Comments for Escape the Ivory Tower http://www.escapetheivorytower.com Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:51:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on Would anything have kept you out of graduate school? by Considering going on to PhD | Jo VanEvery http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/2010/02/preventing-graduate-school/comment-page-1/#comment-663 Considering going on to PhD | Jo VanEvery Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:51:28 +0000 http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/?p=205#comment-663 [...] her reply to Benton’s most recent installment, Julie from Escaping the Ivory Tower points out that even when made aware of the dire post-PhD situation, many students are not [...] [...] her reply to Benton’s most recent installment, Julie from Escaping the Ivory Tower points out that even when made aware of the dire post-PhD situation, many students are not [...]

]]> Comment on The problem of smartness by Christine Myers http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/2010/07/the-problem-of-smartness/comment-page-1/#comment-493 Christine Myers Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:30:11 +0000 http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/?p=351#comment-493 I keep wondering how someone as "smart" as me (valedictorian, B.A. with honors, Masters of Education with honors, etc.) can be doing so poorly in life. I've never had a job that required a degree. I've never had a job that I really loved. Sometimes I wish I could make going to school my job, since that seems to be the only thing I'm good at. As that's not possible, I'm working on creating a biz based on educational consulting. I figure if I'm so good at school, I can help others who aren't. Great topic! .-= Christine Myers´s last blog ..<a href="http://ladymyerswordsmithing.com/2010/06/28/mad-love-monday-25/" rel="nofollow">Mad Love Monday 25</a> =-. I keep wondering how someone as “smart” as me (valedictorian, B.A. with honors, Masters of Education with honors, etc.) can be doing so poorly in life. I’ve never had a job that required a degree. I’ve never had a job that I really loved.

Sometimes I wish I could make going to school my job, since that seems to be the only thing I’m good at. As that’s not possible, I’m working on creating a biz based on educational consulting. I figure if I’m so good at school, I can help others who aren’t.

Great topic!
Christine Myers´s last blog ..Mad Love Monday 25 My ComLuv Profile

]]> Comment on The problem of smartness by Caroline http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/2010/07/the-problem-of-smartness/comment-page-1/#comment-491 Caroline Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:38:13 +0000 http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/?p=351#comment-491 Thank you for that post. I think many people turn to the academy because they are afraid of failure ... which is weird because then they feel like failures later on. Way too many people get reamed for small mistakes. People could stand to go easier on each other, and they should also get better at absorbing shocks. Otherwise, the world will miss out on many good ideas. Thank you for that post. I think many people turn to the academy because they are afraid of failure … which is weird because then they feel like failures later on.

Way too many people get reamed for small mistakes. People could stand to go easier on each other, and they should also get better at absorbing shocks. Otherwise, the world will miss out on many good ideas.

]]> Comment on Your skills will not make you happy. by Jobs | A Memorable Fancy http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/2009/08/your-skills-will-not-make-you-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-315 Jobs | A Memorable Fancy Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:50:45 +0000 http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/?p=70#comment-315 [...] proofreading, tech writing, software implementation…the list goes on. Perhaps I should, as this article suggests, start with my passions instead of skills, but that’s easy – writing and teaching are truly my [...] [...] proofreading, tech writing, software implementation…the list goes on. Perhaps I should, as this article suggests, start with my passions instead of skills, but that’s easy – writing and teaching are truly my [...]

]]> Comment on How long should you keep trying? by Caroline http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/2010/05/how-long-should-you-keep-trying/comment-page-1/#comment-144 Caroline Mon, 10 May 2010 16:44:37 +0000 http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/?p=259#comment-144 I'm glad to hear someone say "it's not you." The myth of merit that is associated with the ivory tower makes people feel like bad if they don't get a job that is considered prestigious ... and it may also cause them to miss opportunities that might make them happier. I’m glad to hear someone say “it’s not you.” The myth of merit that is associated with the ivory tower makes people feel like bad if they don’t get a job that is considered prestigious … and it may also cause them to miss opportunities that might make them happier.

]]> Comment on The myth of merit by OnTheRun http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/2010/04/the-myth-of-merit/comment-page-1/#comment-123 OnTheRun Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:10:13 +0000 http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/?p=248#comment-123 Very true. Especially in a collapsing job market like the one we see now (and for the last few decades). So few jobs that personal connections become much more important than merit. Unfortunately, I have so many examples of this within the US as well as abroad. Speaking with former academic colleagues that are now in the hi-tech industry and in finance, I was surprised to hear that while these places naturally have inner-politics (with varying levels depending on place), then they were relieved to see it is significantly less of a determining factor in job applications. How much money you make for the company (or any other measurable achievement is much more important than personal ties). As one of them said: if you're not good, personal ties won't help you (from getting fired), and if you're good, you don't need personal ties. Of course there are many companies with exceptions to that, but I couldn't find one academic institute whose hiring policy contradicts this. How foolish and arrogant I was in graduate school, thinking academic life is so pure... but as they say, graduate time is the time to be foolish ;-) Very true. Especially in a collapsing job market like the one we see now (and for the last few decades). So few jobs that personal connections become much more important than merit. Unfortunately, I have so many examples of this within the US as well as abroad.

