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

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.

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!! 👏🏼

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

I can't imagine going into my PhD right after school. I've worked in corporate consulting for 4 years and without the safety net I've build I would never feel comfortable financially. I'm glad you mentioned that - no one should be getting a PhD for money, it's not worth it.

Its a whole new day and you are so on point about this. At 76 my life's experience has taught me so much more practical usable information than the classroom. So very proud of you my sweet neice. Honesty, transparency is freedom.

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🥹

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.

This is really helpful because I’ve been thinking about getting a PhD in African American Studies but still a little hesitant about committing to it all

12:45 It actually is really easy to understand. Professors are pretty much just a cost center. Consultants, even ones straight out of undergrad, generate substantial PROFITS, let alone revenue. If PwC is any indication, entry-level employees in consulting-type fields are the HIGHEST margin employees at the firm

I PgDipped out of my MSc. It was such a hard decision to make and I talked to lost of people, watched lots of videos but ultimately I think the thing I had to trust was my intuition. I made my decision and I can't say I regret i, and if I ever do then I will have learnt a lesson all the same. Trust your gut, especially when your health/mental health is more important. Thank you for sharing your experience 😊

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!!!)

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

My older brother quit his phd program back in the day and I can see why

For me it is not about the money. My goal was to pursue my academic interests. As a graduate student I make more than my single mom did while raising five kids.

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

Great said, Raven! The relationship between science and academia is like the relationship between faith and cult. So, no regrets. I’m sure you thrive now.

Yes! I went to an 'Ivy' for my masters.... Not 🤑 rich! Also, Black & Jewish.... I'm a PhD student...studying Black Jewish health outcomes.

Came here from your "day in the life at Northwestern" video, idk why I'm watching this when I'm just about to start mine at NU😂 But honestly, I relate to you on some of the points. I also quit a PhD program and left with a Masters one year ago. I felt trapped and realized a lot of the things you did (low pay, wasn't really enjoying my work, didn't like my lab, etc). But I also didn't like my first industry job at all😂😂 I quit after 3 months and got a research job, in a completely different field. I was surprised by how transferable some of my skills I gained during my Masters research were. And I loved it so much that I decided to reapply to PhD programs because I knew it'd be good for my future career in industry/government research. I think it really took the real life experience of adulting + figuring out what I wanted to do to be sure a PhD was the right decision. I'm so grateful for this gap year, and definitely wouldn't recommend going to a PhD program straight out of undergrad because of my experience😅 So yeah, congrats on your decision to leave your program, honestly if there's any modicum of doubt about starting a PhD it's best to just not do it and it seems like you've made a great choice for yourself. Good luck!!!

In the UK our stipend is ~ $20k. Most students have to live in house shares of at least 5 people to get by. Teaching is optional but doesn't get you more than $600 a semester, and even then you won't necessarily find teaching positions every semester. That said, pros are free health care and no taxes, but it'd be impossible to afford anyway.

I'm not even in academia and I know grad students and adjuncts deserve MUCH MUCH better than the current status quo.

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!

I am so so thankful that I stumbled on this video. Humanities girlie thinking of quitting myself… you really spoke my mind

What school were you attending? Maybe the school wasn't a good fit. I started off at Northcentral University when I was 27 in the PhD in Public Administration until I was 34, dissertation experience did not work out - so I settled for a Post-Masters Certificate. I ended up, however, qt Adler University with a very rewarding PhD degree and great dissertational support.

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

Yeah thats how Im looking at it too, even a 2 yr masters. 14k fellowship, 9k scholarship, 19-21$ an hour job/5-20hrs a week Vs. 52-55K starting salary Job and then go to law school instead 3 yrs,.

Excellent rationale. So proud of you

Obviously, this is a personal decision, but, at your age, the financial opportunity cost would likely be worth it.

Very articulate and informative. Best wishes to you.

This "learning happens everywhere" theory is highly romanticised. Especially if you are interested in going deeper about some issues, dont expect that you can do it by talking with random people, going to the coffee ir the church. You will just be frustrated by how superficial those conversations Will be. Other interesting jobs for academics who dont like academia might be things like museums ir art galleries

Im a STEM girlie and is on my 1st year of PhD and yeah,, thinking of dropping out, thank you for the video, its hard to talk about this

This is me ! And I have no stipend, despite having competition grades, so I had to work on weekends and after hours. I have a year left of my masters , 2 if I do PhD. Im soo burnt out I don’t even want to do research anymore

I found a program and a book named Guaranteed 4.0. I only have an associates but I've been using the technique for self studying and learning and it's very good. Also from what I've heard a person that can self teach themselves a skill in a short amount of time is worth more than a person with a degree. I've also read online that the average person takes 5 years to get a bachelors. I've also been using a book named Photo-reading (I don't know if the subconscious part of the book works).

