I'm so fucking glad I went to graduate school.

[Telly Savalas]

All those goddamn nights staying up til 2 fucking AM working my ass off trying to wrap my head around a bunch of useless fucking mathematical concepts. It's all fucking paying off now. If I keep my nose to the goddamn fucking grindstone, I'm sure I'll land a wonderful fucking career making french fries.

[AirmensMom]

1. Yeah, but you mastered the use of the "F" word.

That should be worth something.

[Telly Savalas]

2. My competencies with the "F" word...

are indicative of my effective oral and written communication skills. Along with my attention to detail and aptitude for critical thinking, it is a trait that would make me a valuable asset to your organization.

[AirmensMom]

3. Well, if I had an organization,

I'd send my head hunters out for you.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. Seriously, Is Education Ever A Bad Thing?

Were you in grad school or a trade school?
The Professor

[Telly Savalas]

10. It's a matter of the opportunity cost of time.

Education is great. Mathematics is really beautiful and it was an extremely enriching experience to have studied it, but I was under the misguided impression during my studies that after receiving a diploma I'd be qualified to do something a bit more mentally engaging than working in a outbound call centre. If I'd known how difficult it would be to spin the experience into something an employer would find desirable, I certainly would have chosen a different course.

I realize I'm being a whiny-ass drama queen about it, but I just wish I'd thought things through more when I was younger.

[Deja Q]

19. Only when you can't get a decent career from it.

Which is the case for more and more and more people today.

http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-11181-0.html?forumID=6...

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. please dont say that

`i am right in the middle of applying to grad school

[Tafiti]

6. Yeah, no shit.

Me too. Well, not in the middle - pretty much at the beginning. But still...

[MildyRules]

23. If your degree is in something

useful/marketable, you have nothing to worry about.

[Barking Spider]

7. Grad school fucking rocks!

Sounds like you didn't choose the right fucking program and/or field.

If you love what you do, grad school is fucking great!

[bliss_eternal]

11. Welcome to DU, HomeOnTheRange!

[newyawker99]

17. Hi HomeOnTheRange!!

Welcome to DU!!

[redqueen]

8. Well...

At least you staved off the rat race for a while.

[Nikia]

9. I am sorry that you have not had luck with your job search

Every once in a while, I feel that way about my undergraduate education even though my degree sort of helped me get my current job that I don't like. Getting a good job is tough unless you know someone who can get you one. It is discouraging to relize that it's mostly all set despite all your hard work. You, like the rest of us without connections, can just hope to get lucky.

[alarcojon]

12. Hey Kojak

sorry to hear of your troubles.

When I was a grad student in math, the job market was bleak. I got into the mathematics, found it wonderful, hooked up with some friends and girlfriends, did a little , finished the program, and applied to 60 schools. Luckily, I got a job, and I can honestly say that the professor gig rulezzz.

Were you in theoretical math, applied math, statistics? Maybe you could switch into actuarial science.

Best of luck in the future.

[Telly Savalas]

14. Theoretical.

I only have a Masters, so I'm not actually pursuing an academic career. I bailed on the PhD path due to life circumstances that involve a story too long and boring to type here.

While doing the Mr. Mom gig, I actually passed a couple of actuarial exams, but that's becoming a frustrating avenue since I've not gotten any response from the giant evil insurance companies. It's a tight job market for that here in Toronto, so I might have better luck after passing a 3rd one, but between the cost of the textbooks and the high exam fees, it'll be a struggle scraping the cash together. I do have one of the texts and have been sitting down with it a few times in the last week and it felt pretty darn good.

It's all good, though. If I stick with it, I know something will eventually turn up. Thanks for the encouragement. The original post was written at the height of frustration this afternoon, when I was flirting with the idea of writing a cover letter like this:

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.


(By the way, my undergrad wasn't in math or anything math related, so I had to stay away from the in order to stay focused. )

[alarcojon]

16. Yes, something will turn up for you

a strong math background impresses most people. You can sell yourself as someone with problem solving skills and/or general analytical skills.

I understand the issue with the evil insurance companies, and if the actuarial thing isn't right for you, so be it. I WILL say that I am currently teaching probability and stats, and find the material very interesting on a theoretical level as well as having many nice applications. I have two audiences for the course - theoretical math students and actuaries in training, and find it challenging to try to keep both audiences engaged.

Sorry to hear about the lack of

[Ksec]

13. Fuckin A

Youll get the big bucks once we rid ourselves of republiturds

[Telly Savalas]

15. Right now I live in Canada and the Liberal Party for all its faults

does a pretty good job of keeping the economy stable.

[Deja Q]

18. Links for

http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-11181-0.html?forumID=6...

[Bassic]

20. Yeah I hear ya

I studied history, and until I learned of the existance of a historical research company in Ottawa (yeah it does exist!!), I pretty much thought the same thing.

So yeah I know your pain, but hang in there, if a historical research company can manage to make a very decent living, anything is possible.

[Left_Winger]

21. I know how you feel

I have a doctorate in history (complete with publications, presentations at major conferences, adjunct professorships, etc.), but I ended up teaching high school German because my field is so over-crowded; teaching German is not what I want to do, but it does pay the bills. Why is this job a drag? Most of my students do not want to learn what I have to teach them, they only want their credits so they can move on. Also, I am employed in a "green-flight" district where all the students are from wealthy families who want to avoid the inner city schools and they treat me like I am some domestic servant who is there to serve them.


Oh well...
Only 2039 working days until full retirement. Thank goodness I was able to purchase past military time into the state retirement system so that I could reduce my time by one-quarter of that needed to retire.

[Evergreen Emerald]

22. The downside:

I will be paying off student loans for a looonnnnggg time.

[Meatwad]

24. You know what really fucking blows?

I am a senior in (undergrad) college...and I have one more semester of college left (after this one, of course). I won't be able to finish my final semester until Spring semester 2007!!!!

You know why? Because I need to work for a year to pay for Spring semester (and four grand for this semester). This just pisses me off.

[EstimatedProphet]

25. Good thing you didn't go on for a doctorate

an extra 4 years of pain and humiliation, just to be able to make french fries.
Believe me, I hear ya.