Speaking with former academic colleagues that are now in the hi-tech industry and in finance, I was surprised to hear that while these places naturally have inner-politics (with varying levels depending on place), then they were relieved to see it is significantly less of a determining factor in job applications. How much money you make for the company (or any other measurable achievement is much more important than personal ties).

As one of them said: if you’re not good, personal ties won’t help you (from getting fired), and if you’re good, you don’t need personal ties.

Of course there are many companies with exceptions to that, but I couldn’t find one academic institute whose hiring policy contradicts this.

How foolish and arrogant I was in graduate school, thinking academic life is so pure… but as they say, graduate time is the time to be foolish ;-)

]]> Comment on The myth of merit by Caroline Roberts http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/2010/04/the-myth-of-merit/comment-page-1/#comment-122 Caroline Roberts Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:32:47 +0000 http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/?p=248#comment-122 This is fantastic. Every grad student should print it out and tape it to her wall. So much luck plays a part in getting an academic gig. We all have to agree that getting a job is a matter of luck these days. I think advisors would serve their students better if they flat-out told their students that they should do their best but they should also be prepared if luck doesn't go their way. -- <a href="http://www.postacademic.org" rel="nofollow">Post Academic</a> This is fantastic. Every grad student should print it out and tape it to her wall. So much luck plays a part in getting an academic gig. We all have to agree that getting a job is a matter of luck these days. I think advisors would serve their students better if they flat-out told their students that they should do their best but they should also be prepared if luck doesn’t go their way.

–
Post Academic

]]> Comment on There is no One True Calling by Digdug http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/2010/04/there-is-no-one-true-calling/comment-page-1/#comment-119 Digdug Sun, 11 Apr 2010 17:40:54 +0000 http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/?p=244#comment-119 "And that means that what was right five years ago isn’t necessarily right now, and what’s right now isn’t necessarily what will be right five or ten or twenty years down the road." So true. I think going back to school was right for me at the time, but now my priorities have shifted, and the dysfunctions of academia just don't seem worth it. It's very, very difficult to accept this though. "Parker Palmer talks about your calling as the place where your deepest desires meet the needs of the world." On this note, right now I'm volunteering with a local African-centric NGO, doing routine administrative work. While at the office I get to talk to people whose company I genuinely enjoy, unlike the nutty type-As I meet in grad school. So right, now, yes, this place is somewhat of a calling, as my desire to talk to normal people dovetails with the fact that I'm making a small difference in an important organization. “And that means that what was right five years ago isn’t necessarily right now, and what’s right now isn’t necessarily what will be right five or ten or twenty years down the road.”

So true. I think going back to school was right for me at the time, but now my priorities have shifted, and the dysfunctions of academia just don’t seem worth it. It’s very, very difficult to accept this though.

“Parker Palmer talks about your calling as the place where your deepest desires meet the needs of the world.”

On this note, right now I’m volunteering with a local African-centric NGO, doing routine administrative work. While at the office I get to talk to people whose company I genuinely enjoy, unlike the nutty type-As I meet in grad school. So right, now, yes, this place is somewhat of a calling, as my desire to talk to normal people dovetails with the fact that I’m making a small difference in an important organization.

]]> Comment on There is no One True Calling by Cranky Fibro Girl http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/2010/04/there-is-no-one-true-calling/comment-page-1/#comment-116 Cranky Fibro Girl Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:41:15 +0000 http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/?p=244#comment-116 I am SO GLAD you wrote this post. I struggled with this for so many years. Now I have gotten to the point in my life where I define sort of the overarching umbrella of all the different things I do as "Free Spirit", which has been amazingly freeing for me. I am SO GLAD you wrote this post. I struggled with this for so many years. Now I have gotten to the point in my life where I define sort of the overarching umbrella of all the different things I do as “Free Spirit”, which has been amazingly freeing for me.

]]> Comment on There is no One True Calling by OnTheRun http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/2010/04/there-is-no-one-true-calling/comment-page-1/#comment-115 OnTheRun Thu, 08 Apr 2010 18:54:28 +0000 http://www.escapetheivorytower.com/?p=244#comment-115 Very nicely put. I am now going through all this and your writings often puts what I feel into accurate words. -- Your website is truly useful for some of us who now struggle... Its not easy, but to all those out there that are currently escaping the tower I should say that it becomes significantly better once you get out of the closet within your close environment. When you tell your colleagues and mentors of your extra-academic plans you will find that some will be sympathetic, some will be supportive, some will be angry, and some will be jealous. Honestly I found, however, that most people don't care, and just go on with their life. Most importantly, your friends/partners/family will stand by you and, if they do, they will judge you by who you are and not by the (often hypocritical) standards in the world you wish to leave behind. Very nicely put. I am now going through all this and your writings often puts what I feel into accurate words.

– Your website is truly useful for some of us who now struggle…

Its not easy, but to all those out there that are currently escaping the tower I should say that it becomes significantly better once you get out of the closet within your close environment. When you tell your colleagues and mentors of your extra-academic plans you will find that some will be sympathetic, some will be supportive, some will be angry, and some will be jealous. Honestly I found, however, that most people don’t care, and just go on with their life.

Most importantly, your friends/partners/family will stand by you and, if they do, they will judge you by who you are and not by the (often hypocritical) standards in the world you wish to leave behind.

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