Might this trend be linked to an increase in foreign born students seeking to purse a research career here in the states? For all its benefits, that trend certainly ups the competition level.
How much of the glut of overqualified candidates at all levels of academia is, to some significant extent, explained by the failure of enrollment at the "top" 50 colleges and universities to keep pace with population growth? Shouldn't the astronomy, physics, chemistry, etc. departments among all R1 institutions be ~50% larger than they were 35 years ago?
Astronomy undergrad degrees might be rising because undergrad STEM degrees are more marketable to employers than liberal arts degrees. I highly doubt all of these undergraduates intend to be astronomers.
One of the ways to reduce the grad student population is to severely restrict student loans. Right now grad students are allowed to borrow 100 percent of need- which is tuition plus room and board and living expenses. And then through income based repayment options, paying only 10 percent of even a miserly salary results in eventual loan forgiveness. Many of these PhD’s, MA’s, JD’s from second and third tier schools borrow six figures and then can’t even pay the interest. The taxpayer is being had, all while perpetuating bloat in academia.
Of course, this would just eliminate teaching jobs and programs at many second and third tier schools- so be it. Offer value for money rather than relying upon stealing from the taxpayer .
Might this trend be linked to an increase in foreign born students seeking to purse a research career here in the states? For all its benefits, that trend certainly ups the competition level.
How much of the glut of overqualified candidates at all levels of academia is, to some significant extent, explained by the failure of enrollment at the "top" 50 colleges and universities to keep pace with population growth? Shouldn't the astronomy, physics, chemistry, etc. departments among all R1 institutions be ~50% larger than they were 35 years ago?
Astronomy undergrad degrees might be rising because undergrad STEM degrees are more marketable to employers than liberal arts degrees. I highly doubt all of these undergraduates intend to be astronomers.
One of the ways to reduce the grad student population is to severely restrict student loans. Right now grad students are allowed to borrow 100 percent of need- which is tuition plus room and board and living expenses. And then through income based repayment options, paying only 10 percent of even a miserly salary results in eventual loan forgiveness. Many of these PhD’s, MA’s, JD’s from second and third tier schools borrow six figures and then can’t even pay the interest. The taxpayer is being had, all while perpetuating bloat in academia.
Of course, this would just eliminate teaching jobs and programs at many second and third tier schools- so be it. Offer value for money rather than relying upon stealing from the taxpayer .
They order these things better in China where, adjusted for PPP, they invest four times more money in STEM R&D than we do.
Four times more: 2.6% of their $30 Tn GDP, compared to 0.8% of our smaller GDP.
Let the education economy sort itself out and do the best by your students. Undergraduate research opportunities are a great thing.