Raven, I'm a Black Jewish woman who is working on an Intangible Cultural heritage project for African-Americans. I would love to invite you to work on this project. Let me know the best way to contact you.

If you're exclusively spending 5-6 years living on the PhD stipend without work / internship to pull in a lot more money, you are approaching the finances completely wrong. Part of the phd programme is to get other experiences (which also pay a lot better than many traditional full-time jobs) which supplement your income. If that's not possible in your field, it shouldn't be a degree.

Terrified I'm watching this after applying to 13 grad schools for History (Northwestern being of them)

I finished my PhD long ago in physics because I was never a quitter.

Hey my Blk Queen im currently in my doctoral program (EdD). My first Dis class is next week. Take time for yourself

I get it. Take the time to do what makes your soul happy. However, whatever that is.❤

Beginning with of the panorama?

First of all, since when does a PHD professor teach??? You gotta get Grant $$$ for Cornell, who are you actually talking to at Cornell? Getting A's is easy, getting a good job is hard, wish everyone here the best. If you don't enjoy the journey, what is the purpose of having a destination.

Yeah, it seems like doing PhD is just like volunteering for slavery and exploitation.

3:00 - NW grad students make $35k. Umm, PT adjunct work (15 minutes every morning) pays $38k. ;) 7 minutes in - and no mention of your PhD field. So non-STEM? 7:30 - field is AA studies? Best of luck going forward.

Can you do a getting ready for a bar/bat mitzvah video? I’m having my bat mitzvah this October and I would love some ideas!! I ❤ ur videos!!!

Thanks for the upload! I have to admit that everything you have said is true. Getting a job in academia it is BEST to have a doctorate because you can supervise grad and undergrad students. I would say take some time off but do not give up. Try taking that masters and try entering a doctorate program in psychology, philosophy, or anthropology. I believe the liberal arts may lead to a license to get a better job. Now, consulting as a doctor pays more than a masters depending on the industry. There are some PhD programs that do not have a research associate/teaching assistant criteria but simply just going to class and pay your tuition. Those two letters cost a lot of money, time, and tears but it is worth it in the end . Many grads may earn good money after a bachelors or a masters BUT as a doctor, you have the potential to make a lot more money because you are the expert in the content area. Always remember, when you are being introduced as doctor, you have the floor and other’s ears literally. There PhD who do not publish but work in the public industry and truly enjoy it. Honestly, if you get a gig at the community college the money is high.

Generally, if you are smart enough to get into a competitive PhD program then one might assume that you have the basic ability to do a cost benefit analysis that any first year business student could do.

Come on, be honest.

35,000. Jeez. I'm getting 19k...

What field was the Phd. In?

You are so brave!

I think you were too young just because you can do the work doesn't mean you should

what micky mouse program runs a Masters/Phd Program?

Go Raven!

Wow PhD in Gender studies? Very nice!

Yea you’re right now on the industrial market it’s all about meaningless figures and objectification which is all about politics

So beautiful

👩🏽‍🎓👩🏽‍🏫🎒🫶🏽‼️♥️🎯📚

Did reading about AA history challenge your feelings about whiteness? Was that the challenge? Did it make you uncomfortable because the readings made you see them in a different way? I find it interesting that you are now only learning of atrocities at the PHD level. So I am curious how involved you are or how much interaction have you had with your African American side, family, or those who would have been able to share history with you. I’m just very surprised that you were so shocked and that you quit over what seems to be fairly common knowledge in black culture. Hope you find a career that works.

That my friend is called a failure....

TUDaH GhL HaSHYTUQ (thank you for sharing, in Hebrew). YYGhUTS MGhNYYN UTeUB (interesting & good counsel). // SHLM & HaB (peace & love). The Name of the Creator is Hayah asher Hayah, as what He told Moshah (Exodus 3:14), preserved in the Hebrew Scriptures. There is a curse to the G-o-d name (Isaiah 65:11-12), preserved in the Hebrew Scriptures. All followers of the Messiah are to do the 7 appointed times (Leviticus 23), but no more animal sacrifices, following the Crucifixion of the Messiah. We are now of the order of MLK TSDQ (King, righteous), to Whom ABRaHM tithed. Ask the Messiah to be your personal Savior. He said to him, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of Hayah (Romans 3:23). The wages for sin is death but the gift of ALaHYM is Everlasting Life through Messiah Yahushgh our Master (Romans 6:23). That if you confess with your mouth the Master Yahushgh and believe in your heart that ALaHYM raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved (Romans 10:9). He Himself is an Atoning Offering for our sins, and not for ours only but also for all the world (1 John 2:2).