Decisions (a.k.a give me some advice)

[Russell]

My degree has got to the stage now, sadly, where I actually have to make some important decisions, and some input (especially from Canadians!) would be useful.

I'm lucky enough that with the grades I'm on at the moment, if I want to do a PhD it shouldn't be too hard to get funding wherever I want to study. Much as I love London, I would really like to get out of here for a few years. If I apply to a US university (someone correct me if I'm wrong on this), all of the scholarships for graduate students include a lot of teaching, and even then they only just cover the vast tuition fees. So I was thinking of looking into applying for graduate study in Canada - I've always wanted to visit, the university system seems good, and most of the major universities are close enough that I could visit the US easily if I wanted to. I've looked at the University of Toronto website and they have opportunities for further study in areas I'd be interested in.

So, basically I just wanted to sound out a few things - to everyone, does anyone have any thoughts on whether I should do further study and avoid the real world for a little longer? I'm undecided as yet as to what I want to do, as I would love to work as an academic, but only in an insititution/field which isn't too political and high pressure, and positions such as those aren't always easy to find from what I understand. Any input would be welcome. Plus I expect either Nathan or NAD to post pictures of some boobies.

More specifically, to the Canadians, I'd like to ask if any of you know what other universities are there with a decent reputation for sciences other than Toronto? What's Toronto & Canada like to live in, and do any of you have experience studying there at a university level? What's good about your country, and what sucks? Sorry for the lengthy and very open questions, but this is the best way I can think of finding out first-hand.

To stop this all being entirely serious, here's a song about large penii.

 

[Conspicuously Absent]

UBC in vancouver is pretty good, I dunnoa bout the others. One of the guys from my class, his wife teaches there, Biochemistry or some shit.

 

[Russell]

Cheers. What's Toronto like as a city, any idea?

 

[Conspicuously Absent]

not a clue, never been there.

 

[Russell]

Canada as a country?

 

[Doom]

does anyone have any thoughts on whether I should do further study and avoid the real world for a little longer? I'm undecided as yet as to what I want to do, as I would love to work as an academic

If you want to stay in academia in a university doing research/teaching etc. you pretty much have to do a PhD. I've thought about doing one too, but I decided I don't want to work in academia, and so the only reason for doing it would be because I can't think of anything else to do for the next 3 years.

 

[Conspicuously Absent]

no, toronto. Ontario is such a boring province. Northern quebec is cool. So is the NWT

 

[Russell]

If you want to stay in academia in a university doing research/teaching etc. you pretty much have to do a PhD. I've thought about doing one too, but I decided I don't want to work in academia, and so the only reason for doing it would be because I can't think of anything else to do for the next 3 years.

Yeah, that's a given What I'm trying to decide is whether I should scrap it all, hit the real world, get a job or some money, or whether I should stay on and do a PhD. If I do I'd probably stay on and work in academia, but then there would be the downsides I mentioned, hence me factoring them into the decision about whether to actually do one. Although I guess if I did do a PhD I could try and use it to get a better paid job...

What do you study BTW?

 

[Russell]

pretty sure he meant "how's canada as a country then"

I did, I was just too lazy to type it all...

@CA - So you think Ontario is boring? Howcome? I'm not so keen on spending much time in quebec, must be said, but I'm not sure if that's based on stereotypes I've picked up somewhere or what.

 

[Conspicuously Absent]

yeah, only reason i'd like northern quebec is because of all the lakes and rivers and mountains and kickass fishing.

Ontario boring? It's hot, dry, rather flat, the great lakes are polluted and gross, and i dunno, whatever.

Canada as a country? friendlier thant he states, healthcare rules, taxes aren't too bad, there are none in alberta (oil country).

But as the years go by, we're slowly turning into the states. I want out of north america tbh, i'm sick of the north american BS.

 

[AsModEe]

heh I heard there'll be a documentary about the suckiness of Toronto, kinda gives you an idea?

 

[Russell]

yeah, only reason i'd like northern quebec is because of all the lakes and rivers and mountains and kickass fishing.

Ontario boring? It's hot, dry, rather flat, the great lakes are polluted and gross, and i dunno, whatever.

Canada as a country? friendlier thant he states, healthcare rules, taxes aren't too bad, there are none in alberta (oil country).

But as the years go by, we're slowly turning into the states. I want out of north america tbh, i'm sick of the north american BS.

Rivers, lakes and mountains sound good, especially for geology. Oil country also means decent funding, which is nice.. How quickly are you turning into the states? You've stil got a fairly liberal government yeah, even tho I understand you voted in the "conservative" party there?

 

[Russell]

heh I heard there'll be a documentary about the suckiness of Toronto, kinda gives you an idea?

Haha, doesn't bode well What makes it so sucky? Where do you think is better?

 

[Doom]

Yeah, that's a given What I'm trying to decide is whether I should scrap it all, hit the real world, get a job or some money, or whether I should stay on and do a PhD. If I do I'd probably stay on and work in academia, but then there would be the downsides I mentioned, hence me factoring them into the decision about whether to actually do one. Although I guess if I did do a PhD I could try and use it to get a better paid job...

