Thank you for this post, Terry. I have so many thoughts. You are really getting to the heart of the issue, which is basically elitism, pure and simple. Many more people could be great in graduate school given a chance and a bit of training, but we always want the students who already have the training, or at least know the way to present themselves as having it. It makes me sad to think about the ways that I contributed to this mindset while running our graduate admissions program.
Yes, and doubly so with children. There's a huge bias in actually getting professional experience before trucking down the academic ladder and consequentially being older and needing to have children (if one wants them) during this tumultuous period of moving all over the country. Worked in industry for a decade before going back to grad school. Had my son during PhD, landed a top fellowship to do postdoc across the country, but spouse couldn't move so I essentially lived in a camper and on airline miles flying back and forth to see my partner and 2-year-old, inevitably getting less research done than if my family could have moved with me. It was not worth it for a 2 year position just to move all over again. Applied all over the country for professor positions - landed 6 but had to decline them all due to partner's career and becoming pregnant with twins, couldn't move that year. Instead, accepted another postdoc across the country, this time moving my family permanently and just hoping that my forever job ends up being in that state. Lugging newborn twins several states away for another 2 year postdoc is literally insane, but it was the "best" opportunity for our current family needs and my scientific pursuits. Even this was only possible with another top fellowship, which many people won't get, so they're forced to give up the academic dream or not have the family they desire and deserve to have at this stage of life.
Wow, what a story. I barely survived having a kid without any family nearby while a faculty member--can’t imagine having twins as a postdoc. Kudos for surviving, but you shouldn’t have to just survive!
Preach! My academic career to date has consisted of NY -> CA -> VA -> AL. Then we moved to FL for my wife’s job (she’s in the same field). Now that she is finally able to work remote, I’m applying for university jobs and may end up moving the family thousands of miles away AGAIN 😳
Thank you for this post, Terry. I have so many thoughts. You are really getting to the heart of the issue, which is basically elitism, pure and simple. Many more people could be great in graduate school given a chance and a bit of training, but we always want the students who already have the training, or at least know the way to present themselves as having it. It makes me sad to think about the ways that I contributed to this mindset while running our graduate admissions program.
Yes, and doubly so with children. There's a huge bias in actually getting professional experience before trucking down the academic ladder and consequentially being older and needing to have children (if one wants them) during this tumultuous period of moving all over the country. Worked in industry for a decade before going back to grad school. Had my son during PhD, landed a top fellowship to do postdoc across the country, but spouse couldn't move so I essentially lived in a camper and on airline miles flying back and forth to see my partner and 2-year-old, inevitably getting less research done than if my family could have moved with me. It was not worth it for a 2 year position just to move all over again. Applied all over the country for professor positions - landed 6 but had to decline them all due to partner's career and becoming pregnant with twins, couldn't move that year. Instead, accepted another postdoc across the country, this time moving my family permanently and just hoping that my forever job ends up being in that state. Lugging newborn twins several states away for another 2 year postdoc is literally insane, but it was the "best" opportunity for our current family needs and my scientific pursuits. Even this was only possible with another top fellowship, which many people won't get, so they're forced to give up the academic dream or not have the family they desire and deserve to have at this stage of life.
Wow, what a story. I barely survived having a kid without any family nearby while a faculty member--can’t imagine having twins as a postdoc. Kudos for surviving, but you shouldn’t have to just survive!
Preach! My academic career to date has consisted of NY -> CA -> VA -> AL. Then we moved to FL for my wife’s job (she’s in the same field). Now that she is finally able to work remote, I’m applying for university jobs and may end up moving the family thousands of miles away AGAIN 😳