Has anyone become a college professor as a second career? I am thinking of going back to school to get my Master's & Doctorate in order to become a college professor. I will be 40 when I am done with my schooling. Has anyone else become a college professor later in life? What advice would you give to me?
2007-04-19 05:26:00 · 4 answers · asked by bballgirl2k1 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
That's a tough one.
A couple important things you left out of your question.
What discipline are you interesting in teaching in?
What level of school are looking to become a professor at?
Are you in it for the research or the teaching?
The answers to those questions are key. There is a glut in doctorates in some fields (Humanities), and a shortage in others (Accounting), so you may be done with your education and realize that you can adjunct at best.
Teaching at a community college (which you could likely do with a Master's and save a few years) is different than teaching at a bigger school.
Don't do it for the money, academics isn't competitive at all.
2007-04-19 16:59:27 · answer #1 · answered by swimbikeron 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am in grad school right now and will get my Ph d when i am in my early 40's for similar reasons - I want to be a prof. I have talked to many of my current profs and it is really a mixed bag. some went to grad school right away after getting a BA, others didn't go until later in life. I would say do it!!!
I am having so much more fun and am getting much more out of my education this time around.
you have to make sure you're doing this b/c YOU want it - i mean, the money profs make isn't that great! and it is a lot of hard work. My advice is to start looking at different grad programs in your area and set up a meeting with someone at the school who can answer your questions in some detail. they may have demographic info for you to see - i mean, you may be a bit older than most of the students, but not by much.
2007-04-19 05:35:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I went back to school at age 43 -- getting an MBA from Duke right before turning 45 and a PhD in finance right before turning 49. Financially, it wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done to go back to school during my prime earning years. But the difference in lifestyle almost makes up for it.
The one thing I can say is don't do it because you think you would love teaching. You have to do it because you love research. If you don't want to devote your life to doing research, then you shouldn't even think about a PhD.
But if that is what you want -- then you already know that you can't NOT do it.
2007-04-19 05:51:10 · answer #3 · answered by Ranto 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
professional: it is the only component you're able to do with a PhD in English. Con: it is the only component you're able to do with a PhD in English, so which you would be competing for jobs with anybody else that has a PhD in English.
2016-12-29 10:08:14 · answer #4 · answered by husaini 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