of time/moneyand which may not have a future doing that one activity alone. Replace “getting a Ph.D” with almost any other activity and the inherent arrogance of the statement is clear. Only travel if you are independently wealthy or well-connected. Only develop an interest in producing art or music if you are independently wealthy. Only develop a taste for fine wine and food if you are independently wealthy. You get the idea. Apparently anyone without an inheritence doesn’t deserve to fritter away a few years getting paid to do stuff they like.”
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The author isn’t giving a moral imperitive of “Thou Shalt Not get a PhD”. He’s giving advice based on economics. If you’re not wealthy, then buying a PhD is a poor economic decision.

If you desire that information, why do you need to pay for it via the University. You can get the info from the library, from Amazon.com, from TheLearningCompany. Do you need another human being to pick your books and give you little assignments to complete, little accomplishment hoops to make you feel happy? There are so many other efficient ways to get humanities info.

Or do you covet the cache’ of a PhD? (As if intelligent people confer status on that designation. Most intelligent people can identify other intelligent people through conversation.)

In fact, for a middle class person to pay for a PhD shows economic ignorance, and a romantic view of information and wisdom.

]]> By: Myronda http://themelononline.com/2011/08/is-grad-school-a-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-36810 Myronda Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:30:54 +0000 http://themelononline.com/?p=6202#comment-36810 I personally feel that Professor Pannapacker's arguments #1 & 4 can also be said for undergraduate degrees, but maybe I'm just bitter. However, no matter my level of bitterness, I also think that continuing one's level of education, enlightenment and intellectual curiosity is never a bad thing. I personally feel that Professor Pannapacker’s arguments #1 & 4 can also be said for undergraduate degrees, but maybe I’m just bitter. However, no matter my level of bitterness, I also think that continuing one’s level of education, enlightenment and intellectual curiosity is never a bad thing.

]]> By: Chris Van Vechten http://themelononline.com/2011/08/is-grad-school-a-scam/comment-page-1/#comment-36800 Chris Van Vechten Tue, 16 Aug 2011 05:47:43 +0000 http://themelononline.com/?p=6202#comment-36800 I think people looking to go to grad school to become PhDs in the humanities should view this experience as part of a higher calling and less of a vocation - similar to entering the priesthood. I think people looking to go to grad school to become PhDs in the humanities should view this experience as part of a higher calling and less of a vocation – similar to entering the priesthood.

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