What do you study BTW?

I did my undergraduate degree in Psychology. One of the other reasons I have decided against a PhD is because, basically, I haven't found a research topic which interests me enough. I'm generally quite apathetic towards everything though when it comes to deciding on a career.

If you really want to be an academic, and you reckon you'll get funding, then I don't see why you wouldn't do it. Plus, it would probably be MUCH cheaper to stay over here. As long as your grades are good enough, it doesn't seem to be that hard (in this country at least) to get a place where you don't pay any fees and you get a pretty nice, tax-free, "maintenance" grant.

As for the "high-pressure" thing, from my experience, working as an academic is pretty much the least high-pressure job you can get! I'm curretly working as a research assistant at Warwick University and it seems like a very easy going lifestyle.

 

[skeptik]

Check out the Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles forum to see how shit Toronto is.

 

[Conspicuously Absent]

we're not changing THAT quickly, but yeah, we're also too afraid to show some balls to the states, even though we could basically shut off the power and water in both california and new york if we wanted to.

I think you'd really like Vancouver myself (UBC), it's really easy to get out in the woods and mountains and rivers and ocean. It's got decent transit (especially to UBC) and I dunno, it just isn't too bad of a city.

Alberta... meh, not my thing, but I'm not expert really. I'd like to go to the Yukon or NWT sometime, but they're so devoid of people (why I'd like to go) it wouldn't be a good university up there at all. haha. I'd say basically snoretario or BC. Maybe alberta if you wanna try there too

Saskatchewan and Manitoba, also not my thing really.

 

[Russell]

I did my undergraduate degree in Psychology. One of the other reasons I have decided against a PhD is because, basically, I haven't found a research topic which interests me enough. I'm generally quite apathetic towards everything though when it comes to deciding on a career.

Cool. Yeah, for three years, it really does have to be something you find interesting, I think. Otherwise, there's little point as whatever research or job it would lead to would be dull as well.

If you really want to be an academic, and you reckon you'll get funding, then I don't see why you wouldn't do it. Plus, it would probably be MUCH cheaper to stay over here. As long as your grades are good enough, it doesn't seem to be that hard (in this country at least) to get a place where you don't pay any fees and you get a pretty nice, tax-free, "maintenance" grant.

Well, we're pretty lucky in Earth Science, as there's lots of money in oil and metals, and it is such a wide ranging subject that it's fairly easy to get funding. In this country there are at least 2 research councils, but then I know a lot of people from my department that have gone to do fully funded research abroad, so I'm hopeful getting the money is doable. From a cost point of view tho, I'm not sure how much cheaper staying here is. Other than Oslo I'm pretty sure most other places would be cheaper than London - I've rarely heard of students anywhere else in the world paying £120 a week on rent alone.

As for the "high-pressure" thing, from my experience, working as an academic is pretty much the least high-pressure job you can get! I'm curretly working as a research assistant at Warwick University and it seems like a very easy going lifestyle.

Interesting, it must differ with the field, I guess, as most of the academics I've talked to seem to think it's fairly stressful. The entire metal and oil research fileds seem to be very competitive, and while the rest of the areas of research seem to be less political internally, there still seems to be a lot of pressure from above to publish papers and get research grants, so the department maintains its 5* research rating or whatever. Plus some people in my department have got research grants in excess of £500,000, and that kind of money makes people political. Which is kind of what puts me off, but then I'd be doing something I really liked so.. Hmmmm.

Thanks for the thoughts!

 

[Russell]

we're not changing THAT quickly, but yeah, we're also too afraid to show some balls to the states, even though we could basically shut off the power and water in both california and new york if we wanted to.

I think you'd really like Vancouver myself (UBC), it's really easy to get out in the woods and mountains and rivers and ocean. It's got decent transit (especially to UBC) and I dunno, it just isn't too bad of a city.

Alberta... meh, not my thing, but I'm not expert really. I'd like to go to the Yukon or NWT sometime, but they're so devoid of people (why I'd like to go) it wouldn't be a good university up there at all. haha. I'd say basically snoretario or BC. Maybe alberta if you wanna try there too

Saskatchewan and Manitoba, also not my thing really.

Great, thanks man, appreciate your time! I'll look into UBC, see what their Geology department is like

 

[Conspicuously Absent]

no worries, I can give you lots of info on BC if you want it, just drop me a PM or some shit if you want more

 

[dorian gray]

how old are you Russell?
just curious because it might be time to hang up the academic shoes and get a job (no offense intended). I know folks like yourself and it seems like they get themselves into some financial trouble by staying in academia too long. A couple are chicks who just happened to marry people who support them financially. Usually the same opportunities aren't there for guys. One woman I know has three children and has had to live in her parent's attic because her PhD-seeking husband can't provide. Not saying thatll happen to you, just wanted to point out that it's somewhat difficult to stay single, childless, and financially independent for too long.

Secondly, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I once read that getting a PhD actually costs more in getting it than it does in paying you back over the course of your lifetime as a holder of said PhD. Of course, I'm sure that's not true of all fields.

Meh, sorry to ramble.