Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PRagic]

Please do a search for ore iOS threads on this topic. If the Dave's search engine won't give you anything, use Google. The topic has been done to death!

In a nutshell, yes, you can do your PhD here, and if you're area is Korean studies, it can be worth it. Sadly, though, most would admit that Harvard, Berkley, U of Hawaii Minoa, or some other Ivy schools would carry more weight. I did meet a great guy over hear who did his in Korea, though, and then landed a pretty cool job at a think tank.

[Hugo85]

Korean universities are easier to enter, easier to get partial scholarships and cheaper than Harvard, Berkeley, etc. If you can choose between a PhD from MIT of KAIST there should be no question. When your choice is between lower tier of high school and Korea it becomes less clear cut.

U of Hawaii? Is that a good school? Apart from the location...

[Swampfox10mm]

[PRagic]

Sure, discuss away, but at least let's not reinvent the wheel if we don't have to.

And, man, this iPad checker is unforgiving

[Swampfox10mm]

[Hugo85]

PhD done in South Korea is also worth 10 points towards the points based visa.

[chungbukdo]

[Swampfox10mm]

[Hugo85]

[PRagic]

Bingo. Most Ph.D.s get fully funded and provide a monthly stipend for TA/RA/lecture duties. Plus, many people work over the semester breaks. If you play it right, you can get through without going in the hole. If you're older, though, you do have to consider forgone wages. Well, unless that depresses you, in which case don't think about it!

[World Traveler]

I read that only (roughly) 1% of the American adult population has a Ph.D. Why so low? Doctorate programs are extremely difficult to get into?

[PRagic]

I think that's 1% of the adult working population. Yes, good programs are tough to get into, and not everyone can get funding. It also takes a long time. Most people simply aren't interested enough in a topic or don't need that level of expertise or knowledge to compete and prosper in the work force. The odds are also stacked against you in terms of making a successful carreer in academe.

Many get turned off or intimidated. If you thought micro and macro theory and econometrics were tough as an undergrad, what the HELL would you do at the doctoral level lol? And a lot of people quit at the dissertation phase. The prospect of pretty much becoming an expert on one facet of one discipline to the point where you can contribute something new and unique can be daunting to say the least. It takes a special form of stubborn to take that on and to crank out a couple hundred pages to back it up.

So you'd better dig what you study. During the coursework phase you'll probably be writing over 100 pages a semester or doing the equivalent in quantitative exercises. You'll write well over 100 pages in qualifying exams. Then you get to research and write your thesis. And the pay off? No
guarantee there.

[Hugo85]