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Most but not all colleges are essentially doing contract work for professors. It's a race to the bottom in terms of compensation. Not the cushy job it used to be. Are you prepared to take potentially a massive financial penalty? And be underemployed while you hopefully apply for tenure?
I think this is a great idea! You’re never too old for a change in career, especially in such a positive way. I don’t know the path to being a professor but I think you can call local universities and chat with the academic counselors in the PhD program you want and discuss potential steps to becoming a prof too. I’m excited for you!
Academia is a shit show
Admin is much more lucrative
You can test out the waters as an Adjunct without a PhD to learn the ropes. There used to be programs that would pay for PhDs, but as someone else mentioned, that might be the university once you start as an Adjunct.
I like this idea. Also consider working at the school in admin to get the degree at a deep discount.
Not worth it for debt of a “maybe, one day” dream. You have better potential to build up a killer corporate resume and then be hired on as a professor for your work experience that you can bring to the curriculum. Once you get in at a university some cover your tuition to get a PhD.
Hey! I left higher ed for corporate. I wasn’t a professor but a lot of my friends who are are trying to get out. You may want to speak with some tenure track professors and adjuncts to get an idea of what it’s really like. It’s highly highly political. I worked in marketing and did guest lectures for the marketing department since I had actually recent and relevant experience instead of just textbook theoretical knowledge.
Most universities let you study for free as a full time employee so I’d suggest getting a job at a university and then start taking courses for free and see if it’s something you want to keep doing and if you can get the PhD for free - you’re golden!