[Lash]

I just have to rant about this for a moment even if it never gets read, and its probably going on my blog, but I have to thank my current class for making me question my current path

I'm working on my Ph.D. Its going fine I guess for the most part, although the Doc is turning out to be a huge difference from the Masters program. Its so much more competitive I guess in a way, and that competition is bred from pushing Doc students toward future faculty positions for which they compete and can tear each other apart. We are pushed to compete, grab faculty for our Dissertation boards, make nice politically so that our Comprehensive exams, especially the oral exam portion, isnt met with an angry professor with a vendetta against you, asking you horrifically difficult questions that are designed to make you fail

Never imagine that higher education is about free speech. Most of the time, the only ones able to be open with speech are those that are tenured, and talk about a graying of the population when it comes to tenured faculty

Most Doc students take approx 5-7 years to complete. Then you job search. That job search can take you across the country, and takes about a year to complete. Then the 7 year clock starts. Once you are hired, IF you are lucky enough to be hired on a tenure track, you must produce research and do it quickly. Research takes approx 2 years to complete then 1-2 years to publish. Thats about 4 years. If you dont publish, you dont get tenured when your 7 year review comes up. If you dont tenure, you can be fired at any time. Its the equilvalent to locking in your job. You are allowed due process if they want to let you go, whereas non-tenure can be let go on any given day

So if you piss off the higher ups, you typically are met with resistance at your tenure review. Imagine working this freaking long for an education, then 10 years after getting it, you cant lock in a full time job all because you might irritate someone with your views in the field. Free speech is only allowed once you are tenured. For the 15 years before that, you are a political machine, churning out the answers the tenured higher ups want to hear

So I say this saying that I am in year 1 of my Ph.d, beginning year 2. I am presenting tomorrow on how to find a job in higher education after graduation, the vetting process, vitae, site visits, 4 day interviews, tenuring and the like

I have no idea if I can get tenured at a University near me (there are only 2 CACREP Universities). Otherwise that means I move my entire family and husbands career just to get tenured and to have a job

[..Christine..]

wow that sounds extremely stressful!! I only went as far as my masters in Educational Leadership and Adminstration! I can't imagine going for my doctorate! Good Luck tomorrow!!

[Lash]

I know the presentation is fine, its just that learning how to do this process, having to teach it to others, has really made me think about what I"m going to do

I mean we may have to move STATES away, not cities

[..Christine..]

I couldn't imagine moving states away! What is your Doc. going to be in exactly?

[..Christine..]

double post!

[..Christine..]

triple post

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

.... are one of those states GA??

[Lash]

GA actually is one of those states, as is Hawaii

I'm getting my Ph.D in Counseling, specifically Counseling Education, so I'll teach other Masters Level Therapists, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Doc Level Ph.D's and Therapists

GA actually is one of those states, as is Hawaii

I'm getting my Ph.D in Counseling, specifically Counseling Education, so I'll teach other Masters Level Therapists, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Doc Level Ph.D's and Therapists

I don't know what to say other then GO YOU for getting your PhD! I suppose you are weighing this path along with the path of starting a family? (Cause that BFP is coming for you!) Did you want to be a SAHM at least for a few years? Or were you planning on continuing with your education while raising little ones?

Ugh double post

[Lash]

Thats the major problem, getting tenure is opposed to the childbearing and early child years

Shirley M. Tilghman, the first woman to be president of Princeton University, famously argued that the tenure system should be dropped because it is "no friend to women." She pointed out that it makes huge demands at a time when women are already stressed out with young families.
Certainly the timing of tenure is terrible for women. Today, the average age at which women can expect to receive a Ph.D. is 34. That puts the five to seven years of racing the tenure clock squarely at the end of the normal reproductive cycle. Those are the "make or break" years for female academics, in terms of both career and childbearing, not to mention the demands of raising young children. Difficult choices must be made.

Thats the major problem, getting tenure is opposed to the childbearing and early child years

Shirley M. Tilghman, the first woman to be president of Princeton University, famously argued that the tenure system should be dropped because it is "no friend to women." She pointed out that it makes huge demands at a time when women are already stressed out with young families.
Certainly the timing of tenure is terrible for women. Today, the average age at which women can expect to receive a Ph.D. is 34. That puts the five to seven years of racing the tenure clock squarely at the end of the normal reproductive cycle. Those are the "make or break" years for female academics, in terms of both career and childbearing, not to mention the demands of raising young children. Difficult choices must be made.

You totally rock for moving forward with it, but wow, it sounds like a lot of pressure. As long as you don't let it effect your mental health or your relationships, I know you can do it.

If your job makes you very happy, you will be a happy mom and happy wife. For that, I would move. However, if remaining close to family and loved ones is important to you, that's another angle. You've certainly got the brains and talents to go as far as you like!!

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

COME TO GEORGIA! haha... Hawaii not so much b/c that's expensive for us to travel to!

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

COME TO GEORGIA! haha... Hawaii not so much b/c that's expensive for us to travel to!

[Lash]

Georgia I can swing for sure, plus it has beaches

The "mommy track" v. the "career track" rears it's ugly head! But, if your baby can plan with Shannon's baby.... well... that must be weighed heavily!

[IamMom]

UGHGH Lauren this does all sound very stressful - Hugs to you girl. I gotta give you props for even trying for your PhD. I got my Masters recently and that was enough for me...I can't even imagine going for a PhD - on top of everything else your doing in your life right now....you must be one smart and determined cookie my dear! I agree though that the prospect of moving to GA by Shannon sounds pretty tempting!? What does your DH do - could he get a job easily anywhere? My job is portable you could say but my Dh's isn't so where we live is more crucial to his job than mine. Why we ended up leaving VA to come to NC....not that I mind at all but the jobs were here for him? Just wondering. Good luck and T&P's are with you to figure everything out!

[**Jenn**]

That sounds incredibly stressful! But I think its really awesome that you're getting your PhD!!! I only have my bachelors and have zero desire to go back for anything! Try not to stress about things that you don't know for certain or can't control. Who knows, a move may just be what your family will need! I know I never thought we'd live outside the area we're in now but it looks like moving STATES away is a probability soon and honestly I'm incredibly excited about it! A new start with my family where its just us is exactly what we need even though I never would have thought that a few years ago. Everything will work out because you are an incredibly strong and determined woman. You will find a way to make everything work, you always do, and you do it well!

[Mars]

Kudos to you and I wish you all the best in getting your Ph.D. I think you will succeed and you will be able to balance your career and your family.