Ask a doctoral student anything!

Yo, in the midst of a caffeine haze I emerge to answer questions a person may have about someone who is an east coast elite becoming part of the evil academic tradition of radicalizing our sweet innocent conservative youth into America hating liberals. Or a Tuesday as I like to call it.

Right now I'm in a doctorate program for politics. Since this is my first year I can't say a lot about it, but if you've never been to grad school, it's a lot of work. But I want to know what do you guys wonder about it and see what I can answer about it.

Kinda nice to be back.

And no, this isn't part of a study on you guys. IRB may be a pain in the butt, but we have ethical standards.

 

What is your end goal with this degree, Academia or something else?

 

Do they just throw up 2nd alternative candidates that can't win, or what, like Mormons been tortured in Vietnam their whole lives, named Rick Perry?

 

What does a doctorate in politics get you that a part time job at McDonald's does not? You both have opinions about how the world should run and neither can prove you're right.

 

Those that can.....do. Those that can't....teach.

What say you?

 

What a bunch of jokers. They Do teaching and I don't like listening to McDonald's people anyway.

 

Probably Academia. I would like to be able to teach somewhere. But really I want to be able to do research. Give me funding and let me loose. Academia is a stepping stone towards that goal.

I'm sorry what?

About $20,000 in debt and a fancy coat.

In all seriousness it's a big difference. You really do become more educated on a subject than any lay person could really understand. Even if we can't prove in the same sense as a hard science, we are developing those techniques and ideas.

I would do more than just teach. I would be conducting my own research as well.

 

SO.wait. Does Politics deal somewhat with the elections? The voter elections? Because it seems like the shadowmaster puts up his pick for the international shadowmasters, and then Bob Dole, Mitt Romney the Mormon, John McCain the lobotomized war prisoner hero, zzzz, John Kerry the sandal-man, and Rick Perry the evil W twin. As in, ya, I could imagine that as opposition.

 

Political science is a broad field. It deals with lots of different issues. Elections are one of them. I don't study elections though, so I can't really say how they work. In terms of shadowmasters? Political Scientists generally call them political elites. You might call a political elite the father or pastor of a church though.

 

PhD level slots (especially in the social sciences and humanities) are extremely competitive. Unless you are a POC or a trans something you should probably just look at teaching.

 

It sounds a bit self abusive.

Do students really live on Ramen? I've always wondered....

 

Yeah,if only I was trans and on hormones and having to explain to my friends that I can’t go to a wedding because I need to save money for SRS. Then I could get a job.

But you’re right it sucks a lot trying to get a job in the humanities. I’m trying my best now to get some edges in but I know it won’t be enough. If I can’t find a job stateside, I might look into getting a job overseas. I speak Spanish and if I go to a Spanish speaking country to do research, that might give me the edge I need.

 

I do not live on ramen, but Im not rich either. I make less than $20,000 a year. It’s not a lot but it’s better than other people in the program. So I’m happy. I’m one of the lucky people who have a position in the college as a grad student

 

Well that might make sense. A social science Phd isn't worth much in the US, but a US one can be monetized overseas.

 

what is the torque value & sequence for a cylinder head on a dt466e, and are there any stipulations?

what is my wife doing while i play keyboard warrior?

do you know where the popcorn is?

 

If you want an inch do you ask for an inch or a mile?

 

Why would it be unethical to study people here?

 

Such an easy question for super smart PHD types. As he noted above, lay people like you probably couldn't comprehend his answer so no more International diesel comments please.

Whenever I hear people think they are better than everyone else because they get (waste their time and money) on a PHD that's not worth wiping your ass with I just laugh mine off.

There are plenty of Starbucks overseas so job opportunities abound.

 

I say you don't know of what you speak

 

What is your doctoral thesis on politics?

 

I wish you the best of luck with your endeavors, but I never "got" the purpose of humanities degrees. When my 2nd son said he was interested in anthropology in High School, I had him go on Monster.com and search for jobs, that crushed that. Are you at a prestigious school, if not try to use whatever research you do to be in conjunction with one, Is your "sponsor" working with more than project, if he is working with a more prestigious program try to hop on that one. Both my sons received NSF grants, is there something similar for your field?

 

You make less than $20k?
Your doctorate is going to be worth nothing, which makes you a stray dog variety.
Instead of finishing your useless degree - move to IL and get a job at McDonalds. Minimal wage here is going to be $15/hour soon, which is going to be the biggest raise you will ever have.

No matter what, you will be a “doctor” who finishes his sentence with “would you like fries with that?” And by the time you are old, you will be bitter and blame the society, and you will claim that you deserve a share of wealth of real successful people who made the right choices in their lives.
Congrats! You are on your way to be an old bitter liberal!
My question to you - when are you graduating?

 

I keep telling people , Bill Gates calls that opportunity. I wish that were the Start of my problems. I'd put in applications for every place and walk in applications for 10 years in Anything and Nothing. And Nohing. In my Field, spotty interviewing. Economic's simple equation may change to an America without the need for the work-side, I mean, after a little work, why do they all get paid to think their heads off in suits, anyway? ridiculous.

 

they can't multi-task nor think outside their 'realm'... hence the multiple unrelated questions... kicker was the 'popcorn' for, what should be, obvious reasons

 

You people are totally Ridiculous. There isn't a list of one thing I enjoyed in 8 years of college. The list doesn't begin. I never met anyone for anything because of college. I never enjoyed or took to heart any personal pursuit from being in college. Everyone confirmed and conformed me to what I should do in college. I studied and went where anyone told me to go in college. I basically only discovered, what ways, to tell college counselors, to stop telling me I'm a suicide risk, in college. That seemed like a Difficult accomplishment while I was getting my degree. How do you get counselors to be disinterested twice in finding suicide risks in their students?