Gradness Madness

In this Chronicle article, professor Amanda Seligman writes about whether faculty should encourage students to pursue graduate school, or warn them against it.  

I must admit, I sometimes wonder if most of the “grad school isn’t worth it” essays are written by people who have become disgruntled in some way - with their programs, with their institutions, with the difficult job market.

On the other hand, I have warned some young people off about grad school (including my niece), if I felt they were considering it for the wrong reasons: to delay entering their career field, or in pursuit of future money and prestige (both are rare).

That said, I think those of us who run the gauntlet and succeed are really meant to be here.  We chose this life, and could not have been talked out of our choice.

http://chronicle.com/article/Encourage-but-Terrify/134186/