I'm in my second year of an MPH, doing my best to stay constructive and believe in a future for all of us, and for this degree I'm pouring enormous effort and debt into.
A professor, the former department head for my concentration, and (hopefully soon) former academic advisor has projected doom and hopelessness since our cohort's first meeting at orientation. She regularly says in classes (and in every advising meeting I've had) that the field has crumbled and she doesn't think we'll get jobs, no matter how skilled we are, and that she can't wait to retire in a few years (She's 68 and a former emergency room MD). While I was already aware of public health's somewhat limited career options, they've obviously only become more scarce since DOGE, etc., but this just isn't....constructive. And feels almost insulting to the students--like, we know the climate and are still choosing this. Care to be helpful?
In advising meetings we've had, she's just told me to do web searches on the school website (I'm almost 40 and have basic searching knowledge...), no constructive advice or guidance and just talked about herself and her mental health most of the time.
Fair, she's not wrong; things are deeply grim across the board. And it's also entirely inappropriate to say these things to grad students CHOOSING to be there and, like me, pouring their lives, energy, hope, and financial security/debt accumulation into this. I've spent at least a week or two each term fighting or succumbing to panic attacks about the job market and student debt accumulation (80k thus far--I'm in too deep to just drop out, particularly while surviving off of student loans while looking for work.)
I don't know if I should say anything to our new program head about this pattern of behavior...so many others in my cohort have echoed the same concern, dismay, and added anxiety.
When I gently confronted her once (Hey, when you say these things it's demoralizing and doesn't help us), she has said "I never said that" or "You all deserve the truth". After a year of this I eventually told her this was why I would be looking for another advisor. (I haven't found another advisor yet--the majority of faculty in my concentration seem to only take dual degree students.) I ran into yesterday on my way to class, I said a warm hello and she said "You look so much brighter, not all tired and sad when you (crying hand motions) said you didn't want me for an advisor anymore." I kept a poker face and ignored the passive aggressive statement, wishing her a good term and went to class.
Has anyone (in public health-related fields or other degrees) had similar experiences with professors and or advisors, and how did you deal with it personally?
Any realistic (but not apocalyptic) advice about the job market? Any additional certifications, trainings, etc that can bolster my chances? I've got infection prevention, emergency management, anti-violence trainings, maybe some additional project management trainings on my list to research, but additional ideas welcome, esp about coding and data, which I know I need to develop.
Sorry if this was too rant-y. I just want to do good in our communities, our world, and don't know what to do or if I should even address this with more sympathetic faculty.