"Do you want to spend years working on a paper so that you can get it in an obscure journal that nobody reads so that you can then get passed over by the tenure committee because you didn't publish in a journal that was obscure enough?" Haha.
I was in a PhD program in Political Science from age 23 to 26. A few months into the program, I realized that I just didn't want a PhD bad enough. I decided to give myself some time to decide whether or not to continue in the program. After giving the matter some thought, I decided to at least get a master's degree. It was standard practice to give a master's degree to students who dropped out of the PhD program as long as they had taken all the coursework and turned in a paper of publishable quality. After almost three years into the program, I turned in a paper. It wasn't really of publishable quality but I was given the master's degree anyway. The master's was a consolation prize more than something I would consider a badge of honor. My most memorable experiences of my years in the program were not academic ones. Since I knew early on that I probably wouldn't be getting a PhD, I decided to make the most of my grad-school experience. I got involved in extracurricular activities such as writing for the school paper as well as taking swimming, fencing, and drawing. I also made a lot of friends in and out of my department. Now I'm in my fifties. Do I regret my decision to drop out of the program? Maybe to some extent, but I probably never wanted the PhD bad enough. As for this video, I think it's very accurate in many ways. My math skills weren't that good when I started the program, so taking the required statistics class was somewhat of a challenge. As for how much math was needed in pursuit of the PhD depended on one's focus of study. In my case, I was torn between political philosophy and international relations. In political philosophy, not much math is needed. In international relations, some math might be useful if you're doing comparative studies. I knew some PhD students who were carrying out math-strong research but most students probably were not.
This is if you are interested in quantitative political science. You can be a qualitative political scientist instead. One is an empiricist; a number cruncher trying to measure the infinite variables of the political. The other is a rationalist; a logical theorist and abstract thinker.... Still funny though.
what is so funny, is that 20 years ago I showed a documentary in class about the House committee overseeing the Clean Water Act, and the reason I showed it was because it showed how tedious and painfully boring congressional politics are. We could only take about 25 minutes. Point well made. But getting a PHD in political science is great if you see your teaching job as just a pay check, and you have the time to read and study concepts that fascinate you. You can't save the world with a political science doctorate, but you can spend your life reflecting on political discourse kinda like Socrates (only Socrates didn't get tenure, and the elite actually led him to suicide).
You can make a cynical caricature like this of any job. At the end of the day, "meaningful work" doesn't really exist except in the mind of the worker.
Maybe my Political Science department is different than everyone else's, but, we make the Econ majors in our class do the math when there is any, and generally there isn't any.
This is depressingly accurate. Whoever made this video obviously has experienced first-hand the misery and pointlessness of graduate-level political science research. Sadly, it's too late for me to change my course, but to all of you considering a Ph.D. in political science -- take heed.
@@thedhive6512 Not yet. I completed my graduate studies a few years ago. I spent a couple of years working as a corporate trainer and am now teaching at a high school. The pay isn't as good as what I would have earned at a large research university, but it's competitive with the kind of salaries you find at smaller four-year colleges. The major drawback is the pace of the school day. Six classes back to back, which leaves virtually no time to reflect on my lectures in order to make improvements. (I'm still stuck in the college mentality.) Also, there is very little time, so far, to pursue independent research. My hope is that, once I've fully developed my class lectures, I'll be able to spend more of my evenings and weekends pursuing scholarly activities. That said, this is not a bad job. The school's administration is fantastic. Very hands-off and committed to a classical mode of education. I don't work on any major national holidays; I have four separate weeks off (October break, Thanksgiving break, winter break, spring break); I get about two weeks off for Christmas; and I have two and a half months off in the summer. Still hoping to land a teaching job at a college some day, but I'm grateful for my present circumstances.
@@gnaaaaaman I have a MA in Diplomacy Law and Business. Do you think it is worth pursuing a PhD in Pol Sci or International Affairs from Tier 2-3 US university
Unless societal expectations suddenly change, you won't need a postgraduate degree to become a mayor or governor. Ascending to an elected executive office depends more on your ability to communicate effectively, to project a strong ethos, and, if necessary, to be willing to align your personal agenda with the interests of your constituency. Ambassadors are more like agents than decision makers; but if you truly enjoy cultures, acquire proficiency in a foreign language and study int'l relations.
