Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mayorhaggar]

Any way to transfer to another PhD program? I did a BA in anthro but didn't go any further in it, and when I and other anthro grad friends were looking at PhD programs, it seemed like in general you wouldn't have to pay tuition but would have to slave away at a TA position. This was mainly at big public universities. This was about 10 years ago though and I dunno what the current status is now in terms of funding and tuition, with all the budget cuts going on around in higher education around the world. Certainly 10 years ago the professor job market for PhD grads was not great at all, it's probably worse now.

[Eglayzer]

There is no way to "transfer" to another PhD program but I can apply to other programs. If I wait to get my masters and cough up the money to do it then I will be in a better position for both funding and admittance to other programs.

When I was an undergrad my professors also told me that I wouldn't have to pay for my degree since I could work as a TA but with the budget cuts it doesn't look like that is a possibility. Out of my cohort of 8 students only 2 of us received department funding. The cohort ahead of me has even more students but still only 2 TA slots to compete for. If I had a masters maybe it would be different but it looks like the only way to get your education paid for is through outside funding now.

I am currently working as a TA this year and absolutely love it. I dont feel like I am slaving away at it. The pay is crap but it come with free tuition and my students are eager to learn and value what I have to say. Quite a change from my experience teaching in Korea! I would love to put myself through school with TAs but at my current school, which is one of the largest public universities in the USA by the way, my department just doesnt have the money. Maybe other departments are different but I am not sure.