Should I finish my PhD? I'm concerned that there are career downsides to completing it as I will likely want to move forward in another field. (snowflakes inside)
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posted by carolinaherrera
on Sep 4, 2012 -
14 answers
I'm in desperate need of direction in my career and don't know how to make a decision.
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 22, 2012 -
4 answers
How much should I charge for consulting, when it's about something (grad school admissions) where consulting is uncommon? I've never done this, so I'm not sure what a reasonable hourly rate would be.
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posted by Beardman
on Aug 20, 2012 -
18 answers
Former professor made a pass at me. This was upsetting because I consider him a mentor and didn't think he had those kind of motivations towards me. Now he is in town and wants to take me out. What should I say?
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posted by idle
on Aug 17, 2012 -
59 answers
Calling academic fashion mavens! Can I rock this look (tweed jacket & sweater vest) as a woman?
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posted by BrashTech
on Aug 11, 2012 -
24 answers
I'm planning to ask for job advice on behalf of my partner, from my future graduate advisor, because my partner's interested in a job opening at my future graduate school. Totally acceptable / useful thing to do, or a horrible violation of academic etiquette?
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posted by pants
on Jul 6, 2012 -
17 answers
A couple months ago I found a very long document talking about academic networking. I believe it was written over 20 years ago but still seemed incredibly relevant. As a young student trying to get his footing in academia, I'd love to find this networking primer again, as well as other things to read that would be helpful.
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posted by Strass
on Jun 14, 2012 -
5 answers
I'm a math PhD student with two years left. I'm not sure I want a job in academia (but maybe I do). What should I be doing to maximise chances of success (whatever that means)?
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posted by hoyland
on Jun 12, 2012 -
13 answers
I'm doing a PhD in molecular biology, and I want to get a broader feel for my options when I graduate.
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posted by jlibera
on May 26, 2012 -
2 answers
How are popular opinions and well-known academics perceived in academia (social sciences)? Examples inside
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posted by ichomp
on May 26, 2012 -
10 answers
I've always been drawn to science and research and I'm strongly considering going to graduate school to get a master's degree in computer science (location: Sweden) and maybe even aim for an academic career. But my recent experiences with academia has left my disillusioned, sad and angry. Can I get my degree without GRARing all the time? How?
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posted by Foci for Analysis
on May 21, 2012 -
11 answers
I'm a PhD student, and I'd like to do more academic networking over email. How does this work, and what should the emails sound like?
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posted by anonymous
on May 16, 2012 -
14 answers
What were your experiences with philosophy courses like in university, non-philosophy majors?
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posted by Beardman
on May 14, 2012 -
31 answers
I want to change careers, and I’d feel a lot better about it if I could get some advice from a third party. What kind of a person should I be looking for? I’m an academic health sciences librarian right now and I’d like to stay in health information somehow - working for one of the publishers whose stuff I buy would be great, or maybe health IT - but I have no experience or credentials in the types of jobs I’m interested in, and I’m not sure whether I'm doing this right. Could a career coach help me?
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posted by Sock Career-Puppet
on May 11, 2012 -
10 answers
I graduate in two weeks and my senior thesis is still unwritten due to a myriad of circumstances. Should I just scrap it and take my BA without the honors distinction?
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posted by shesdeadimalive
on May 7, 2012 -
35 answers
I am currently working on a Ph.D. but may have an opportunity to enter my field early. Is there a way I can drop out without burning bridges? When should I speak with my adviser about it?
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posted by anonymous
on May 2, 2012 -
12 answers
Would it be unprofessional to tell my editor that it is my co-author's fault that our book manuscript is (once again) going to miss it's delivery deadline? Or is the right thing to do to keep telling her that "we" aren't ready?
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posted by lollusc
on Apr 29, 2012 -
22 answers
If you left academia, especially in the humanities, how did you figure out what you wanted to do?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 26, 2012 -
9 answers
I've been accepted to a PHD program at the University of Maryland's
iSchool, and will likely be researching social media and social gaming for my dissertation. I'm excited, love the program, and can't wait to start publishing work as part of the academic community, however
recent discussion on Metafilter, and a smaller living stipend than I expected, have me second guessing what I thought was a great opportunity. Details inside...
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posted by codacorolla
on Apr 6, 2012 -
13 answers
Do people give their graduate advisors presents following a successful defense? What would qualify?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 4, 2012 -
16 answers
My department chair thinks I dress too nicely for academia. Is this solid career advice, or is he just being a curmudgeon?
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posted by ootandaboot
on Mar 21, 2012 -
80 answers
The way I research (academic or otherwise) is increasingly incompatible with the tools I have. Reams of handwritten notebooks, and hundreds of word docs vs a highly tagged website only add to my self-created confusion.
I'm drawn to Tinderbox software as a possible solution, but as an adamant PC user I'm locked out.
How do you order your research? / How to write-up my PhD now my brain is fried?
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posted by 0bvious
on Mar 16, 2012 -
10 answers
My girlfriend is 5 years in to a PhD program with an abusive (verbal, emotional, and mental) PI/lab. This seems to be a common theme in academia, just how common is it?
How do you go about graduating if they seem to be working against you (assuming no fault on your part)?
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 13, 2012 -
12 answers
I have lost my faith in full-time fundraising and would like to transition out of it. Here are some ways I have figured out doing this. Help me pick one?
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 28, 2012 -
1 answer
I work as an administrator for a university and am based on a branch campus. My department would prefer it if I would spend the summers on the main campus, which involves a more arduous commute for me. My commute would bump up from 40 minutes to 1h20minutes. I would prefer to remain on my branch campus. My "higher-ups" like to frame things in terms of "let's negotiate something that works for everyone," but the power differentials tend to mean that I usually just go along with their preference. Are there tried and true methods for underlings to resist persuasion/coersion?
posted by anonymous
on Feb 25, 2012 -
7 answers
Are there such things as reputable distance Ph.D. programs in literature?
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posted by apip
on Feb 12, 2012 -
10 answers
I'm halfway through a PhD program in the humanities, but I'm almost positive I want to quit academia after I get my degree. What are my best options?
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posted by derrinyet
on Feb 12, 2012 -
18 answers
Grad school (or possibly career)-related question: Do you know about research involving e-textbooks and how students and educators might best use them?
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posted by graphnerd
on Feb 7, 2012 -
9 answers
I'm applying for jobs at institutions that are more prestigious than the institution I currently work for. Should I suck up/gush over the awesomeness of these institutions? How much?
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 2, 2012 -
7 answers
I have a PhD in English. Enough said. No? Okay. How can I ease a transition out of academia and into the private sector, while still doing the part-time teaching thing?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 25, 2012 -
6 answers