Often, when faculty in the United States mention someone dropped out of a PhD program (or academe), they act as if the person was Voldemort (he who must not be named), because the person has left their academic community.
Sometimes, they seem to imply that the person just could not hack it, & they left bc of some kind of personal deficiency.
Rarely, do they note the person was capable & made a good decision.
When the tone goes negative, I tune them out.
Why?
Because in my cohort of PhD students, I was the only survivor.
I survived - not bc I was the best - I survived bc I was commited to the idea of finishing my degree.
Every single member of my cohort - who left - left for good reasons.
One couldn’t stomach the paltry stipend - he was plenty smart.
One missed his soon to be fiancée - best reason to go home ever.
One noted the faculty had changed - he wanted something different.
Every single one was more capable than me - on many different levels.
All of them - if they had wanted to - could have finished a PhD with no more than the usual challenges.
The drop-outs lack confidence myth - is just that - a myth.
Based on my experience, I’ve come to appreciate students who self-select out of earning a PhD.
Why?
BC they saved themselves a lot of effort and clawed back income they would have lost, if they stuck it out for a few years & never finished.
More than that, they save universities and advisors vast sums of money & time training someone with little interest in completing the degree.
Most importantly, they create opportunities to be happy.
So what to do?
Rather than whisper about departed students in hushed tones, my view is that we should have candid conversations with PhD students about career trajectory.
Ideally, we should discuss three options.
First, exit.
If a student lacks the interest or aptitude, offer them a dignified way out.
Second, career pivot.
In many countries, a PhD puts a person on an executive track.
If a student doesn’t want to exit, help them explore options in industry.
The lack of an industry option is a real deficiency in many US PhD programs.
Third, focus on academe.
If a student wants to profess, then clearly explain what is necessary. Don’t sugar coat it.
Academe is not for the weak of heart.
Candid conversations afford opportunities to maintain relationships- no matter the student’s career path.
If we build structures that connect advanced students, who opt for industry, to academic communities, we afford opportunities for meaningful future interaction & partnerships needed to solve real world problems.
More than that, we de-stigmatize what is a good decision for many students. It’s hard to leave a profession that you’ve spent years training to participate in - we don’t have to make it any harder.
If we are to build a better academe, we have to accept it’s not for everyone!
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