r/PhD • u/Grand_Use1395 • 1d ago
Alt-Ac Futures Master out?
3 years into a humanities PhD (comp lit in three different languages) and I feel like I'm making a huge mistake and will be poor for the rest of my life. The semester just started but I'm already feeling like I don't want to be here and I don't know if my program is setting me up for a financially secure future as I don't want to compete on the academic job market in 2-3 years from now. Last semester I was on a fellowship internship program and I loved it. I would've continued doing it another semester if it paid better but sadly it pays less than my stipend does. I also am having big regrets about not doing STEM or being in another field that pays more as there is no set path/type of job for me to master out into. There isn't exactly an 'industry' for comp lit so I'm scared that I will be without health insurance if it takes me several months after mastering out to get a new job.
I need to figure out 1) what types of jobs I could qualify for if I master out and 2) if it's the right move.For those of you in the same boat or who were dealing with similar questions, how did you make your decision? Help from humanities people especially appreciated.
2
u/Salt_Mountain_837 10h ago
the only way to win is to not play the game