a_pla5tic_bagYou must be some kind of non-STEM student right? If not, that's weird. I'm a PhD student in molecular genetics and feel like I have none of those issues, other then stress obviously. And the stipend doesn't make you rich but at least I have one, I know an art history PhD student and she has to work a different job alongside her PhD work. And honestly, I wouldn't do anything else, I like my field.
I’m an environmental historian, while I can likely get a job with my MA the good positions (Smithsonian, etc) all require PhD. This makes sense, our department stressed doing an MA over a PhD because it’s easy to over qualify yourself in history since there aren't many jobs in it. In terms of taken advantage of, I was asked to survey a forest service cabin that is eligible to be entered onto the historic registrar/can be rented out soon once conservation happens. I was initially asked to survey, not prepare the document for preservation. Super cool, but a bunch of work since I have a full-time job as well. Federal reports are meticulous and require great detail, something I really don't have the time to dedicate to it.
**This post was edited on Mar 5th 2020 at 11:21:22am