Hello everyone. I just found this forum and I have a couple questions. I posted these in another grad forum (so sorry if you're seeing this for a second time) but I didn't get nearly as many responses as I was hoping for. Any and ALL opinions are very much appreciated and anyone who wants to share similar worries/situations- please comment!
1. I am concerned about the academic job market, however I am pursuing a PhD because I want to be a professor and cannot imagine myself being remotely happy doing anything else. On that note, say I go through 5-8 years of graduate study, come out with a PhD and cannot find an academic job after a couple years of trying to do so. Then what? I will have to eat and have a roof over my head..would a PhD make it impossible to switch careers like say do nursing or teach high school or something less interesting??
2. I have received one acceptance and it's to my top choice school. HOWEVER, there is no funding available for first year students but most get TA positions in their second year and beyond. I have enough saved up thanks to taking some time off to be able to pay the reasonable tuition and living expenses for one year BUT I don't know if this is the smartest thing to do.
On the one hand, I want this SO bad, it's my dream school with my dream advisor but I can't help but feel cheated and offended that I wasn't given funding (which is silly because I was told only a few did thanks to budget cuts, yay).
I don't know what to do or what is the smartest thing to do.
Should I dump the ego and go anyway (or maybe it's not an ego issue at all- as many have said no funding= no go..BUT with this economic climate I'm not sure things are that simple anymore, just because you don't get funding for one year doesn't mean they don't want you it may mean there is no money..) or should I apply next year, try to beef up my app, and hope for a funded offer? (I say this is a risk because my GRE scores are really bad..like just above 1000 and I studied so so hard and took the test twice and got the same crap score..I really do not see myself able to boost it up and make myself more competitive in that area so maybe this is the only offer of acceptance I will ever see...)
I really, really appreciate any advice or guidance as i am VERY confused and scared I will make the wrong decision. Thanks.
