787
oof
(mander.xyz)
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
this post was submitted on 22 Jul 2025
787 points (99.1% liked)
Science Memes
16012 readers
3235 users here now
Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!
A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.
Rules
- Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
- Keep it rooted (on topic).
- No spam.
- Infographics welcome, get schooled.
This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.
Research Committee
Other Mander Communities
Science and Research
Biology and Life Sciences
- !abiogenesis@mander.xyz
- !animal-behavior@mander.xyz
- !anthropology@mander.xyz
- !arachnology@mander.xyz
- !balconygardening@slrpnk.net
- !biodiversity@mander.xyz
- !biology@mander.xyz
- !biophysics@mander.xyz
- !botany@mander.xyz
- !ecology@mander.xyz
- !entomology@mander.xyz
- !fermentation@mander.xyz
- !herpetology@mander.xyz
- !houseplants@mander.xyz
- !medicine@mander.xyz
- !microscopy@mander.xyz
- !mycology@mander.xyz
- !nudibranchs@mander.xyz
- !nutrition@mander.xyz
- !palaeoecology@mander.xyz
- !palaeontology@mander.xyz
- !photosynthesis@mander.xyz
- !plantid@mander.xyz
- !plants@mander.xyz
- !reptiles and amphibians@mander.xyz
Physical Sciences
- !astronomy@mander.xyz
- !chemistry@mander.xyz
- !earthscience@mander.xyz
- !geography@mander.xyz
- !geospatial@mander.xyz
- !nuclear@mander.xyz
- !physics@mander.xyz
- !quantum-computing@mander.xyz
- !spectroscopy@mander.xyz
Humanities and Social Sciences
Practical and Applied Sciences
- !exercise-and sports-science@mander.xyz
- !gardening@mander.xyz
- !self sufficiency@mander.xyz
- !soilscience@slrpnk.net
- !terrariums@mander.xyz
- !timelapse@mander.xyz
Memes
Miscellaneous
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Personally I can say turning my back on academia has made me a happier, healthier person.
A friend of mine is a professor in anthropology and he told me that he stayed in academia because he was afraid of change and academia was something he knew well.
I struggled emotionally when I left academia for a couple years before and after leaving. Now, years later I'm very happy I left. But I did struggle with re-anchoring my sense of success for a long time. I felt like I had failed because I didn't stay on the tenure track. But it was fine not being there.
I've heard that about prisoners.
Why would the prisoners know a lot about academia?
Prison is post-secondary for criminals
I get that but the way I see it fear is a great motor and a horrible advisor. If you avoid everything unknown life will end up feeling lackluster and more dangerous than it actually is.
I was considering doing a masters in Germanic linguistics (graduated last year). I would've enjoyed it, but I have a job now that lets me actually save up money, while still allowing me to indulge my academic interests in my spare time, and I'm certain I made the right choice. I know for a fact that at the end of the day, doing a masters would have ultimately meant one or two years' delay to the start of my career and basically no advantage in the job market. Maybe this goes more for humanities students (although I imagine it's also the case for a lot of STEM students), but I think this video by Dr Jackson Crawford is a really good sympathetic and pragmatic approach for people considering going into academia.