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Isn't it better they are honest rather than set unrealistic expectations that students will regret years later.

It's one thing to be realistic about the economics of pursuing a field, and another to be defeatist or outright dismissive of the idea itself.

Edit: I should say that my professors came off more as defeatist than dismissive. I was never told that I couldn't study Philosophy at the graduate level.

The thing is, when you are young and idealistic, you will say to yourself things like "I don't care about the money!", which is probably what these people told themselves.

These people are disillusioned and so will the future you be, but your present you has to make the decision. It's incredibly valuable that they're being honest to you and to themselves.

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