I'm a PhD in political science, and I tell folks how Internet voting can end that partisan gridlock you talked about. It can also neutralize Big Money in all US elections My favorite book is Internet Voting Now!
Damn I wish this had been available in 1997 before I quit a good-paying job in San Francisco where I lived in a rent-controlled apartment so I could get a PhD at Michigan only to be turned down for tenure at (pathetic public university in the rural inland Northwest) and quit academia entirely. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to go see if Sylvia Plath is done hogging the oven -- there's only room for one head at a time in there...
@@thedhive6512 I'm a data scientist for the Idaho Transportation Department. The one smart move I did make in grad school was to take advantage of Michigan's strength in quantitative methods training and load up on stats courses--that skill wound up being in greater demand than my in-depth knowledge of Southeast Asian politics :). Taught myself various machine learning techniques, data viz, etc. But man that video was spot-on, uncomfortably so in parts.
@@nickjorg1 I saw this video back in 2013-2014. It encouraged me to re-think my plan of going to PhD. Now I am working a decent job, have decent savings, and have a decent apartment. I think not going to PhD was the right decision. I'm still a nerd and my dating life has not changed much, though. (Then again, MGTOW, so whatev)
Don't get a PhD in Political Science, dude. Get a bachelor's degree, then a teacher's certification and teach Social Studies in public school. That's about all you can do with a Political Science degree. Great video. 👍
1/2 If you're interested in serving as an elected representative, there is much to be gained from studying politics; though it's vitally important never to forget the distinction between theory and practice. Although theory can and should inform our actions, studying politics is different from doing politics. This tension has frustrated everyone from ordinary men to great philosophers, so don't feel bad if you find yourself similarly frustrated.
It depends somewhat on your goals and expectations. What do you mean by "get into politics"? Running for an elected office? Helping to manage a political campaign for someone else? Working at a research institute or think tank? Writing political columns? Teaching? Given UA-cam's limited text space, it will be easier for me to respond if you narrow down the question for me.
Sounds like someone chose an essentially useless field to study and get a Doctorate in and now they realize they wasted their life and are pissed off about it.
I'm still interested in getting a DPhil in politics, but with a focus on International Relations and the MIddle East. My dissertation will likely require fluency in Arabic, which is in demand. Learn the right skills and play your cards right like any other degree (in addition to loving what you do).
You're welcome. Many colleges offer both American and international studies. What you'll want to discern, however, is whether a particular college is classified as "liberal arts" or "research." Research institutions emphasize the sort of approach parodied in this UA-cam video (i.e., quantitative methods). Liberal arts institutions tend to emphasize history and philosophy. So decide which approach you're more comfortable with before submitting your student application. Godspeed!
You're welcome. In my opinion, studying human nature is crucial to understanding politics. Economics, law, etc., can help you with particular aspects of public policy, but a proper study of human nature will provide you with a general yet essential foundation for effective politics. Before taking up modern sociology, review some of the classics such as Aristotle's Politics and N. Ethics. The older philosophers tend to address the basics in a more thorough way than modern writers, in my view.
In terms of cost-effectiveness, it depends on what sort of necessary expenses you'll bring with you into the world of graduate study (e.g., preexisting credit card bills, car insurance, etc.). If these things aren't overwhelming, and if you're not opposed to living frugally for a few years, you could apply for a paid assistantship through the graduate department. Yearly stipends range somewhere between $10k and $18k. If you needed to, you could supplement it with a moderate student loan.
POV: you see this video, but decide to disregard its cynicism and still pursue the PhD. Years later, you are, indeed, jumping from postdoc to postdoc & end up teaching at some obscure university. At least you learn transferable quantitative (and perhaps technical) skills!
*Note: I stumbled into my prog before knowing that polisci was divided into quant and qual studies. My reason for pursuing a Ph.D. is to give me a better opportunity at teaching in a college. So quant studies have little real-world meaning for me. In many ways, I've had to swim against the current in my dept. If you choose to earn a Ph.D., you'll learn that it's often necessary to assert very firmly your own goals and intentions, or else risk wasting your time and money doing something you hate.
