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Any reputable PhD program in art history will be fully funded. One would be a fool to go to grad school in the humanities without funding.</p>
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Oh, I don’t know. The opposite is actually true in many cases. Many graduate students in competitive or less-than-practical fields like medieval studies or philosophy are married with husbands or wives making enough money to support them. Why NOT go for that degree and job in academia you want?</p>
<p>If you’re not married or with a spouse making lots of money, well, you probably shouldn’t be having kids yet anyway.</p>
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Or you could try for what you actually want to do. Sure, not everyone succeeds - but if you’re highly motivated, publish a lot, and go to a top school, you at least have a decent shot at getting a job somewhere. </p>
<p>What’s the worst that could happen? You “lose” a few years of your life getting paid to study something you love and wind up in another field like the ones you mention. </p>
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This I do agree with. I’ve often recommended an art history/business double major for those interested in museum work. Crunching numbers and paperwork is at least as important as art historical knowledge at the end of the day, and it’s good to have a safety plan.</p>
<p>There is a fine line between practicality and defeatism. Having a backup plan is extremely practical and a must for anyone interested in competitive field. Assuming you won’t get a job so there’s no point in even trying is defeatist and rather unproductive.</p>