How's the water down there? I'm thinking of jumping ship.
April 15, 2010 11:32 AM   Subscribe

I am currently doing well in a great PhD program, but I'm thinking of a major change. Please give me your perspectives on the decisions I'm facing!

I'm finishing my coursework for a PhD in music theory at a really excellent university. Everything is going well, etc., but I've recently had a few realizations:

1. The job market is really dismal for people in my field. It probably won't get a lot better. Chances are good that I will have to take adjunct positions, which I have done before. Not fun.

2. After I complete the painful comprehensive exams and my dissertation, I can look forward to another 7 years or so of scrounging for tenure, even in the best-case scenario that I manage to find a tenure-track position.

3. If I continue on this track, no matter how well I do, I belive that I will have the nagging feeling for the rest of my life that I should have chosen a profession that allows me to make a meaningful difference in people's lives on a daily basis. I find academia to be an extremely selfish place, filled with egos. Although teaching offers the opportunity to interact with/help people to a certain degree, I feel that I could do more good elsewhere. (See below.)

4. I am sick to death of feeling guilty when I'm not working. I really idealized a job as a music theorist, but I'm getting a little tired of being forced to think about music all the time. The level of bullshit involved in writing theory papers is monumental. This is a densely-packed point that could have been 4 or 5 points, but I'm sure you can easily imagine the unfolding of all of the previous statements.

So - I'm thinking seriously of cutting my losses and quitting this PhD. I've read loads of previous threads over the past week or so that have really helped me sort through my thoughts on the matter. Having not decided for certain yet what I will do, I have some questions specific to my situation. I hope some of you will be so kind as to offer your perspectives.

THE ACTUAL QUESTIONS

1. I have one course left to take, and then I am expected to take language exams and spend time preparing for my comps. As I'm on a flat-rate tuition program, I could potentially take courses that would prepare me for my next step (again, more on that below). However, I'm faced with the dilemma of whether to let my department know what I'm thinking of. My supervisors (one in music, one in psychology, as I'm working on perception/cognition) are fantastic, and I know they would understand on a personal level; however, I have a significant and generous scholarship/aid package, and I'm honestly not sure how keen they would be on continuing to give me money knowing that I'm potentially leaving the program next year.

I don't want to be dishonest, but I don't know what my decision will be yet. Do you think that I should a) tell my supervisors what I'm contemplating, b) not tell them and try to take the prerequisites necessary for the program I'm thinking of entering (I have to have their approval, but I could probably convince them without giving myself away), or c) tell them I'm leaving, pack my stuff, and move in with my parents while I prepare for my next move (really not what I want to do, but possible)?

2. I'm trying to figure out what my next move will be. So far, I'm incredibly drawn to becoming an audiologist. This combines my love of sound, people, and science. I have looked into programs in some detail, and it looks as though I have a pretty good shot at getting in, even without a science background. I'm also looking at speech-language pathology. I have a BA in music and a Master's in music theory. I love science and am down with math, but don't have much experience or educational background in either realm.

In lieu of asking the broad "what should I pick?" career question, I would like to ask if you can think of anything that a retreating music theorist might be qualified for. I am a good writer (both technical and otherwise). I have substantial experience, albeit not professional, in audio production. I am computer savvy, but am not particularly interested in coding. I would, however, be fine with working at a computer for a large chunk of my day. Can you throw out any ideas of jobs I might enjoy? It would be especially nice if there is a feasible way for me to begin practicing my new profession within the next 2-5 years.

Thank you for taking the time to read this question! I'll be poring over your feedback. I am truly open to anything at this moment, including staying on track with my music theory career.
posted by anonymous to Education (8 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
Your work in perception/cognition coupled with your music background and your desire to help people suggests that you might enjoy being a music therapist. You'd probably need to take a few extra undergraduate-level courses and/or get a master's degree, but the pay scale isn't TOO terrible (definitely better than adjuncting) and it seems like an interesting job.
posted by kataclysm at 11:59 AM on April 15, 2010


A decade ago I left grad school due to life changes and a realization that I wouldn't land in the career I'd prepared for. However, I was not on a substantial scholarship and I was not 1 course from completing my PhD. I left with my M.A.

I fully endorse your decision to leave an academic career behind. However, pretending I have a detailed understaning of your situation I believe I would counsel you to:

1.) Power through until you're at least an all-but-thesis PhD candidate. I think that might give you more flexibility in your future choices, and is a common enough situation that a future employer is likely to be sympathetic to your decision. Arguably, more sympathetic than if you cut out now.

2.) Take any classes that will prepare you for your coming path without indulging in feelings of guilt. Part of your learning path in this program is to make sure you understand the context of the work and to vet your suitability for the career. If, for you, that involves exploring alternative but related niches, it's well within the bounds of the engagement you've taken with the university.