From what I hear, if you want a job in, say, the federal gov't, you need SERIOUS connections or SERIOUS, SERIOUS qualifications and gov't knowledge. Hell, just go to USA JOBS DOT GOV and see what I mean! It's INSANE how much they require for even basic positions... And then people complain about how inefficient the feds supposedly are... The contradiction baffles me. I'm no conservative, but if they ARE so inefficient, yet spend so much "resources" finding "good candidates"... it's like WTF?
Political science is a declining field, especially with the most recent field of public administration. My professors did work for campaigns, advised political leaders, became ... well, professors, and so forth. But this video is accurate and hilarious in many other ways!
2/2 Is a post-secondary education in politics worth it? Sure; but it depends significantly on your own habits and talents. College doesn't magically make anybody more knowledgeable; rather, it creates an environment that is more conducive to a contemplative life. So if you use that time to pore over the great texts of mankind, it's entirely possible for you to emerge a more thoughtful and intelligent person. Political wisdom and goodness, however, require more than a diploma.
It varies from program to program, at lower ranked schools expect nothing more than applied statistics and basic calculus/game theory. At top school expect linear algebra, rigorous game theory/mathematical statistics and some parts of real analysis.
This is absolutely pure opinion from someone who sounds like they are butt hurt. My advice is follow what you love. An education, regardless if someone's opinion thinks it is worthless, is valuable and can never be taken away. Be optimistic, use your brain, and don't listen to crap like this.
The expected utility of getting laid is high? Oh, well as a high school graduate and a college dropout I can provide firsthand confirmation of this without you ever doing your study.
In the U.S., the answer depends on whether you earn a degree in quantitative or qualitative studies. A Ph.D. in political science is most useful for becoming a faculty member at the university level; however, a quant major will likely focus on research and getting published in academic journals while a qual major will focus more on the art of teaching. These are generalizations, but I think they're fair ones. Outside of academia, you might find work in a think tank or research institution.
As for your societal concerns, you shouldn't let that drive your decisions. I don't know much about the field of psychology, but I assume, like most other social sciences, it's been divided into two sections at the graduate level: quantitative and qualitative. If that's the case, you'll need to ask yourself what you expect to do with a Ph.D.* Are you interested in conducting number-crunching research or do you prefer employing theory in practice/teaching?
Stop at a Masters then get a job teaching at a private High School. It will take less time and prove far less frustrating. On average there are over 100 applicants with Ph.D.s for every faculty position at an accredited college/university.
Ok, some think tanks are ideologically driven but what about place like the Center for strategic and international relations or the stimson center, you can get an internship for 6 months and then once they see your work they will probably hire you. google something like how to get a job at a thinktank and you''ll find some career opportunities for people with a degree in political science.
That's fine, if you want to get a law degree, you can literally major in anything. Law schools look at your gpa and your lsat score and no degree really gives you much of a leg up in the lsat. You study using lsat books you can find online and do your best. But do keep in mind the usefulness of your degree if your plans decide to change, many people rethink law school as time goes on. Something like Econ may be more useful job wise than poli sci but econ is more difficult and ur gpa may suffer.
This is more of a video telling people that Political Science has nothing to do with Politics. That and a little bit about the apparent downfalls of a job in the science industry, which may or may not matter to you.
I'm hoping for something in the area of like, Mayor, and then (hopefully) Governor of a state. Although there is also the alternative of Embassador. It may be some of a stretch, but Iam extremly interested in other cultures, languages, etc. P.S. I want to be the one in front making changes. I am most certainly NOT the kind of person to be in the background, unnoticed.
I'm not sure where we disagree. The true science of politics blends prudence with societal realities, but it does so without abandoning political philosophy's concern for the common good. To the extent that modern polisci ignores so-called "normative" questions, it attaches itself to the moral relativism endorsed by modern sociology: i.e., there is no right or wrong society, but only many different kinds of societies.
if you want to get a ph.d in political science then do it. No Ph.D is easy; they are all grueling. But from what I've seen with professors and doctoral students its the kind of thing where its all they can imagine doing.
