I remember the distinct feeling of hazing from my professors. You know, "The reason you have to suffer now is that I suffered when I went through the same thing. If we fix the problem and stop the suffering, then all of my suffering would be meaningless, and that wouldn't feel fair to me."
this post was submitted on 22 Jul 2025
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the PI in labs also believe 80-100hrs a week is the norm for graduate students.
I had a manager who wouldn't respect anyone who didn't yell at him. Seriously. He had serious anger issues and would fly off the handle over nothing. He directed a lot of shit at me in particular, probably because I've been traumatized by crap like this before and that sociopath probably sensed it. I wasn't yet aware of a lot of resources I know about today, didn't have the self-esteem I've since found, and I was homeless at the time (thank goodness, I had friends who let me stay temporarily), so I absolutely depended on this job.
One day, a coworker told me that he only stops picking on someone when they yell at him. Sadly, I can't give you the satisfying response you're probably expecting: I refused to yell at him. I thought the entire idea was absurd, extremely unprofessional, and had the potential to backfire terribly.
I wish I could say that was the last manager to pick on me, but thankfully the last one was a mental health professional and had the listening skills to take my feedback and the desire for self-improvement to act on it ... albeit only after she made me cry.
Man, I didn't mean to trauma-dump. But after the shit I've been through, I can't imagine attempting to pass such suffering onto others. I'm extremely grateful for the supportive environment that (usually) surrounds the therapy field. It feels good to be honest with managers and supervisors and know they respect constructive criticism. I can almost feel my heart healing.
I had one of these colleagues. He insisted that he respects force, but whenever I pushed back, homie would run crying to our mutual boss.
One time, I snapped and yelled at him that I am a 15 year veteran, I know how to do my job. I ended up being forced to apologize to him for not respecting his 'many years of experience.'
You won by not stooping, even if it doesn't feel that way.
"the cycle of trauma will continue"
Argument of defenders against student loan debt forgiveness
Sounds the same as MDs and residents.
Classic Groening.
Hey I wasn't unable to finish my thesis, I hadn't even really started!
#relatable
Lol, yeah. I had to pay for most of my M.S. though so I made negative money.
I did the same while working full time, it was worth it though, paid for itself within 3 years
What's with the recent influx of posts against higher education, or more in general, anti-education posts?
You're in the Science Memes comm. It's self-deprecating.
Around here, it's probably because people are deeply aware of all the problems and unaware of all the gains.
The neighbor's grass is always greener...
What are the gains?
Everyone I know with PhDs don't really get paid more for doing the same job(s) I do.
And some are in research so it's just a constant stress of continuing to get funding and stuff.
The majority of PhDs I work with (we do lab bench-level work) make work suck because they think they know more/better about the work we do and will not listen to anyone. Probably some ego thing or trying to justify their choice. A great litmus test is finding out what they think of grad school, if they say they hated it, they're usually pretty chill. If they liked it or indifferent then they'll usually be a pain.
if they are universities, they are doing mostly grants, on top of managing labs for students, and thier OWN LABs with graduates and desperate volunteers, and grant writing. no wonder they are surly people, at least more stressful stem lab. i had one one time he gets angry often, stemming from his native american heritage not being promised what is owed to his people, so it translate to reacting to the students. any talk of references, or looking for lab opportunities is met with hostility from it.
A PhD in engineering oriented industries will not get you more money unless you hit the jackpot (did some early LLM stuff for example).
You just gotta love the research.
Well, if they are doing the same jobs you are, then they aren't reaping any of the benefits.
They should be able to do some jobs that you aren't prepared for. Personally, I would say anybody not to do one unless they have an specific job in mind... Most people I know that did one while working are quite happy with the result.
Found the grad student! Which is it bud, history or art?
Masters in bioinformatics, but I'd be proud to be on art or history, your comments only reflects the limitations of your own weak mind. It's super weird, and telling, that you decided to single out history and art.
probably a conservative, they always say useless degree like history and arts. they always whine about how useless they are, one asian one on youtube channel i used to follow before the pandemic was like that, because you chose PSYCHology you had no jobs. he shouldve know better(as per the subreddit of that channel) that its necessary for GRAD school for Psy-D or PHD, had a cousin that went for a PSY-D.
Lollllllll
Personally I can say turning my back on academia has made me a happier, healthier person.
A friend of mine is a professor in anthropology and he told me that he stayed in academia because he was afraid of change and academia was something he knew well.
I've heard that about prisoners.
Why would the prisoners know a lot about academia?
Prison is post-secondary for criminals
because he was afraid of change
I get that but the way I see it fear is a great motor and a horrible advisor. If you avoid everything unknown life will end up feeling lackluster and more dangerous than it actually is.
I was considering doing a masters in Germanic linguistics (graduated last year). I would've enjoyed it, but I have a job now that lets me actually save up money, while still allowing me to indulge my academic interests in my spare time, and I'm certain I made the right choice. I know for a fact that at the end of the day, doing a masters would have ultimately meant one or two years' delay to the start of my career and basically no advantage in the job market. Maybe this goes more for humanities students (although I imagine it's also the case for a lot of STEM students), but I think this video by Dr Jackson Crawford is a really good sympathetic and pragmatic approach for people considering going into academia.
As someone who might be going to grad school soon to wait out this bullshit job market....ouch
its going to get worst for the job market in the sciences. it was pretty bad in the 2010s, certainly witht he cuts its probably worst now. EUROPE might be an option if your going for a PHD.
Certainly not going all the way to PHD, but I might have the opportunity to go for Master's on a grant that waives tuition. Not sure what else to do right now since graduating with a CS degree in this tech market has been a dumpster fire...
i heard cs outside of LEMMY it was pretty much almost lack of job prospects, i was a bio major(cmb) and that it was lacking if you dont have significant experience, or Connections by the time of graduation. and you arnt finding it in COMMUNITY since most people start from there, and uni will not offer voluntarily( cold calling labs will just put the PIs off and ignore you)
With CS/IT, there have been tens of thousands of layoffs every month (in the US alone) for nearly 3 years straight. Too few jobs with everyone having to compete with new grads and all of those hit by layoffs equals a shit situation all around. I'm hoping to pivot into something like bioinformatics which, for the moment, still looks potentially promising as a job prospect.
😢
😭
Whenever I think I'm fucking up I remember that at least I'm not spending 10 years learning to teach from those who couldn't do so they teach.
Some of those who teach do so because they actually enjoy it, find meaning in it. Wretched though we may be, some of us believe that knowledge has inherent value without application. A pity you're so closed-minded that you reject the very idea of it. I have met more compassionate and caring people in the teaching profession (before I ever chose that as a field) than in any other part of life. It's pitifully ironic to come into a community of science and disparage education. How sad.