MonkeyPants Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 "Oh, I 'm sure they'll just snap you up everywhere!" no help, there. "But...you HAVE a job already. WHY are you going back to school?" (Because, of course, my crappy job in a stultifying industry is exactly where i want to be for the rest of my life.) Or this gem, from my Mom: "Honey, you HAVE a degree. Just settle down, have some kids, and be happy with it." brainchild, Shambavi Ganesh, snes and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaNYC Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 "You're a gifted administrator. If you don't get in we should come up with a plan B for you. Perhaps running a department?" Great, are you telling me I'm not smart enough to do the research but I can manage the research others do? Excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-hermes- Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 1. "Oh, American schools like Harvard aren't all that hard to get into! Don't you just have to be able to pay?" 2. "Apply to more places" *stresses* MSW13, brainchild and Viva1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MashaMashaMasha Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 2. How long is grad school (Ph.D.) gonna take? two years? 3. So you' re not gonna earn any money for the next 5 to 6 years? (after hearing the answer to 2) Ha yes, these. Also, when I tell them the acceptance rate (somewhere between 6 and 9%), there's usually a pretty awkward pause and then "What's your plan B?" Viva1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazedandinfused Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 1. You did well on your GRE? Then you must get in! 2. How long is grad school (Ph.D.) gonna take? two years? 3. So you' re not gonna earn any money for the next 5 to 6 years? (after hearing the answer to 2) Are you sure that you're not a member of my family? jrah822 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galipettes Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 (edited) I hear the "you're definitely going to get in somewhere" phrase all the time. It just stresses me out more! Then it's the, "don't worry, things will work out in the end" or "just get a job!" "what's the point of wasting 5 years of school? 4 years of undergrad was enough!" There's also that incessant commenting on how psychology is "useless" Edited January 30, 2012 by galipettes jerzygrl, behavioralneuronerd, VulpesZerda and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sociologyplease Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 I hate the "You'll get in somewhere" thing! My partner's parents and I had an awkward conversation which consisted of "Well, what would a sociology professor teach?" "Um, sociology?" "And what is that, exactly?" b39, eriksmegs, dw3000 and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deleteduser0333 Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Just reminds me of another one. "So what's the point of getting a PoliSci PHD, couldn't you just become a politician instead?" Oh yeah. sacklunch 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrazilianGuy Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 (edited) 2. How long is grad school (Ph.D.) gonna take? two years? It really happens a lot!! Edited January 30, 2012 by BrazilianGuy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrazilianGuy Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 (edited) "Have you ever tried to take a look at GradCafe?" (Then you find yourself insanely checking the forums 24x7...hehehehe) Edited January 30, 2012 by BrazilianGuy emma1frost, YesserLab, ww2249 and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andsowego Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Real convo I had when I first started my PhD (paraphrased): Them: So, what do you do for a living? Me: I'm a PhD student here at the University in Department XYZ. Them: Oh, cool. So, you're going to be a doctor? Me: Yeah. Them: Then you can do surgery, or whatever? Me: No. Actually, I'm in a non-medical field, so I'll still be called Dr. Awesome, but my area is XYZ. Them: Oh. [lonnnnng pause while they think]. But, you COULD be a real doctor if you wanted to, right? Me: I *will* be a real doctor, just not a medical doctor. Them: But don't you want your own practice or something? Me: Still not that kind of doctor... I'm going to teach XYZ as a professor, which is a non-medical field. Them: Why would you teach, when you could work at a hospital or clinic or something and make more $$? Me: [needing to end this useless convo]... Yeah... good point... I'll consider that... [NOT ALL PHD's ARE MEDICAL YOU IDIOT!!!] <headdesk> Viva1, midwestgirl, galipettes and 24 others 27 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ameonna Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 "Why are you applying there? Doesn't [insert name of completely random local/regional school] have a good program?" I get this one ALL THE TIME. It's always somewhere that doesn't even have a quantitative psych program, and when I mention this to said person or persons, they will shoot back, "Well, is it really THAT important that it's in quantitative psychology? I mean, there are other types of psychology, right?" Right, because devoting 5+ years to a psychological subfield that I'm not as interested in would be TOTALLY worthwhile... NOT!! VulpesZerda 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clou12 Posted January 30, 2012 Author Share Posted January 30, 2012 1. You did well on your GRE? Then you must get in! 2. How long is grad school (Ph.D.) gonna take? two years? 