3.) Keep schtum about your quandry with your advisors. That reduces possible complications and gives you more flexibility to make any appropriate choice once you have the epiphany that reveals which way you'll move.

Finally, if you happen to be my daughter's piano teacher, I'm happy to talk to you in person.
posted by putzface_dickman at 1:19 PM on April 15, 2010


I agree with Putzface (how often do you get to say that?)--entirely. I was in a Ph.D. program that I left to do something else and it's made me very happy, not least because I don't have to spend all my time thinking about anthropology and why I'm not keeping up with the current literature on anthropology AT THAT MOMENT. But anyhoo...seconding:

1. NO GUILT.
2. Get ABD--that way if you decide to go back later (and it sounds like you may well do that) you'll be in great shape.
3. Don't share your plans with your advisors until they're entirely firmed up. Even if it doesn't affect your career outlook they may judge you and given that considering leaving grad school already puts you in a bit of an emotionally delicate position ("what will people think?"; "am I throwing away an amazing opportunity?"; "but everyone around me seems to think that the academy is the most important place in the world!"), that might make you feel worse.

Good luck.
posted by supercoollady at 1:49 PM on April 15, 2010 [1 favorite]


I became a music therapist after getting my bachelor's detgree in music composition/theory. I found few jobs, and at low pay. This was in the 70's so I don't know if things have changed, but just throwing in my experience.

(I then got a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, which has its own problems but I have never not been able to make a decent living as a psychologist).

I think audiologist or speech/language pathologist is a GREAT idea. Music therapy is generally considered an "extra" whereas hearing tests etc. are considered essential (and probably covered by insurance, whereas music therapy generally is not).

I say these things as impressions and opinions, NOT necessarily facts.
posted by DMelanogaster at 5:00 PM on April 15, 2010


Because you are almost there, and it is paid for, I would recommend finishing your Ph.D. You've worked a long time for that degree and might regret not finishing later. You're not yet sure what you want to do. Finish your degree while you figure this out. I agree with the advice to at least get to an ABD level.

However, you do not sound like you are cut out for academia. If you were, you would know not to tell your advisors anything about your secret alternative career plans. They are not your advisors on life; they are your Ph.D. advisors, so just talk about the Ph.D. with them.

You should absolutely not feel guilty about your scholarship. It is a mistaken idea that people should only learn XYZ if they are going to work directly in XYZ field. Your knowledge of music theory is not wasted because you leave academia. Knowledge is a cultural good. Not everything has to have a use value. Or rather, you don't know how you will use it.

Also, many of the people who currently believe they will be working in academia won't be. There's no predicting it. Enjoy your scholarship.
posted by egret at 7:50 PM on April 15, 2010


Echoing supercoollady and putzface, I recommend that you get your MA and ABD status, and that you do your best to take courses that will help you in jobs that might interest you. The university system punishes ph.d students in a number of ways -- teaching, working for our advisors, forced to take classes out of our specialties because of limited course offerings -- the option to change careers after a few years of free education is one of the few opportunities given to the Ph. D. candidate, and our ability to do that makes departments treat us better. So feel justified in taking that option on behalf of the chumps who are slaving away at the departmental summer language program in Chile, or the advisees who are doing textual research in Old Church Slavic for their advisor's next book instead of learning what they want to learn.

I don't agree with parts of egret's advice, though -- there's no 'cut out for', it's just a series of decisions, and you are not that close to finishing the Ph. D (three years, right?). Having a little bit of funded time after your comps/coursework is finished will give you a chance to look for jobs in a low-pressure way, and if you find nothing, you may feel better about finishing out the Ph. D., so keep that door open (and the opportunity of a return to the program later) if at all possible.
posted by Valet at 8:32 PM on April 15, 2010


Because you are almost there... I would recommend finishing your Ph.D.

This is a misunderstanding.

As I read it, the poster is about to do his/her candidacy exams, which normally are at the end of something like 2 years of coursework plus 6 months or a year of prep for the exams. The exams would be the equivalent of finishing a master's degree. Then it's another 3-to-who-knows years to write the dissertation and get the PhD. So, 2 years expended so far.

I agree with the others who are saying get the master's or ABD if you can do that manageably, and then seek other options. Audiologist sounds like a good job (knowing nothing about it myself) that would give you some flexibility in where you live etc.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:09 PM on April 15, 2010


I apologize for my misunderstanding. I thought all you had left was one course and the thesis. If you are more than 2 years away from being all done, then disregard my advice about finishing, cuz you're not all that close :)

Good luck!
posted by egret at 1:47 AM on April 16, 2010


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