I think you just made my point. A real degree comes with a real paying job, not an unpaid internship to prove my loyalty to an ideology. Think tanks are entirely ideology driven, ngo's are typically underpaying overworking environments also ideologically driven, and I actually do know a guy who is now head of security at an overseas embassy. He is an extremely right wing conservative christian and his career took off under W. Bush. I studied democracy and learned only the value of acquiescence.
The only remotely-federal job I was close to was a position at the USPS... and I had to cancel the interview b/c of a scheduling conflict or something. Not quite sure The woman in the email ACTUALLY told me the WHOLE interview was "over 2 hours long." Over 2 hours... for an interview with the post office?? Something seems fishy.
Etymologically, there's nothing wrong with combining "political" and "science." Aristotle rightly noted that knowledge is knowledge; the difficulty arises when we encounter different fields of study in which the degree of precision they yield varies. There is a science to both geometry and politics, but the latter is inherently far less precise. I agree with you, however, that the usefulness of predictive modeling is questionable, and that we should study polisci via philosophy and history.
true that... i think outside academia is a better choice just for isolated mind like me ..it will help to discover some applications and great logical theories dat is still not ben implemented or materialized and one more benefit bound to it dat it is free and proves opportunity for intellectuals,beureucrates,idealists to set their dreams into existence for a major cause.. my choice of politics is an aim dat i could see my ppl in national solidarity and unity
not all people who pursue PHDs do it to become professors. I know some idiot is going to come in and lecture me on how that's all you can do with a PHD. But I assure you a PHD means you're an expert in that field.. It yields really great career opportunities. Just depends on where you take it, and if you have a plan. Also you gotta build your brand don't just go straight into PHD, get some experience and while pursuing y our PHD keep working. I guess this depends on the field though.
@Sincopare Yeah, I majored in poli sci and couldn't stand half the kids in my major. I actually found my classmates from my English minor courses to be more approachable.
somebody has got some real issues...why is it that the ones who downplay political science are usually the ones who a) aren't in college and b) aren't earning much with their minimum wage job
This video saved my life. It made me realize I only wanted a Ph.D. for narcissistic reasons and that I would regret it. Seriously, thank you 🙏
I don't know whether to laugh or bust out crying.
rofl! i know.
"Do you want to spend years working on a paper so that you can get it in an obscure journal that nobody reads so that you can then get passed over by the tenure committee because you didn't publish in a journal that was obscure enough?" Haha.
I love how cynical these are.
+Thomas Norman Agreed
+Thomas Norman, Me too, and even though some of its only just kinda true this only strengthens my resolve about about my poly sci major
This video broke my dreams and gave me depression.
Same. Time to do PhD in English
I was in a PhD program in Political Science from age 23 to 26. A few months into the program, I realized that I just didn't want a PhD bad enough. I decided to give myself some time to decide whether or not to continue in the program. After giving the matter some thought, I decided to at least get a master's degree. It was standard practice to give a master's degree to students who dropped out of the PhD program as long as they had taken all the coursework and turned in a paper of publishable quality. After almost three years into the program, I turned in a paper. It wasn't really of publishable quality but I was given the master's degree anyway. The master's was a consolation prize more than something I would consider a badge of honor. My most memorable experiences of my years in the program were not academic ones. Since I knew early on that I probably wouldn't be getting a PhD, I decided to make the most of my grad-school experience. I got involved in extracurricular activities such as writing for the school paper as well as taking swimming, fencing, and drawing. I also made a lot of friends in and out of my department. Now I'm in my fifties. Do I regret my decision to drop out of the program? Maybe to some extent, but I probably never wanted the PhD bad enough. As for this video, I think it's very accurate in many ways. My math skills weren't that good when I started the program, so taking the required statistics class was somewhat of a challenge. As for how much math was needed in pursuit of the PhD depended on one's focus of study. In my case, I was torn between political philosophy and international relations. In political philosophy, not much math is needed. In international relations, some math might be useful if you're doing comparative studies. I knew some PhD students who were carrying out math-strong research but most students probably were not.
Nice
1:48-1:52
I literally laughed out loud.
The statistical model that followed and the glimmer of hope he had at getting it published was what really got me.
That was so hilarious and sad at the same time
This is if you are interested in quantitative political science. You can be a qualitative political scientist instead.
