RA vs TA?

[Adelaide9216]

Hello,

Is it true that experiences as a RA are more valued in academia than experices as a TA? 

 

 

Edited May 30, 2018 by Adelaide9216

[PokePsych]

I don't think so. Teaching experience is at least in psychology helpful in getting a job. I think there should be a balance, so neither 100% teaching, 100% research. After all, an academic does both.

[ZeChocMoose]

6 hours ago, Adelaide9216 said:

Hello,

Is it true that experiences as a RA are more valued in academia than experices as a TA? 

 

 

Your question is too vague to really answer.

RA positions help you to learn how to do research, advance your data cleaning/collection/analysis skills, write up your research study, and (hopefully) lead to publications.

TA positions help you to learn some classroom management techniques, how to grade assignments/tests, interact with students, teach/lead a class or two, etc.

Depending on what type of position you want after you graduate or what experiences you want to have while you are there either one could be valued over the other.

Also academia is not monolithic - different types of institutions will value teaching over research -or- research over teaching.

[dr. t]

19 hours ago, Adelaide9216 said:

Is it true that experiences as a RA are more valued in academia than experices as a TA? 

Broadly speaking, yes, just as research is more valued than teaching. But you should make sure your CV has both.

[fuzzylogician]

Usually RA positions are more sought after because teaching can be more time-consuming and often enough the classes you'll teach won't actually be within your area of specialty. It's useful to have some teaching experience; how much varies depending on the kind of job you may want post-PhD, but there's definitely a point of diminishing returns with TAing. If you can get an RAship, it'll usually make your life easier. The work will often be more related to your own research and may lead to publications, and it doesn't involve all the shenanigans of teaching that can be draining and not rewarding after a while (though again, those experiences are also valuable on their own).