Academia is a cult | Karen Kelsky | TEDxUAMonticello

[vinayabhat]

"Science is a wonderful thing, if one does not have to earn ones living at it " - Albert Einstien

[andyprompt]

Have a master's. Left law school after one semester and now own a successful small business. Smartest decision I ever made

[Liz-wzdh]

Academia is very toxic. The constant competition and the need to look intelligent warps people so that they can't have normal relationships anymore. Everyone I know in that world engages in moralizing/lecturing people around them as if we are all their students and this is just in everyday conversation.

[jennymagnes]

I was scolded by a dean because I pointed out the financial repercussions of certain majors. Universities are irresponsible with the lives of their students and families, who make incredible sacrifices. So sad!

[JesusPerez-ixeo]

If I knew of the trauma and the debt I would encountered, I would have never done a PhD. It was not worth it.

[ca-ke]

Not just that, the academic achievement cult starts from as young as when we start school. We rate our children on academic achievement, getting into a prestigious university is the pinacle of success for kids. Even here we believe that people advanced degrees will solve the world's problems. How do you tell a kid who's entire life's worth is being smart and good at academics to leave this cult? Even now my parents solution to me being unsatisfied with my job is to go and pursue a PhD, because it is automatically seen as productive for my future career.

[Mta]

I keep coming back to this because after finishing my PhD at the height of covid in 2020 I left and never looked back. Thank you. This is my mantra.

[sarahphillips]

I just dropped out of a Masters program in humanities. This video made me feel much better. I noticed in the program that people seemed to take pride in the future low wages. The teacher even made jokes about the low pay. What a scam!

[owen]

Late comment, but I recall being in a prorfessor's office hours and him joking about being in poverty for almost a decade in California while obtaining his PhD. He laughed about it, but I can't stand how academics normalize that behavior/mindset

[tan]

I got my PhD last year and now am doing a part time job. Sigh! Trying to change my career. Very well said, Ms.

[johannkassim]

I spoke against doing an honours, but was deterred by the professors, in spite of my gpa being only high enough for a 3rd class hons. A waste of 2 years. Ending in a mental breakdown, and abuse by professors. Then, to another uni, and being rejected for honest work. Academia cares little for us all.

[Nymwe]

Quitting PhD project, one of the most liberating things was finding out that there ARE places with a healthy work-life balance, with supportive co-workers, with a healthy mindset. It also helped to distinguish between relationships worth keeping and toxic ones.

[Drjbranch]

All Facts All Day!! Very well said and needed to be said. Thank you!!!

[TheRenaissanceAmazon]

I’m so thankful that my undergrad organic chemistry professor told me this and so I switched majors. Then in my first year of my Master’s a couple professors told me this too. Which is why I left the program.

[keithschweiger]

Thank you for this! I am hitting that phase right now where I am beginning to reject the cult, and this video helped to affirm my stance. Thank you for what you do, Karen!

[luisaoc]

I love my job but I doubt my body will persist if I keep going at this rhythm at two universities and freelancing

[hutchinsonsolarlunarplanet]

"You don't need institutional validation"-Karen Kelsky, EXACTLY!. I attempt to teach to the best of my abilities on my YouTube channels without any wanting of monetary gain, and I don't posses a college degree. I posses several trade school diplomas, but rarely if ever bring them up in conversation. I love to teach and pass on what I know and it gives me great joy in my life. I have personally known since my youth that college and the whole construct of academia is For years I lived in shame without finishing my college degree. I live in joy now because of LETTING GO of the human fake/fraud/phony construct that does not, and never will deserve MY VALIDATION.

[zhangyin]

This should be a mandatory video for anyone entering a PhD program. Adjuncts, please stop teaching! As long as there is cheap labor, administrators will exploit our talent and give us in return nothing. Do you love teaching? Start an YouTube channel, organize free webinars...

[savvaskyriakidis]

I am so jealous of those who escaped academia. I hope I'll be able to do the same pretty soon.

[birdbird]

Thank you Karen for eloquently addressing the elephant in the room!