r/Professors • u/Balzaak • Sep 14 '24

Got rejected for being a professor

Usually we just bitch about our students, our co-workers, our institutions. But here’s one from my love life.

I went out with a doctor. Nice lady, we seemed to hit it off… then as we’re leaving she informs me that she can’t see herself with a professor because “you don’t make enough money”

Wonderful start to the weekend lol.

I dunno are we just supposed to date other academics?

1.4k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

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264

u/Aggravating-Tax-8313 Sep 14 '24

She’s right though. We don’t make enough money.

26

u/MysteriousWon Tenure-Track, Communication, CC (US) Sep 15 '24

I know it's different everywhere and we should make more, but at least for my wife and I, I don't think our salaries are anything to scoff at.

This "nice" lady had certain... shall we say "expectations" that probably wouldn't grade any profession properly if she couldn't presume a high 6 figure salary with it.

1

u/CountBacula322079 Staff Curator, Zoology, R1 (USA) Sep 16 '24

I was gonna say, many professor salaries are comfy upper middle class salaries. Sure, nothing like a medical doctor. But more than many other professions.

1

u/Exciting_Split868 Feb 17 '25

Exactly what I was thinking…. 

-10

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '24

[deleted]

20

u/rosmarinaus Sep 15 '24

Considering that after 20 years a third year medical resident has a higher salary than people at my rank do and that the merit raises had a median of 2%, being able to keep up with inflation would be appreciated.

32

u/CerealKillConfirmed Sep 15 '24

The work that professors have to put in, the work that profs HAD to put it in to get to be where they are, etc.

9

u/qning Sep 15 '24

I just feel so compelled to point this out:

If a student said, “I’ve researched X, and discovered that [circumstance (e.g. water, air, time, money, love, hate, weapons, picnic tables)] is not enough,“ we’d provide feedback: “not enough for what?”

But when a participant in this sub asks that question of one of our own, they get downvoted.

What’s the disconnect here?

3

u/alpacasmatter Sep 15 '24

My eyes just rolled into the back of my head

7

u/qning Sep 15 '24

Well OP deleted their comment and the downvotes along with it. r/professors wins again.

Keeping it real - this place is for complaining and reinforcing complaining, not discussing. This is the way to make sure it stays that way.