Graduate School in Humanities: Just Don't Go

"Unfortunately, during the three years that I searched for positions outside of academe, I found that humanities Ph.D.'s, without relevant experience or technical skills, generally compete at a moderate disadvantage against undergraduates, and at a serious disadvantage against people with professional degrees. If you take that path, you will be starting at the bottom in your 30s, a decade behind your age cohort, with no savings (and probably a lot of debt)."

Good, recent submission on an important issue. Young people seeking advanced degrees should look at what happens to people who obtain the degrees. A lot of young people smart enough to obtain an advanced degree in the humanities would be much better rewarded by doing something else.

"As things stand, I can only identify a few circumstances under which one might reasonably consider going to graduate school in the humanities:

* You are independently wealthy, and you have no need to earn a living for yourself or provide for anyone else.

* You come from that small class of well-connected people in academe who will be able to find a place for you somewhere.

* You can rely on a partner to provide all of the income and benefits needed by your household.

* You are earning a credential for a position that you already hold -- such as a high-school teacher -- and your employer is paying for it.

"Those are the only people who can safely undertake doctoral education in the humanities."