Day in the life of
Assistant Professor of Communication – John Capo
I teach about communication and the media, so I need to constantly be up to date on what’s going on in the world.
My day starts around 7am. I spend about three hours consuming media. I start by watching as much of the morning news shows as possible. I check Facebook and Reddit to see what people are saying. Then I make a list of a couple of takeaways I can work into my lectures that day. I feel like this helps me keep my classes fresh. I spend the afternoon teaching and then I’ll usually have a couple of meetings. I might meet with students to talk about their classes or just to check in. I also have meetings with my colleagues, where we are always working on different programs and projects to strengthen the college.
Pros
- I get to make an impact on the lives of students, and for me that’s a huge deal. I go to work every day knowing that my work matters.
- You get paid to talk about the topics that interest you, usually the ones you’ve already dedicated a large portion of your life to studying.
- Professors don’t just teach. They play an active role in shaping the future of the institution. For example, here at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, we are currently expanding facilities in neuroscience, psychology, and graphic design, creating a new program in 3-D animation, and constructing a new music building. Professors serve on committees to help get these projects done and the work is very fulfilling.
- I have a flexible schedule and the freedom to pursue research and activities that interest me.
- Working with younger people helps me stay in touch with what’s going on in pop culture.
- Summers, amiright?
Cons
- It’s harder than it looks. As a former student, I know that sometimes it seems like a professor has an easy job. But to do it right, you need to put in a lot of time outside of the class. Keeping courses fresh and organized, doing a lot of reading, and participating in behind-the-scenes administrative stuff takes time.
- You need to be comfortable interacting with people and talking in front of a group every day. Every. Day.
- You have to navigate and accommodate a wide range of personalities. You have to be able to work comfortably with the A student, the struggling student, and the student who’s somewhere in the middle. You also need to be able to work as a team with a bunch of other professors, and we are not exactly known for our humility. If you can look upon all this interaction as a noble challenge, it can be rewarding. If teamwork doesn’t interest you, it’s a burden.
- The flexible schedule might not work for everyone. Some people prefer the routine of a 9-5.
Advice for students who wish to become a college professor
Have patience and think of the long game. The most common path to a career as a college professor involves getting an advanced degree, usually a doctorate. This will require many years of schooling, which can be taxing on your time, your brain, and your wallet. Some professor positions do not require a doctorate. Instead, they require substantial professional experience in a field. Particularly in the arts and business, many colleges are looking for people with credentials outside of academia, meaning you will need to have some career experience first. Bottom line, becoming a professor takes time and requires long-term thinking.
What can they do in school as a preparation step?
By your junior year of high school, you should have a pretty clear sense of which subjects interest you most. If you want to become a professor, you’ll want to be specific with your college search. A student who wants to be a history professor probably shouldn’t consider a college without a strong history program. A budding scientist probably shouldn’t consider a college that doesn’t have good labs and research facilities. It is daunting to think about these things so early in our educational career, but the path to becoming a professor is long. It’s best to start early.
It goes without saying that a student who wants to become a professor needs to like school. You’re going to spend years learning inside a classroom, only to turn around and spend years teaching inside one. If you don’t like learning, I don’t think you should become a professor. This doesn’t mean you have to be a straight A student. There are many college professors who struggled and even failed classes in high school. (For example, I was awful in physics. Luckily for my students, I am not a physics professor.) But a love of learning is essential.
What should they think about before considering becoming one?
Finances, definitely. A lot of post graduate study is grant-funded, but nothing’s a guarantee. You’ll also have other expenses that go well beyond what your peers will have. You will have more expensive textbooks. You will eventually need your own housing since the path to academia can go well into your twenties. While financial aid and grants are available, you should consider the expense of advanced schooling.
Another thing I would suggest students consider is whether they like to travel and if they would be willing to leave their hometown. Going through the process to become a professor doesn’t always involve remaining at the same school for all of your education. It can also be difficult to get a job in your hometown. Between their education and their career, most of the professors I know have lived in three or more states.
Despite how daunting all of this sounds, I think students should also think about the benefits of the job. Yes, it’s time consuming to become a professor. Yes, it will require you to be flexible with where you study and where you work. But the rewards often outweigh the hurdles. You will work so hard, and then you will spend the rest of your life advancing your field, talking to others about the things you love, and immersing yourself in your favorite subjects. You can become a leader in your field and, eventually, you will be able to put your feet up at the end of the day with a strong feeling of accomplishment.