One is an empiricist; a number cruncher trying to measure the infinite variables of the political. The other is a rationalist; a logical theorist and abstract thinker....
Still funny though.
loves how the student does not get put off by the prof because he does not understand a single word from the prof - so true!
"What is it like to get laid" HAHAHAHAHA
"I don't know either" Lol
what is so funny, is that 20 years ago I showed a documentary in class about the House committee overseeing the Clean Water Act, and the reason I showed it was because it showed how tedious and painfully boring congressional politics are. We could only take about 25 minutes. Point well made. But getting a PHD in political science is great if you see your teaching job as just a pay check, and you have the time to read and study concepts that fascinate you. You can't save the world with a political science doctorate, but you can spend your life reflecting on political discourse kinda like Socrates (only Socrates didn't get tenure, and the elite actually led him to suicide).
You can make a cynical caricature like this of any job. At the end of the day, "meaningful work" doesn't really exist except in the mind of the worker.
this one was actually insightful. i never would have thought that political science required so much statistics knowledge
As a former political science grad student - I can tell you this is spot on.
Maybe my Political Science department is different than everyone else's, but, we make the Econ majors in our class do the math when there is any, and generally there isn't any.
This is depressingly accurate. Whoever made this video obviously has experienced first-hand the misery and pointlessness of graduate-level political science research. Sadly, it's too late for me to change my course, but to all of you considering a Ph.D. in political science -- take heed.
You a professor now?
@@thedhive6512 Not yet. I completed my graduate studies a few years ago. I spent a couple of years working as a corporate trainer and am now teaching at a high school. The pay isn't as good as what I would have earned at a large research university, but it's competitive with the kind of salaries you find at smaller four-year colleges. The major drawback is the pace of the school day. Six classes back to back, which leaves virtually no time to reflect on my lectures in order to make improvements. (I'm still stuck in the college mentality.) Also, there is very little time, so far, to pursue independent research. My hope is that, once I've fully developed my class lectures, I'll be able to spend more of my evenings and weekends pursuing scholarly activities.
That said, this is not a bad job. The school's administration is fantastic. Very hands-off and committed to a classical mode of education. I don't work on any major national holidays; I have four separate weeks off (October break, Thanksgiving break, winter break, spring break); I get about two weeks off for Christmas; and I have two and a half months off in the summer. Still hoping to land a teaching job at a college some day, but I'm grateful for my present circumstances.
@@gnaaaaaman nice!
@@gnaaaaaman I have a MA in Diplomacy Law and Business. Do you think it is worth pursuing a PhD in Pol Sci or International Affairs from Tier 2-3 US university
"We're not sure about the external validity, but we hope to get it published" LOLOLOLOL
After watching all these "So you want a Ph.D. in (insert field here)," I'm starting to rethink my future plans.
So that narcissistic nineteen year olds can tell me why they deserve A +
These videos always make me laugh and give me a slap in the face.
Hi panda
🐼
Unless societal expectations suddenly change, you won't need a postgraduate degree to become a mayor or governor. Ascending to an elected executive office depends more on your ability to communicate effectively, to project a strong ethos, and, if necessary, to be willing to align your personal agenda with the interests of your constituency. Ambassadors are more like agents than decision makers; but if you truly enjoy cultures, acquire proficiency in a foreign language and study int'l relations.
Thank you for curing me of my desire to get a PhD in political science
It's Arnold from the Magic School Bus. I guess he should've stayed home today.
After being an unemployed political scientist for 3y now I am into Econometrics and know what a Regression Discontinuity design is.
"At Harvard"
Hahaha (I'm crying inside)
I'm a PhD in political science, and I tell folks how Internet voting can end that partisan gridlock you talked about. It can also neutralize Big Money in all US elections My favorite book is Internet Voting Now!
Damn I wish this had been available in 1997 before I quit a good-paying job in San Francisco where I lived in a rent-controlled apartment so I could get a PhD at Michigan only to be turned down for tenure at (pathetic public university in the rural inland Northwest) and quit academia entirely. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to go see if Sylvia Plath is done hogging the oven -- there's only room for one head at a time in there...
What do you do now?
