buffyfanify

Practical reasons insofar as your willingness to teach at a community college (be it TT or adjunct), your ability to teach in other disciplines (if your work is interdisciplinary), or the financial feasibility for you not to work within academia at all after getting the degree. While the job market is horrid, I think there are certain factors that might make *an attempt* more feasible than others. I think the idealistic *and* the practical reasons for doing so need to be present. Flexibility in terms of childcare can be a huge perk and in some regards having children can give you an edge academically. My time management skills are leaps and bounds better than my peers without children. When I sit down to work, that is precisely what I do. I also think my skills in assuring accessibility of concepts and material within my intro courses is a product of being a parent. That's not to say that one is unable to adopt certain pedagogical approaches if they are without children, but in my experience it can help. Full disclosure: I have no debt from my undergrad and graduate degrees and neither does my partner, so our financial obligations are extremely unusual for a couple with multiple degrees. If I weren't pursuing a life in academia, I probably would be a stay-at-home parent so the risk of not having a job when all is said and done isn't a huge factor. I also would be a potential candidate for a job in a few other disciplines outside of philosophy. If things were different for me, I'm not sure I would be going into a program in the fall. I might have waited a few years once the kids got a little bit older. (One is in second grade and it is actually quite delightful talking with her about my work and philosophical ideas in general. Also reading philosophical texts (especially Hegel, Marx, and Derrida) to a toddler makes for a good time. In such moments, the fact that I often burn my candle from both sides seems to be insignificant and my tenacity becomes renewed).

Another aspect to consider is the amount of time you can devote to a PhD program if you are planning on having small children. I'm finishing up my second MA (one in political science, the other philosophy) and have had small children during both of my programs. It is not for the faint of heart. Graduate students tend to get little sleep as it is. Imagine being woken up every two to three hours in the middle of the night for a year or more. Arranging (and paying) for childcare and having to miss classes and events when your child is too sick for daycare or a babysitter. The sacrifice and commitment to combine a PhD in philosophy with child rearing, I think are for those who see more than just idealist value in the degree. You have to want it for both idealistic and practical reasons and plan on giving 100% to both the program and your family. Unless - that is- you plan on saddling your wife with not only the financial responsibilities, but also the parental responsibilities.

Thank you for the update! *fingers crossed*

Thank you for the update!

I've heard 5 admitted with 5 on the waitlist. AOI- feminist epistemology, social and political, critical race theory. Best of luck. Hopefully we hear news soon!

Waitlisted here as well. Hoping to hear something soon as they are my top choice.