3. So you' re not gonna earn any money for the next 5 to 6 years? (after hearing the answer to 2) Oh yeah, the scrunched up faces or the mouths agape when you tell someone it is going to take 5-6. You would think I told them I am going to jail. VulpesZerda 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildviolet Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Ditto on everything I've read so far. I'm feeling depressed today... no particular reason. Maybe 'cause it's Monday. But I just feel like no one else *really* understands what I'm going through. And even if it's good news (yay, first acceptance), people don't understand all the time and work I put into studying for the GRE and completing my applications. I've also been asked, "Oh, so what are you going to do with a PhD"? This is coming from people who have presumably attended college already. Yikes! Rogue029 and AJ09 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjaMermaid Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 "Why did you apply to schools that are so far away and cold? You could just go to UT Austin." "You want to study monkeys? And then what.. be a zoo keeper?" Or my favorite from my 28 yr old neighbor just the other day-- Her: I want to apply to graduate school! Me: That's great! For what? Her: Oh, I don't know. But I want to live in Arizona so I guess I will go to Arizona state university. Me: Wait, you don't know what you want to do? What was your undergrad degree? Her: Psychology, but I don't know if I will like that. I really want to study the body. Me: Um, ok so you mean you would like to be an MD? Her: What? I don't know but I like Biology.... Me: I tell you what, why don't you start looking at graduate programs in Arizona and see what makes you happy. (I'll help her along as much as I can, but I never met someone so full of excitement who had no idea what she should be excited about.) Raoliteri, nugget, AJ09 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galipettes Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 I get this one ALL THE TIME. It's always somewhere that doesn't even have a quantitative psych program, and when I mention this to said person or persons, they will shoot back, "Well, is it really THAT important that it's in quantitative psychology? I mean, there are other types of psychology, right?" Right, because devoting 5+ years to a psychological subfield that I'm not as interested in would be TOTALLY worthwhile... NOT!! That reminds me of the common "so, you'll be a psychiatrist?" saying. For some reason, everyone seems to believe that a degree in psychology means "mind-reading" and therapy. VulpesZerda and behavioralneuronerd 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abc123xtc Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Most common question I get: "Are you sure???" Um, yeah, I am sure, or I wouldn't be applying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhDreams Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 People keep telling me, "You'll get in somewhere." I hear this every day... You can't do anything about it now, just relax. Yeah, this line is just awesome. You might as well say, "I don't think your issue is that serious and I also think that you might be overreacting." Thanks. The "best" line I have gotten is when people try to tell you what schools you have a chance of getting into without any knowledge of the field or program. Ex. "You'll probably get into UCLA, but you should definitely forget about Harvard. That's just a stretch." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazedandinfused Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Just reminds me of another one. "So what's the point of getting a PoliSci PHD, couldn't you just become a politician instead?" Oh yeah. That's the best. Hands friggin down. Grev 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quantitative Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 (edited) "Why are you getting a Ph.D in that? There's no money in that field." and the inevitable "Why don't you want to go to law school?" Edited January 30, 2012 by quantitative Psyched_gator_1216 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abc123xtc Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 "Why are you getting a Ph.D in that? There's no money in that field." and the inevitable "Why don't you want to go to law school?" I get the law school one all the time! Everyone thinks I should go into politics, which is flattering, but... no thanks. Not for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koolherc Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 (edited) My mom was pretty tickled when I told her I'd be "Dr. [surname]." Edited January 31, 2012 by koolherc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysanthemum Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 -(sympathetic face): "What are your other plans if you don't get in?" -"So are you planning to teach English?" -"Do you think you'll get in anywhere?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hegel's Bagels Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 (edited) "It can't be too hard to get in. I mean, there can't be that many students who are applying to Art History programs." So, if I happen to be accepted to one of my top choice, very exclusive, absolutely fantastic programs, it's because there weren't that many students applying? *facepalm* Edited January 31, 2012 by artofdescribing Beckert 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clou12 Posted January 31, 2012 Author Share Posted January 31, 2012 I also love how all the "Plan Bs" are teaching. What if you are already a teacher? What is our plan B!? Lol. Meglet and Argyn 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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