@@thedhive6512 I'm a data scientist for the Idaho Transportation Department. The one smart move I did make in grad school was to take advantage of Michigan's strength in quantitative methods training and load up on stats courses--that skill wound up being in greater demand than my in-depth knowledge of Southeast Asian politics :). Taught myself various machine learning techniques, data viz, etc. But man that video was spot-on, uncomfortably so in parts.
@@nickjorg1 I saw this video back in 2013-2014. It encouraged me to re-think my plan of going to PhD.
Now I am working a decent job, have decent savings, and have a decent apartment. I think not going to PhD was the right decision.
I'm still a nerd and my dating life has not changed much, though. (Then again, MGTOW, so whatev)
Don't let anyone tell you that you cannot get what you want. Stay away from negative people.
Well said. Eventhough people tell me my degrees in lesbian dance theory and ancient oriental pottery are useless, I think I can change the world.
PaiN ExoTiC *clap clap?*
I can’t image a political science PhD is just watered down economics. There must be some political theory in it.
Don't get a PhD in Political Science, dude. Get a bachelor's degree, then a teacher's certification and teach Social Studies in public school. That's about all you can do with a Political Science degree.
Great video. 👍
lmao. not what I was looking for but its pretty fun and true.
I wanted to get a B.A in political science , then I remember that all the people I knew who study it were teachers or professors .
this is soo accurate
1/2
If you're interested in serving as an elected representative, there is much to be gained from studying politics; though it's vitally important never to forget the distinction between theory and practice. Although theory can and should inform our actions, studying politics is different from doing politics. This tension has frustrated everyone from ordinary men to great philosophers, so don't feel bad if you find yourself similarly frustrated.
It depends somewhat on your goals and expectations. What do you mean by "get into politics"? Running for an elected office? Helping to manage a political campaign for someone else? Working at a research institute or think tank? Writing political columns? Teaching? Given UA-cam's limited text space, it will be easier for me to respond if you narrow down the question for me.
Sounds like someone chose an essentially useless field to study and get a Doctorate in and now they realize they wasted their life and are pissed off about it.
I'm still interested in getting a DPhil in politics, but with a focus on International Relations and the MIddle East. My dissertation will likely require fluency in Arabic, which is in demand. Learn the right skills and play your cards right like any other degree (in addition to loving what you do).
"the expected utility of getting laid is high" LAFFO
haha but i have important things to say! jaja too funny
holy crap. this is brilliant.
You're welcome. Many colleges offer both American and international studies. What you'll want to discern, however, is whether a particular college is classified as "liberal arts" or "research." Research institutions emphasize the sort of approach parodied in this UA-cam video (i.e., quantitative methods). Liberal arts institutions tend to emphasize history and philosophy. So decide which approach you're more comfortable with before submitting your student application. Godspeed!
i love how in all of these the student completely ignores everything the dude says
'do you know what itslike to get laid?'
'what is it like to get laid'
'I dont know either but Ive put together some statistics'
hahaha
You're welcome. In my opinion, studying human nature is crucial to understanding politics. Economics, law, etc., can help you with particular aspects of public policy, but a proper study of human nature will provide you with a general yet essential foundation for effective politics. Before taking up modern sociology, review some of the classics such as Aristotle's Politics and N. Ethics. The older philosophers tend to address the basics in a more thorough way than modern writers, in my view.
In terms of cost-effectiveness, it depends on what sort of necessary expenses you'll bring with you into the world of graduate study (e.g., preexisting credit card bills, car insurance, etc.). If these things aren't overwhelming, and if you're not opposed to living frugally for a few years, you could apply for a paid assistantship through the graduate department. Yearly stipends range somewhere between $10k and $18k. If you needed to, you could supplement it with a moderate student loan.
I can't breath.... my ribs hurt from laughing. What's more is....it's true.
POV: you see this video, but decide to disregard its cynicism and still pursue the PhD. Years later, you are, indeed, jumping from postdoc to postdoc & end up teaching at some obscure university.
At least you learn transferable quantitative (and perhaps technical) skills!
