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Okay, I am going to respond in a thread since I don't want to blow up @JaminSpeer notifications (I still might though).
I think econ pre-docs are less so about teaching students about econ and more so about going through some sort of right of passage because reasons. https://twitter.com/JaminSpeer/status/1281764659545210881
I think econ pre-docs are less so about teaching students about econ and more so about going through some sort of right of passage because reasons. https://twitter.com/JaminSpeer/status/1281764659545210881
I honestly feel like econ pre-docs aren't going to the students who need the opportunity... it's going to students who would already select for graduate school anyway... which doesn't actually help anything if I'm keeping it 100.
If we are looking at pre-docs as serving two purposes: 1) filling in a coursework gap and 2) filling in a skills gap --- then why are students who already possess both to some degree seemingly overrepresented among pre-doctoral students.
The thing is a lot of people find out about economics really late in college, like ya girl, so something like a pre-doc where I basically get paid to catch up is actually super helpful... but it seems like maybe faculty who hire pre-docs may not view it that way?
And that's the elephant in the room is a good chunk of faculty look at predocs as cheap labor or something that can help them towards their own research goals.
That's concerning because the point of a predoc, to me at least, is to prep for/get a sense of grad school.
That's concerning because the point of a predoc, to me at least, is to prep for/get a sense of grad school.
Like sure helping you with code and research is useful, but I think what is also valuable is mentorship and coursework that helps me think about whether or not I want to get a PhD.
I'm honestly sure a lot of folx who hire predocs actually have this mindset imo.
I'm honestly sure a lot of folx who hire predocs actually have this mindset imo.
And this is where I want to plug the best economics pre doc in the country:
@PhDEI_Econ @PeterBlairHenry subsidizes all costs for pre docs selected and provides mentoring as well as coursework free of charge. Nothing comes close to the support they are providing students.
@PhDEI_Econ @PeterBlairHenry subsidizes all costs for pre docs selected and provides mentoring as well as coursework free of charge. Nothing comes close to the support they are providing students.
Honestly, NO ONE is doing it like @PhDEI_Econ - nearly every person who's gone through the program landed in a PhD program of THEIR choice.
Students feel supported and are supported.
I honestly believe it is the standard and many pre docs currently fall short of it.
Students feel supported and are supported.
I honestly believe it is the standard and many pre docs currently fall short of it.
I also think that if @AEASPmsu was extended into a year it would also be the standard. There is research, mentoring, coursework.... structure.
It is intended to train those interested in economics and expose them to how tools can be used.
Another standard to be reached.
It is intended to train those interested in economics and expose them to how tools can be used.
Another standard to be reached.
I'll be honest - sometimes when I'm around other pre-docs I feel really insecure about my experience, but then I find out they were in departments that emphasized certain skills that pre docs select on and so someone who may not know much about econ yet is basically butted out.
Like if I'm keeping it REAL REAL - I feel like people are just doing pre-docs/RA-ships right now because they know that's what graduate schools want tbh but they low key don't need it.
It's sort of like a check box, which gets back to the original point: https://twitter.com/pbacherikov/status/1281677825980817408?s=20
It's sort of like a check box, which gets back to the original point: https://twitter.com/pbacherikov/status/1281677825980817408?s=20
So basically what seems to be happening is that pre docs aren't structured as apprenticeships but rather an audition into graduate school....
Anndd... honestly, I feel like pre-docs have become more about letters of recommendations than training.
That's the real tea.
Anndd... honestly, I feel like pre-docs have become more about letters of recommendations than training.
That's the real tea.
Lol, I'm being real and this is just my opinon(s), but yeah..
As a former pre-doc, I would say that faculty who hire pre-docs that are intentional about mentoring and training are the best and make the journey to and through the PhD worth it. @JaminSpeer
As a former pre-doc, I would say that faculty who hire pre-docs that are intentional about mentoring and training are the best and make the journey to and through the PhD worth it. @JaminSpeer
I'm not sure if folx realize this but people are oftentimes doing multiple pre doc/ Research Assistant positions + a possible graduate degree h/t @nbarlowcanyougo https://twitter.com/nbarlowcanyougo/status/1281790452186800130?s=20
