On econ PhD & how hard it is, & #EconTwitter. I've debated whether to post this because I respect & honor others' feelings & experiences. But I think there's a fine line between authentically sharing difficult experiences, and creating an echo chamber of competitive misery. 1/N
I do think we need to be authentic and real about the challenges. But I think it's bullshit to say or imply that you can't do an econ PhD without not only x, y, and z math and having already taken the econ PhD core, and being superhuman in ability to suffer. Not true. 2/N
It's harder to get into "top" econ PhD programs, and those programs do have high math requirements as well a hard first-year curriculum. Perhaps unreasonably high/hard. But do we have to play along with that? 3/N
There are other schools out there. I know it's somewhat harder to get a job out of a lower-ranked PhD program, but I also know from experience that it can work out well. Faculty at lower-ranked schools may care more about individual students' thriving. 4/N
And when you go to a lower-ranked schools, you may mostly avoid the kind of competitive asshole PhD students who want to go to top schools! Also, having all the math beforehand will help, but often you can get in without real, for example. 5/N
We're economists, people. People with econ PhDs from all kinds of schools get good jobs. So an equilibrium response to a horrible PhD experience at top schools is to go to other schools instead where it's not so horrible. And might even be a good experience. 6/N
Another way to make the econ PhD experience good? Get yourself out of the competitive misery business - spend time with people outside your grad program, and even those who aren't grad students. Do self-care - run, yoga, cook, whatever. 7/N
Again, I honor everyone's experience. And I'm not saying my PhD program was all roses. But that was more because of personal mental health struggles (unrelated to grad school) than anything else. 8/N
But grad school can be a beautiful time - you get to grow as a scholar with minimal responsibilities. You're building human capital, learning how to do research. You can spend all day reading or doing data analysis and not worry about other deadlines & draws on your energy. 9/N
I'm saying, in painting an honest picture, let's remember we don't have to buy into all the bullshit, because that can reinforce a system that causes pain.
With that, I conclude, and wish you all a restful break full of opportunities to recharge and be yourself.
N=10/N
With that, I conclude, and wish you all a restful break full of opportunities to recharge and be yourself.
N=10/N
