Recession Increases Interest in Law, Grad School

[johndiligent]

How come your fable doesn't involve a tenure track brick laying career for anyone?!?

Because regardless of whether Gypsum had the magic trowel or not, there are probably not going to be tenure-track bricklaying positions when he's on the job market. Best case scenario, he'll be able to adjunct brick-lay, or brick-lay at a community college.

[jacib]

Because regardless of whether Gypsum had the magic trowel or not, there are probably not going to be tenure-track bricklaying positions when he's on the job market. Best case scenario, he'll be able to adjunct brick-lay, or brick-lay at a community college.

While adjunct brick-laying, or brick-laying at a community college, will Gypsum be able to develop new kinds of bricks?? Or will he have to watch others make all the bricks he'd like to make? And secretly curse under his breath "I'd make such better bricks... if only I had the time! I could be a master craftsman instead of a workman", all the while growing more and more embittered toward the brick industry in general?

[Summit_Bid]

Dude, you must be applying to some awesome programs if there are hefty stipends in exchange for not having to do a lot of work. Clearly I've gone into the wrong field...

I guess what I'm saying is that I think one of the fallacies of grad school is that you get to make $15K (or $20K or maybe even $25K in the hard sciences) in exchange for sitting around in coffee shops while thinking and reading. That has not been my experience as a graduate student. My friends in the hard sciences spend no less than 50 hours a week in the lab, coming in on the weekends and staying into the evening, in exchange for their ~$20K/year. I don't make nearly that much, have a 20 hour a week TA position, take 2-3 courses per semester, and do my research and reading for comps outside of that. If I were on the ball, I'd probably be putting in a minimum of 40 hours of work per week, probably closer to 50. That works out to minimum wage, more or less... Sometimes I think being a receptionist/administrative assistant might be easier because then it's a straight-up 40 hours per week and probably pays $25-30K/year.

While being a receptionist might seem easier, it's not always...bordem sets in and you go crazy! In the end, as a PhD and doing 50+ hours if it's something I like doesn't bother me at all. Classes, papers, research, it's all fun and games for the most part if it's about what I like. When I got my MA, I thought it would be hard. It really wasn't. In my arts field I've still felt grad school was a breeze. I see your point though. A PhD is different than and MA so it's still something to think about. BTW, I make $18K year as an admin assist and all my programs' living stipend plus a grant I won on top of all this would mean $39k/year living stipend--plenty for me.

[papertiger31]

This is an extremely competitive field and I think having that "killer instinct" while being ethical, kind, and friendly/helpful with colleagues is a must.

Hahahaha, I love it. Be kind...but not too kind! I guess you have to be a smiling assassin to succeed, eh?

[genotype]

I'm wondering if anyone who frequents this forum has decided to apply this year because of (or partly because of) the recession. If the economy factored into your motivations to apply to grad school, could you explain why and in what ways? I'm just curious--no judgments here.

Personally, because of the recession, I wish that I had NOT applied this year. Or rather, I am happy to be applying at this point in my life, I just wish the timing were better.

I am not applying because of the recession, but am worried I may run into skepticism because of my timing. I work in finance, and even though my job is secure (or as secure as a job can be), I don't want to be seen as a frivolous applicant who fears a layoff and is thus looking at grad school. I would be applying at this time regardless of the state of the economy, and will be taking a significant pay cut if I get into grad school, so it irks me if people think I'm not 100% serious. I fully understand that a PhD is a serious commitment both in time, energy, and loss of possible income, and I just hope this came across in my application.