Department of Political Science, University of Michigan

Hire a Ph.D.

Advice to Today's Students from our Graduates

During the summer 2001, the Department interviewed graduates from the 1990-92 cohorts and the 1994-96 cohorts. The response rate on the written survey was about 45%, with the more successful students replying in higher numbers than the less successful, we suspect. Those who returned the survey worked at academic institutions such as the University of Chicago, Princeton, and Harvard, as well as liberal arts colleges such as Dartmouth, Carleton, and Oberlin, and large state research universities, such as Kansas, Nebraska, Arizona, Nevada, Maryland, and Wisconsin. Others worked outside of academia at the Rand Corporation, the Hudson Institute, the United Nations, Bear Sterns, Sports Illustrated Consumer Research, the Lawrence-Livermore Laboratories, and other kinds of institutions.

Of the 41 people who responded, 79% of those holding academic jobs said they would "do it all over again," while 12% were neutral, and 9% were disappointed with academic life.

Graduates urge today's students to get to know the faculty and fellow students. The best part of the graduate student experience, in retrospect, is the contact one makes with faculty and classmates, they say! The also convey specific advice on several matters.

Training
Broad training is important. "The more broadly trained you are, the better your odds on the market and the better a scholar you will be." Observes one person, expressing a sentiment others share, "Think beyond political science to focus on issues that are relevant to other professions or academic departments. If you focus on a question that attracts widespread interest, you will find it easier to get a job." Comments another, "Learn as much as possible about the whole political science field. Even though you will specialize in your research, you will often come across issues that cross sub-fields, and when you evaluate job candidates and make tenure decisions, the breadth is critical."

"Don't let methods drive your research questions. Instead, pursue research questions that you find interesting and important, then select the appropriate method." But do acquire a solid background in methods and research design, or how social scientists think. Many graduates point to the importance of being able to draw on these skills. They also urge today's students to acquire familiarity with multiple methods, including qualitative methods. Also, learn how to do surveys (which is different from how to analyze survey data) or learn some econometrics.

"Hold onto your seminar papers, conference papers, notes, and half-baked ideas! These may come in handy some day."

Graduates point to the importance of marketing oneself and thinking strategically. Some say that assessing the job market is very important from the day one sets foot in graduate school. "Think about what's marketable early on and follow that path. I think it's easier to move into what you 'really' think you want to do later than to do that immediately." "If you're in graduate school to advance your career, make your education serve your career. Figure out when you want to be out of school, then think about what you want five years out, ten years out, and so on. Choose your adviser, your courses, your major and minor fields, your dissertation chair, your conference papers, etc., accordingly.

If you think you may want to take a job outside of the university world, then consider taking some courses that are more applied. Policy analysis courses may be helpful, for example.

The Job Market
Graduates urge today's students to think broadly about the kinds of jobs available. Several urge students to consider non-academic as well as academic jobs.

Others suggest that some of the best jobs are at places that aren't "peer institutions." Comments one graduate, "Michigan socializes folks to want to end up at the Harvard's, Stanford's, Wiscosin's, etc. Great jobs if you can get them and if you want them. But most jobs are not at schools like these. Furthermore, jobs at top schools can be really lousy." Jobs at small liberal arts schools have some important advantages. Wrote one person, "Students are great, and there are no pesky, neurotic grad students. You still have to publish and you have to get along with colleagues in a small pond. But if you can strike the balance, it's great."

Consider the lifestyle you want. Advisers cannot help much with these decisions. One must know thyself. "Don't forget the other dimensions of your life and the effect they will have on your job prospects (i.e., your spouse's career, children and family). Even if you don't worry about them now, you probably will later."

Think about timing. "Don't go on the market too soon! Wait until the dissertation is substantially complete. How many times do we need to repeat that?" cautions one graduate.

Timing
"Don't dawdle!" graduates admonish today's students. "Turn stuff in on time!" "Finish quickly." "The only good dissertation is a done dissertation." "Limit the scope of the dissertation and get it done!!!" "Try not to spend more than six years in Ann Arbor. It's a big, interesting world out there!" "Work really hard and get done."

"If it's not for you, leave early and don't hang around." "Don't be fooled by the fallacy that you have to have a Ph.D. if you're smart. If you find this isn't for you, get out and get on with your life."

Life
Finally, graduates urge today's students to pay attention to the world around them. "Take advantage of such a fantastic university. Go to concerts, lectures in other departments, and things like that. Don't squander your mind on political science alone."