Physics Should only people from elite universities bother with TT (tenure track)?

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The discussion centers around whether only graduates from elite universities should pursue tenure-track positions in academia, particularly in physics, given the challenging job market and the oversupply of PhDs. Many participants argue that the traditional goal of securing a professorship is increasingly unrealistic for those from lesser-known institutions, suggesting that industry roles may be a more viable option. The conversation highlights that while a significant portion of faculty at research universities comes from elite schools, there are also teaching-focused tenure-track positions that prioritize teaching experience over research credentials. Additionally, the importance of adaptability and exploring various career paths, including retraining in more funded fields, is emphasized. Ultimately, the consensus suggests that grit and flexibility are crucial for success in both academia and industry.
  • #31
^^The above post is very important. There's a weird assumption that one cannot have a good career outside of R1. However it turns out that the real world is complicated. There are extremely productive faculty at less well known places. There are even not very productive faculty at R1 institutions.

The average value of a dataset doesn't explain the whole dataset, in other words.
 

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