*Note: I stumbled into my prog before knowing that polisci was divided into quant and qual studies. My reason for pursuing a Ph.D. is to give me a better opportunity at teaching in a college. So quant studies have little real-world meaning for me. In many ways, I've had to swim against the current in my dept. If you choose to earn a Ph.D., you'll learn that it's often necessary to assert very firmly your own goals and intentions, or else risk wasting your time and money doing something you hate.
From what I hear, if you want a job in, say, the federal gov't, you need SERIOUS connections or SERIOUS, SERIOUS qualifications and gov't knowledge. Hell, just go to USA JOBS DOT GOV and see what I mean! It's INSANE how much they require for even basic positions...
And then people complain about how inefficient the feds supposedly are... The contradiction baffles me. I'm no conservative, but if they ARE so inefficient, yet spend so much "resources" finding "good candidates"... it's like WTF?
Political science is a declining field, especially with the most recent field of public administration. My professors did work for campaigns, advised political leaders, became ... well, professors, and so forth. But this video is accurate and hilarious in many other ways!
Why do I feel person attacked by this video
2/2
Is a post-secondary education in politics worth it? Sure; but it depends significantly on your own habits and talents. College doesn't magically make anybody more knowledgeable; rather, it creates an environment that is more conducive to a contemplative life. So if you use that time to pore over the great texts of mankind, it's entirely possible for you to emerge a more thoughtful and intelligent person. Political wisdom and goodness, however, require more than a diploma.
It varies from program to program, at lower ranked schools expect nothing more than applied statistics and basic calculus/game theory. At top school expect linear algebra, rigorous game theory/mathematical statistics and some parts of real analysis.
Hmmm i always wanted to do PhD in political science, but now thank you professor i will stick to my 'NO PhD PLAN'
This has been most enlightening...
This is absolutely pure opinion from someone who sounds like they are butt hurt.
My advice is follow what you love. An education, regardless if someone's opinion thinks it is worthless, is valuable and can never be taken away. Be optimistic, use your brain, and don't listen to crap like this.
Wow, EVERY ACADEMIC program should get this exact same video treatment...
"What's it like to get laid? I don't know. What is it like to get laid? I don't know neither," 😂😂😂😂😂
The expected utility of getting laid is high? Oh, well as a high school graduate and a college dropout I can provide firsthand confirmation of this without you ever doing your study.
In the U.S., the answer depends on whether you earn a degree in quantitative or qualitative studies. A Ph.D. in political science is most useful for becoming a faculty member at the university level; however, a quant major will likely focus on research and getting published in academic journals while a qual major will focus more on the art of teaching. These are generalizations, but I think they're fair ones. Outside of academia, you might find work in a think tank or research institution.
this is so sad but also so true
As for your societal concerns, you shouldn't let that drive your decisions. I don't know much about the field of psychology, but I assume, like most other social sciences, it's been divided into two sections at the graduate level: quantitative and qualitative. If that's the case, you'll need to ask yourself what you expect to do with a Ph.D.* Are you interested in conducting number-crunching research or do you prefer employing theory in practice/teaching?
Stop at a Masters then get a job teaching at a private High School. It will take less time and prove far less frustrating. On average there are over 100 applicants with Ph.D.s for every faculty position at an accredited college/university.
Ok, some think tanks are ideologically driven but what about place like the Center for strategic and international relations or the stimson center, you can get an internship for 6 months and then once they see your work they will probably hire you. google something like how to get a job at a thinktank and you''ll find some career opportunities for people with a degree in political science.
Never encourage anyone to do STEM, encourage them to do humanities. Its better for us
Is sounds exciting to get a phd in pol science , run for office win, and when you are old become a politic al scientist I love this plan
That's fine, if you want to get a law degree, you can literally major in anything. Law schools look at your gpa and your lsat score and no degree really gives you much of a leg up in the lsat. You study using lsat books you can find online and do your best.
But do keep in mind the usefulness of your degree if your plans decide to change, many people rethink law school as time goes on. Something like Econ may be more useful job wise than poli sci but econ is more difficult and ur gpa may suffer.
There's hardly any math in the courses I've taken.
Poor kid- always the same guy who's getting shot down for wanting a PhD in anything.
i bow before your superior education.
The creators must have read Jeff Schmidt's book "Disciplined Minds"? Great read.
actually, this video motivated me to get a phd in political sciene.
