Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rapier]

[trevorcollins]

[tzechuk]

You know, Rapier.... trevor basically said why I am doing a PhD. I don't need to work and hopefully will never need to work - yeah I kinda like being a kept woman I still want a PhD, though, for my own personal achievement - self-actualisation blah, blah.

Not everyone wants to do a PhD to get a job. Some just want to study more.

[rapier]

Fair enough...peace out you 2!

just my idea..I think actually getting stuck in and working directly in the field you're interested in would be more useful than spending many years studying it, and more respected.
say for example you want to study Environmental management. You'd be better off spending that 150.000 volunteering at first, then working your way up the many numerous such conservation charities/organistaions worldwide that need it. Years of varied/practical experience would trump a PhD i suspect.
I think employers (except in korea) generally value practical hands on/reputation in the field moreso than qualifications. I noticed this in the journalism field- less than half the successful writers actually had formal training. the rest had worked their way up, established a reputation as a reliable worker and expert in their field/topic. Not been at the books for years. Quite often the most successful people are unqualified- but have a wealth of drive/enthusiasm.
Great that your sure of and committed to what you want to do though.Just my thoughts.

[joe_doufu]

Basically my reasoning is I got to know some professors during my MBA program (more than in undergrad, when I was a typical apathetic youth) and I think I'd like the way they live. They work "24/7" as they put it, 24 weeks a year, 7 hours a week. They get paid pretty well, and as business school professors they have ample opportunities for consulting work with various and interesting companies, some traveling all over the world. It seems like the kind of career I'd like. I like teaching, I like variety in my work, and I like universities. I don't think there'd be a shortage of "real world experience" during the program if I picked the right school, and I think it would be a pretty enjoyable way for me to spend a few years.

Plus, I've heard that college girls go wild for young handsome TA's.

[fusionbarnone]

Simone, I would like more info on your PHD prog.

Degreeinfo.com, degreeboard.com, can put you on the road toward deciding on a course of study and the how to aspects of accomplishing this task.

As for moi, I screwed up my chances for doctoral studies by arguing with two foreign lecturers nearing the end of my masters study(I thought they were full of excrement by refuting their ideas). Do such a thing at your own risk. Lost my honors (f@#$$-em all). Loads of politics involved at that level in which influential friends are essential IF, you value an academic career. Play the game.

So, I waited until MBA applicants (2,000 apply only 2/300 are finally accepted) applying to grad. sch. of biz, after the original applicants had been culled/whittled down(in oct) and applied in Jan, argued my case(intimidated the prog. directors with my MA because I was more qualified academically than they were) and got accepted.

An MA in humanities was great for working in Korea(sprahken englishee) and getting into limited entry grad. programs and, little else. My first year in MBA taught everything needed to know about running a company etc(guests speakers included an owner of an international security firm who taught us how to slip infra red sensors, interesting but useless). The courses were very useful however and I became self employed a year later with this knowledge.

It was also a trip to sit next to the heads of major state and private corporations(entry requires minimum five years in the field, I had none at that time). Imagine classmates whose excuses for being absent could be: "I work for Motorola and last week I was on three continents.

Shrewd choice of degree and major is damn important and probably cost (me) a straight run toward doctoral studies because of it.

My exgal pal graduated with a PHD in 2004. She now has a senior lecturer position in the top state grad. sch. of business in her country, five publications to her credit, a new apartment she bought within her first year of employment, international conferences, and mucho dinero(racked up no student loans, survived with scholarships and vacation-time work). To me an "earned" tenured position is a dream. Still a little conscious of time passing in that respect actually.

One other graduate progressed on to associate dean at my old alma mater. Point being, time can race on if you don't clasp your goal by the horns.

Although having studied for three masters degrees and later awarded an honarary doctorate, am still feel somewhat envious of many of my ex-uni cronies. These types of phds don't score tenure track positions and are only nice hanging on the wall. Works well recorded on passports(special privileges) and books you may publish(credibility) though.

If you love academics(learning) or the opportunity to make a contribution to the world of academie and the great pool of research then, continuuing on to the ivory summit is a great idea. I really admire single minded people(non-koreans who taught English and paved the way for grad. school) and it was in Korea surprisingly enough, that I'd had the pleasure of knowing a few.

Pursuing this goal(I think should be done asap, or later with vice-like intention) It seems to have payed off for some.

As for myself, I'm looking at a later PHD in business(e-commerce) since this field is still somewhat new, evolving, and fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants like. I've decided even If it takes me till age fifty, it will get done with scholarships only and without debt and for personal satisfaction rather than ego-validation.

To have an "earned" PHD is the recognized pinnacle of academic achievement.

Good luck to those who can endure three/four years. Defend your thesis well.

[simone]

[tzechuk]

[kimchikowboy]

Tzechuk:
One option you may want to consider is doing a Ph. D. in Korea. You're in Daejon, right? I'm in a program there with classes in English. Other (foreign) students are primarily from China and the Phillippines.
It is useful if you are planning on staying in Korea for a long time (I am). Also, as far as publications go, you are more attractive as a collaborator on research due to your language skills (at least for publications in foreign journals). You may also qualify for scholarships. I pay about U$ 1,000 per semester in tuition (I need to take a lot of masters-level classes as my Ph. D. is not in something I've studied before).
You can PM me for more info.
Good luck

[Kwangjuchicken]

[tzechuk]

[joe_doufu]

[Kwangjuchicken]

Hey, Rapier

1. You have to teach 15 hours a week in a college or university in Korea to make 2.000$ a month.

2. You have to teach 30 hours a week in a Hagwan in Korea to make 2,000$.

3. So, if all you need to do to make that same salery and get a 100% tuition waiver is to teach 3 hours a week, and then one day (5 years for me) get a PhD, why not do it?

[joe_doufu]

It's interesting you revived this thread. I was thinking of applying for a PhD at the university where I got my MBA... Tulane. Oops, the whole city has been wiped off the face of the earth!

Not to mention, a large part of the value of an MBA is the quality of the alumni network. I would estimate that 30-50% of my MBA alumni network are now newly homeless and jobless! Eeek.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I dropped out of a PhD programme. Did I want to be the world's leading expert in Andrew Marvel's use of sexual allegory in his ecclesiastical works, only to end up clearing less income than I am now? Not really, in the end.

Do it if you have a burning passion for a very particular subject and can get significant funding, and also want to spend a lot of time studying the methodology and theory of your field. If you're a white guy, don't expect much of an employment field if you're in the liberal arts. Also note that PhDs usually take longer in the US than the UK or Canada.