I would never go back to academia. Here's why.

Summary

In this video, the speaker addresses whether they regret leaving academia after earning a PhD and then working in the tech industry before being laid off. They explain that they do not regret leaving academia, as it allowed them to pursue a more fulfilling career on YouTube and as a writer. They discuss the shortcomings of American universities, including high costs and declining educational quality, and why they wouldn't return to academia. Ultimately, they feel they can make a greater positive impact through their current work than they could as a professor.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The speaker does not regret leaving academia after obtaining a PhD and transitioning to the tech industry, as it allowed for new opportunities.
• 💼 Despite being laid off from a tech job, the speaker sees leaving academia as a step towards pursuing a true vocation rather than a dream given up.
• 📚 The speaker believes that American universities are not serving students well, with a focus on providing an 'experience' rather than a quality education.
• 💸 Universities are criticized for marketing experiences that lead to high tuition fees and increased student debt.
• 🏫 The speaker observes a trend where universities prioritize marketing and amenities over academic quality and teaching.
• 🔢 There is a noted increase in administrative staff compared to faculty, which diverts resources away from the core educational mission.
• 👨‍🏫 Many introductory classes are taught by graduate students or adjuncts, who, despite qualifications, may not provide the same educational experience as tenured professors.
• 📈 There is a push to make classes easier, which the speaker argues lowers students' expectations and capabilities.
• 📘 The speaker has found more impact and satisfaction in encouraging people to read philosophy and challenging literature through YouTube than in a traditional classroom setting.
• 🌐 The speaker's mission is to convince people of their capability to engage with complex ideas and enrich their minds, which they feel they has achieved more effectively outside of academia.
• 🐾 The speaker's cat's appearance serves as a light-hearted conclusion to the discussion, suggesting that the speaker is content with their current path.

Q & A

Why did the speaker leave academia after obtaining a PhD?

The speaker left academia because they felt like they were wasting their life in jobs they didn't love and believed that leaving academia allowed them to pursue what they actually wanted to do, such as starting a YouTube channel and writing for an audience.

Does the speaker regret leaving academia?

No, the speaker does not regret leaving academia. They believe it was the right choice and it allowed them to pursue their true interests and goals.

Would the speaker go back to academia if offered a tenure-track position now?

No, the speaker would not go back to academia even if offered a tenure-track position because they believe that American universities are not serving students well anymore and they feel they can do more good outside of academia.

What is the speaker's main criticism of American universities?

The speaker's main criticism is that American universities are diverting resources away from their core mission of teaching and research towards providing an 'experience' for students, which leads to higher tuition costs and student debt without providing a high-quality education.

What is the speaker's view on the quality of education in American universities?

The speaker believes that the quality of education in American universities is declining because resources are being diverted away from academics to non-educational amenities, leading to less demanding classes and lower expectations for students.

How does the speaker believe universities are failing students?

The speaker believes universities are failing students by making classes easier and less demanding, lowering students' expectations and their assessment of their own capabilities, and not providing the high-quality education that justifies the high tuition costs.

What role does the speaker believe they play on their YouTube channel and Substack?

The speaker believes their role on YouTube and Substack is to convince people that they are capable of engaging in life-enriching and mind-enriching activities like reading philosophy and hard books, and to provide recommendations and encouragement.

What feedback has the speaker received from their audience?

The speaker has received feedback from their audience that they were able to read and understand philosophy and hard books because of the speaker's videos and recommendations. Some audience members have even shared that they initially found certain books too hard but were able to read them after following the speaker's advice.

Why does the speaker believe they have a greater impact through their YouTube channel than they did in academia?

The speaker believes they have a greater impact through their YouTube channel because they can reach and help more people understand and engage with philosophy and literature than they could in a university classroom setting.

How does the speaker describe the current trend in university education quality?

The speaker describes the current trend in university education quality as declining, with universities making classes easier and lowering expectations, which they believe signals to students that they are not capable of doing higher-level work.