I QUIT MY PHD PROGRAM (HERE'S WHY)

That's a very big step and decision. Good for you! From someone in a program, it takes a lot of courage to make that change. I feel like there's a lot of worth and identity tied into "finishing" a PhD program

Bro this was deep. I love that you’re utilizing social media to speak on things that people tend to just sweep up under the rug. Keep the content coming!! 👏🏼

As a STEM girlie, most STEM people don't go into the PhD world to teach, most of us (that I know of) go into research or fieldwork or governmental consulting, or other work like that.

Raven, so beautifully stated. Please don't allow quitting your PhD to overshadow the wonderful accomplishment of your masters at such a young age. In a career, it may even make more sense to get a second masters to complement the first instead of a PhD in a related field, like getting a masters in library science or museum studies to become. lets say, an archivist, as an example. In some cases, a PhD limits opportunities instead of expanding them considing the time and energy spent on a niche speicalliztion and dissertation. ls also think that too many studenst underestimate the snake pit that is academia once you get hired post PhD. With a masters you can always teach at a community college. The student population is so much more interesting and diverse than a tradition 4-year university.

Girl thank you so much for this. I wish undergrad programs emphasized to students that PhD is not the only route. I applied and interviewed for Clinical Psych but did not get in. So glad I'm not doing the PhD. Going for another Masters degree (career change) but its a hard decision so kudos to you--everything is real--the financial hardship, the burnout, the lack of jobs in academic (publish or perish is real). Love this for you.

6 figures right off the bat after a PhD isn't a given because a lot of PhD students have never had a job outside of academia. Some definitely have, but especially in the US PhDs are more common for people who did not grow up poor and therefore did not have to work to afford their education. Not to say getting your PhD isn't a lot of work, but it's not the same as having a traditional job. There is no substitute for real-life experience. Also, a lot of undergrads who make 6 figures straight out of graduation had really good internships or co-ops. A lot of students who go on to get PhDs do not do internships because they want to focus on research.

love this video, i also just "quit" my phd program and i am walking away with a masters. i never felt happier or more liberated.

Did I make this video? Bc damn, these are basically all the same reasons why I’m leaving my PhD with a masters currently too. Thank you for this content🥹

Hiring managers outside of academia (depending on the field) can also hesitate to hire folks with PhDs for a multitude of issues including insecurity, the lack of practical experience of folks who never worked outside of academia and how they will do the job, and the fear that someone with a Doctorate will expect higher pay or special treatment.

Thank you for the honesty. You have no idea how much this video helped! ❤

in the summer after year 1 of the phd @ NU & feeling all of this & more….very grateful for your transparency

Congrats! A lot of people (myself included, probably) would not second guess it and just power through and make themselves miserable. Kudos to you for having the chutzpah to drop out.

OMG I just came across your channel and can I say...WOW that quality! And I really appreciate your insights...your reflections are so valuable!

Good for you Raven and congratulations on the Masters! 🎉🎉🎉🎓🎓

as someone who started feeling pangs of regret as soon as i submitted my applications last winter, this really spoke to me 😅 much to think about (and thank you for sharing!!!)

You got paid!!??!!! Yayyyyyyy! I didnt receive any money even as a research student!! I agree with you 1000%

Raven!! This video was so good and really hit home, as a fellow grad student

nearing the end of my first year in a sociology master’s program and everything you said was so spot on. i feel so seen. glad you were able to choose yourself and your needs <3

I wanted to pursue a PhD after I got my Double AB in Sociology and Poly-sci but that job market made me realize that it wasn't a realistic path. Even though I so wanted to get that Graduate work; that thought work done and I knew I had talent in it.

My sister took 9 years to finish her PhD in literature at the end the only job she could get was tutoring rich highschool students on how to write essays for thier college applications. Yr lucky in Hawaii they pay $20k a year, no unions allowed because grad students are deemed not employees by Hawaii State cinstitution.