Mini project 3: Article

Academic or Industrial career?

Whether your graduating in a couple of years, or just starting your bachelor’s degree, the choice between pursuing an academic or industrial career has or will eventually come to mind. By clarifying and discussing both fields this article will try and make this critical life choice easier.

Choosing to practice an academic career is defined as a "consequential decision." by psychologists in the sense that it will have a life-altering impact. Indeed, you need to note that it usually takes up to 15 years to go from a Master’s Degree, through a Ph.D, to the possible awarding of academic tenure. As you can see, the road is far from short and justifies why the decision should be taken carefully and be given a lot of thought. Under no circumstance should you choose to pursue this type of career under the pressure of family or friends.

Many PhD students I’ve spoken too have told me the academic career is what you make of it; it can be monotonous unbearable to the point that you feel like just quitting or it can be an experience full of innovation where everyday brings new knowledge. In order to make sure you are taking the right path here are some points and questions you need to consider while making you decision:

· Go after you passion: Are you an academic person? Do you enjoy elaborating about the same topic for hours? Or do you like to go to the field and apply your knowledge in practical life?

· Be aware of what you can and can't do with a Ph.D., and no matter what you pursue be sure it is for the right reasons. When talking about an academic career I often refer to a Ph.D because nowadays it is nearly impossible to have the first without the second.

· Suppose you were admitted in a graduate school with no funding, would you still consider an academic career?

· Be in harmony with yourself and make your choice according to your character and your goals. To illustrate, I’ll give the example of my sister who at first, decided to pursue an academic career. After a Master’s Degree in Pharmacology and halfway through her Ph.D in experimental medicine, decided she did not want to dissect mice and be confined to a laboratory all her life. She consequently joined the market place and is now a medical representative for LA ROCHE POSAY (a branch of L’Oreal).

It is important to note that getting a Ph.D does not necessarily mean becoming a professor. Earning such a degree means a huge commitment of time. I feel it is important to define what Ph.D is. “The doctor of philosophy degree is the highest academic degree granted by North American universities. Ph.D. programs are designed to prepare students to become scholars, that is, to discover, integrate, and apply knowledge, as well as to communicate and disseminate it. A doctoral program is an apprenticeship that consists of lecture or laboratory courses, seminars, examinations, discussions, independent study, research, and, in many instances, teaching. The first year or two of study is normally a probationary period, during which a preliminary or qualifying examination might be required. The probationary period is followed by an examination for admission to full candidacy, when students devote essentially full-time to completing dissertation research. This research, planned with the major advisor and the dissertation committee, usually takes 1-3 years, depending on the field. An oral defense of the research and dissertation before a graduate committee constitutes the final examination.”( "The Doctor of Philosophy Degree: A Policy Statement," in Reshaping the Graduate Education of Scientists and Engineers, Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1996, p. 1-3).To conclude this part, the academic career is a very flexible career, with a nice work environment, marked by many research awards, lifelong learning and a good job security. However you need to be determined and passionate about your research topic. If the academic career is not of much interest to you, the second option is the industrial career.

The industrial career, often designated by “the real world”, is the actual market place. It is a very different environment where success or failure varies from one person to another depending on how they prove themselves. It is the world where all or part of the knowledge you got in a bachelor’s degree is applied in real life conditions. You meet clients, deal with managers, and solve problems…. In other terms, welcome to the real world. You may achieve your goals and be a successful business person or … you may end up being a simple employee working the 9 to 5 hour shifts over and over again.

As a conclusion, which ever direction you opt for, you may succeed or may fail. This is why it is essential that your options be in harmony with your preferences. In this case, you cannot go wrong since you will end up working in you field of choice.

RAHBANI RAMZI #260230521