I'm currently in graduate school. I'm constantly asking myself why I'm there. It's certainly not for my future job prospects (though in my particular field, they do get better with a Master's degree), and it's not because I want to go into academia (Academia, at least for the social sciences, is slowly dying in my view).<p>But I do know why I'm there. I'm there to continue to learn new things, to interact with others who are like minded, and to work on problems that I may not get to explore in a paid position for a private company who seeks profits above all.<p>I could probably write an entire book on what is wrong with academia (the short answer: a lot). But at the same time, I have a freedom to explore that I wouldn't have at even the most liberal companies (unless it was as a pure researcher, which quite frankly are rare positions, especially for a non-PhD).<p>All this being said, it seems obvious to me that the author made the right decision in his case, however, I think he misunderstood the reasons for going into academia. That might sound naive from my point of view (and to some degree, it absolutely is, but I won't get into that now.), but I also think that it was naive in the author's case to think that the only reason to go into academia is to further his career prospects.<p>Jumping through all the hoops of academia sucks. I was supposed to graduate in two weeks. Let's just say I won't be. It was quite the punch to the gut when I finally came to realize that I was going to miss the deadline to turn in my thesis. I made the comment to my advisor just two days ago: "I hate this system, as if officially turning in what we've talked about for the past two years means that I will have learned any more than I already do, but if I don't do it, I don't have a piece of paper that certifies me as somewhat knowledgeable in a specific field." Which is pretty normal for almost anyone to note about this academic system. But I know that for many jobs, I need that piece of paper. So it goes. But I didn't go back to school for a job, I went for an education, which I have received.<p>Academia isn't for everyone of course, but if you go into it just for a better career, I feel many people will be sorely disappointed. If you go into it trying to see how much you can learn and realize that you get out of it, what you put in, you'll still have a lot to complain about, but hopefully it won't be a waste of time.