Comments on: Graduate Applications and the Economy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:21:21 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: PI http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-61501 PI Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:19:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/#comment-61501 What does this mean for all those poor PhDs who started in 2001-2003 to avoid the *last* recession? Arg! What does this mean for all those poor PhDs who started in 2001-2003 to avoid the *last* recession? Arg!

]]> By: Brad H http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-60001 Brad H Sun, 18 Jan 2009 01:26:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/#comment-60001 UCLA astronomy is down about 12% (although thats only about 1 sigma) in the domestic applications column. Having waded through about 2/3 of the applications so far though, it seems as though the number of really good applicants has increased. So thats good at least. UCLA astronomy is down about 12% (although thats only about 1 sigma) in the domestic applications column. Having waded through about 2/3 of the applications
so far though, it seems as though the number of really good applicants has increased.
So thats good at least.

]]> By: Charon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-59728 Charon Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:53:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/#comment-59728 "earning 100K/yr... was more appealing than 5+ years at a quarter of the salary" Julianne, please ask some of your students on RA/TA what they make. Hint: it's not $25K, even in 2009 (let alone in 2000). “earning 100K/yr… was more appealing than 5+ years at a quarter of the salary”

Julianne, please ask some of your students on RA/TA what they make. Hint: it’s not $25K, even in 2009 (let alone in 2000).

]]> By: 11 January 2009 « blueollie http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-59636 11 January 2009 « blueollie Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:56:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/#comment-59636 [...] Academia Physics graduate school applications are down this year. [...] [...] Academia Physics graduate school applications are down this year. [...]

]]> By: DrEvil http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-59251 DrEvil Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:59:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/#comment-59251 "But self-selection out is fine — we never have a problem selecting a class of kick-ass students!" So they can kick ass, but can they also do astrophysics? Just kidding. “But self-selection out is fine — we never have a problem selecting a class of kick-ass students!”

So they can kick ass, but can they also do astrophysics? Just kidding.

]]> By: Julianne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-58957 Julianne Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:06:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/#comment-58957 Luke -- I think it does encourage a certain kind of student to apply. We get a higher than average (I think) share of hiker/kayaker/climber/skier types applying, as well as a very high fraction of returning and/or non-traditional students. The flip side is that I think a fair number of people self-select out, assuming that because we're enjoying life that we're not sufficiently hard core about our science. Not true of course -- it's very much a work hard then play hard environment, and compared to where I went to grad school (princeton), there are a far higher fraction of our graduates working in astronomy long term. But self-selection out is fine -- we never have a problem selecting a class of kick-ass students! Luke — I think it does encourage a certain kind of student to apply. We get a higher than average (I think) share of hiker/kayaker/climber/skier types applying, as well as a very high fraction of returning and/or non-traditional students. The flip side is that I think a fair number of people self-select out, assuming that because we’re enjoying life that we’re not sufficiently hard core about our science. Not true of course — it’s very much a work hard then play hard environment, and compared to where I went to grad school (princeton), there are a far higher fraction of our graduates working in astronomy long term. But self-selection out is fine — we never have a problem selecting a class of kick-ass students!

]]> By: Gary http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-58954 Gary Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:49:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/#comment-58954 I'm a Portland native. Seattle has always been considered unnaturally weird. The state of Washington has always been the collapsed commie function. I’m a Portland native.

Seattle has always been considered unnaturally weird.

The state of Washington has always been the collapsed commie function.

]]> By: Luke http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-58891 Luke Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:27:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/#comment-58891 Julianne - Seattle has a reputation as being a cool, hip city that a lot of young people would like to move to if they had a chance. Do you think that that reputation encourages undergraduates to apply to UW? Julianne – Seattle has a reputation as being a cool, hip city that a lot of young people would like to move to if they had a chance. Do you think that that reputation encourages undergraduates to apply to UW?

]]> By: Jeff http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-58882 Jeff Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:42:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/#comment-58882 Academic physics/astrophysics is recession-proof... the job market is terrible regardless of the economy! Academic physics/astrophysics is recession-proof… the job market is terrible regardless of the economy!

]]> By: Gary http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-58560 Gary Sun, 11 Jan 2009 01:11:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2009/01/09/graduate-applications-and-the-economy/#comment-58560 "Does that mean that as an astronomer, there were 8 years where your income was too low to require filing?" Naw. That was the year in between. I'd rather be teaching, but I'd rather be able to pay the bills and then some. “Does that mean that as an astronomer, there were 8 years where your income was too low to require filing?”

Naw. That was the year in between.

I’d rather be teaching, but I’d rather be able to pay the bills and then some.

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