This is more of a video telling people that Political Science has nothing to do with Politics. That and a little bit about the apparent downfalls of a job in the science industry, which may or may not matter to you.
As a PHD in political science, I should probably be offended . . . but it is so dead on!
I'm hoping for something in the area of like, Mayor, and then (hopefully) Governor of a state.
Although there is also the alternative of Embassador. It may be some of a stretch, but Iam extremly interested in other cultures, languages, etc.
P.S. I want to be the one in front making changes. I am most certainly NOT the kind of person to be in the background, unnoticed.
"The only questions we can answer are those nobody cares about." :D
I'm not sure where we disagree. The true science of politics blends prudence with societal realities, but it does so without abandoning political philosophy's concern for the common good. To the extent that modern polisci ignores so-called "normative" questions, it attaches itself to the moral relativism endorsed by modern sociology: i.e., there is no right or wrong society, but only many different kinds of societies.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. Yiu have been a great help in only a few hours. :D
(Also, I did have my mind set for both Poly Sci and Inter, Affairs)
Why was this recommended to me
This is completely untrue. Well, at least for my country.
Love the voice acting!
Well worked in politics loved it was successful and now I am done with it...
Dang. No filter at all
LOL, the ginger got pwned!!
if you want to get a ph.d in political science then do it. No Ph.D is easy; they are all grueling. But from what I've seen with professors and doctoral students its the kind of thing where its all they can imagine doing.
"What's it like to get laid?"
Lol. Made me laugh. Yet it's mocking politicians of not getting laid due to their profession.
+Mateusz Antolak political science =/= politician
rather political scientist
I think you just made my point. A real degree comes with a real paying job, not an unpaid internship to prove my loyalty to an ideology. Think tanks are entirely ideology driven, ngo's are typically underpaying overworking environments also ideologically driven, and I actually do know a guy who is now head of security at an overseas embassy. He is an extremely right wing conservative christian and his career took off under W. Bush. I studied democracy and learned only the value of acquiescence.
So? Even companies are ideologically driven .
Lets how I fare out, seeing this after a MA in international affairs. Hopefully I dont go this way and pursue a PhD in Management
The only remotely-federal job I was close to was a position at the USPS... and I had to cancel the interview b/c of a scheduling conflict or something. Not quite sure
The woman in the email ACTUALLY told me the WHOLE interview was "over 2 hours long." Over 2 hours... for an interview with the post office?? Something seems fishy.
Yeah I still wanna go for that PhD
Etymologically, there's nothing wrong with combining "political" and "science." Aristotle rightly noted that knowledge is knowledge; the difficulty arises when we encounter different fields of study in which the degree of precision they yield varies. There is a science to both geometry and politics, but the latter is inherently far less precise. I agree with you, however, that the usefulness of predictive modeling is questionable, and that we should study polisci via philosophy and history.
Why didn't I see this 20 years ago LOL.
I'm currently writing my MA thesis in POLS... and this is pretty dead on. Anyone hear about openings at western missouri bible college?
😂🤣🤣😂😂
true that... i think outside academia is a better choice just for isolated mind like me ..it will help to discover some applications and great logical theories dat is still not ben implemented or materialized and one more benefit bound to it dat it is free and proves opportunity for intellectuals,beureucrates,idealists to set their dreams into existence for a major cause.. my choice of politics is an aim dat i could see my ppl in national solidarity and unity
not all people who pursue PHDs do it to become professors. I know some idiot is going to come in and lecture me on how that's all you can do with a PHD. But I assure you a PHD means you're an expert in that field.. It yields really great career opportunities. Just depends on where you take it, and if you have a plan. Also you gotta build your brand don't just go straight into PHD, get some experience and while pursuing y our PHD keep working. I guess this depends on the field though.
@Sincopare Yeah, I majored in poli sci and couldn't stand half the kids in my major. I actually found my classmates from my English minor courses to be more approachable.
Haha! My Poli Sci professor told us about this. So true.
Can you guys do one for so you wanna go to med school??? now that would be funny! Brilliant videos btw
somebody has got some real issues...why is it that the ones who downplay political science are usually the ones who a) aren't in college and b) aren't earning much with their minimum wage job