Here are a few stories in the present academic market for social scientists.
You get admitted to a PhD program. Social science does not have much
funding for scholarship, better prepared to be denied or rejected either
admission or scholarship. The success rate for admission is record low. If
rejected, nothing will happen. If you are among a few luckiest, challenge
starts:
First, you need to graduate from top departments, usually within top
four academic departments as these departments provide more than half
faculty candidates.
Second, you need to have a strong supervisor, better white Caucasian male
professor not too old and very committed to your career success
Third, you need to have at least three research articles published on top
journal outlets before you graduate. Without collaborating with prolific
supervisor, it is almost not possible.
Ok, you survived graduate school and now on the job market.
In one political department at research 1 university, roughly 300 to 500
candidates apply for one position, assuming your research interest more or
less matches position requirement.
In one public policy school, over 800 candidates apply for a position,
assuming you have a matching research interest.
You submit at most 20 applications as there are only so many tenure track
positions available on the total market. If you meet all the above
requirements, you have a chance to get one to four interviews (amazingly
successful). Departments invite three candidates to interview for one
position and you have 1/3 probability to be selected. So, in extremely lucky
case, you can get one offer, no room for negotiation and better to start to
work immediately.
For female in social science, the success rate for tenure is around 70%
assuming you do not make any stupid mistakes and do research, teaching and
services well, etc.
The struggling probationary period is usually 6 to 7 years. Hopefully
you succeed so many years and secured tenure. It won't be easy and is likely
to subject to other external shocks.
First, universities are brewing to abolish tenure system in different
ways. The number of tenure track positions dwindles rapidly relative to the
use of lectures. With less tenure track positions ,competition is fuelled .
Second, work-life balance is a big problem for female scientists. If
without help or full support, your life is sub-quality.
Third, with so many years and so much effort, it probably is better to
do something else to earn equal amount of salary. The average salary for
social science is low, in the range of 55k to 75k, excluding economics.
If all these do not deter you from doing Phd, then you are welcome to be
on board. Just remember to do a good planning. Hope you can have success!
