Comments on: Seth Godin’s take on the academic market http://www.academicproductivity.com/2007/seth-godins-take-on-the-academic-market/ A survival guide for the 21st century researcher Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:54:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Essay Editing http://www.academicproductivity.com/2007/seth-godins-take-on-the-academic-market/#comment-44061 Essay Editing Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:52:59 +0000 http://www.academicproductivity.com/blog/2007/seth-godins-take-on-the-academic-market/#comment-44061 I think the college you go to does matter, and it does matter what you achieve there. There are many who still believe that it is more appropriate for individuals to go to university as it will help them reach better employment prospects more quickly. Although I do agree with this, I would also argue that impression is the key aspect of anybody going to a job interview. I know of quite a few people who have been able to bluff their way through an interview, testing, and board to get a job - truly amazing! I think the college you go to does matter, and it does matter what you achieve there. There are many who still believe that it is more appropriate for individuals to go to university as it will help them reach better employment prospects more quickly. Although I do agree with this, I would also argue that impression is the key aspect of anybody going to a job interview.
I know of quite a few people who have been able to bluff their way through an interview, testing, and board to get a job - truly amazing!

]]> By: Online Survey http://www.academicproductivity.com/2007/seth-godins-take-on-the-academic-market/#comment-42446 Online Survey Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:14:46 +0000 http://www.academicproductivity.com/blog/2007/seth-godins-take-on-the-academic-market/#comment-42446 brand names are incredibly important. People will pay more for them and college name recognition gets you hired. brand names are incredibly important. People will pay more for them and college name recognition gets you hired.

]]> By: svend http://www.academicproductivity.com/2007/seth-godins-take-on-the-academic-market/#comment-11489 svend Sat, 24 Nov 2007 19:19:11 +0000 http://www.academicproductivity.com/blog/2007/seth-godins-take-on-the-academic-market/#comment-11489 I've always been extremely skeptical of the long-term value added of "prestigious" schools over less known but competent ones (e.g., most state institutions). Not that this prevented me from wracking up high debt during my own undergrad days at an overpriced private college. Being in the process of applying to PhD programs at the ripe old age of 35, I'm curious if Godin has opined on the practical pros and cons of PhDs, especially in the Humanities. While in many cases the amount of work required to acquire competency in a given field is prohibitive for any non-full-time student, I do wonder if the same could be argued about many PhDs in the Humanities. You go for ib average close to a decade without a real salary, just to get certification. And then you pray you find a job, often quite low-paying. Many if not most of the best programs make their course syllabi available online, allowing anyone to do equivalent work on their own. Of course, if noone anywhere will hire you because you lack that piece of paper, these objections are quite moot. Is it unheard of for self-taught individuals to eventually land a berth in academia without sacrificing a decade of earning power, and in the meantime impoverishing their families? I’ve always been extremely skeptical of the long-term value added of “prestigious” schools over less known but competent ones (e.g., most state institutions). Not that this prevented me from wracking up high debt during my own undergrad days at an overpriced private college.

Being in the process of applying to PhD programs at the ripe old age of 35, I’m curious if Godin has opined on the practical pros and cons of PhDs, especially in the Humanities. While in many cases the amount of work required to acquire competency in a given field is prohibitive for any non-full-time student, I do wonder if the same could be argued about many PhDs in the Humanities. You go for ib average close to a decade without a real salary, just to get certification. And then you pray you find a job, often quite low-paying. Many if not most of the best programs make their course syllabi available online, allowing anyone to do equivalent work on their own.

Of course, if noone anywhere will hire you because you lack that piece of paper, these objections are quite moot.

Is it unheard of for self-taught individuals to eventually land a berth in academia without sacrificing a decade of earning power, and in the meantime impoverishing their families?

]]> By: bitsenbloc » Blog Archive » Enllaços del.icio.sos http://www.academicproductivity.com/2007/seth-godins-take-on-the-academic-market/#comment-8869 bitsenbloc » Blog Archive » Enllaços del.icio.sos Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:31:46 +0000 http://www.academicproductivity.com/blog/2007/seth-godins-take-on-the-academic-market/#comment-8869 [...] Qui vol títols universitaris si podem fer grans coses? - But how am I going to get my skills certified, even if I acquire them by myself? How am I going to convince the human resources department of my employer to hire me? Well, easy: by doing admirable things. [...] [...] Qui vol títols universitaris si podem fer grans coses? - But how am I going to get my skills certified, even if I acquire them by myself? How am I going to convince the human resources department of my employer to hire me? Well, easy: by doing admirable things. [...]

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