Grad School Thread

dfagdfsh · Mar 22, 2011

Since I made my decision, gonna convert this thread to a general one.

Concordia · Mar 22, 2011

Originally Posted by Teger

But the loans would be crushing, even if I could beg, borrow and steal.

Still, you'd have an MA in English.

Personally, I'd go for the History program, but I'm biased there.

Rugger · Mar 22, 2011

You want to take out loans for an MA in english/history? barf.

dfagdfsh · Mar 22, 2011

Originally Posted by Concordia

Still, you'd have an MA in English.

Personally, I'd go for the History program, but I'm biased there.

Do you have an MA in History? I'm definitely considering that program, but I haven't heard back yet and I don't want to count my chickens before they've hatched.

Regardless of where I go I plan on pursuing a PhD.

StephenHero · Mar 22, 2011

dfagdfsh · Mar 22, 2011

Originally Posted by Rugger

You want to take out loans for an MA in english/history? barf.

I don't have an issue taking $3,000/year in loans. I do have an issue taking $35,000/year in loans.

But School A is the type of name that really, really opens doors. And it's my dream school.

But.. as you said... the loans.

StephenHero · Mar 22, 2011

Go with the one that puts you in deeper debt.

dfagdfsh · Mar 22, 2011

Originally Posted by StephenHero

Go with the one that puts you in deeper debt.

aww stephenhero, I know you love me.

StephenHero · Mar 22, 2011

I'm serious. It shows how much you care about your education.

MrG · Mar 22, 2011

When I was applying to grad school, I was looking at MA programs in political science. One of the professors who helped me out a lot told me never to attend a grad school without funding, particularly in a non-professional/terminal degree program. I effectively ended up taking his advice, given I was funded the whole time, but, even if I hadn't been funded, I probably would have gone anyway. In retrospect, however, he was 100% right, and I was lucky to have avoided learning that the hard way. It's just not worth ending up with a ton of debt, especially for an MA in something like English.

My advice to you is to take the second offer, rock it for two years, and step up a notch when the time comes to get your PhD. I know a couple of people who did this. They started in middling-to-decent MA programs, but they were among the best students in their program. When the time came to move on to a PhD program, they wound up in outstanding programs (one in the second-best program in the country for her specialization). Doing this would allow you to get the degree that counts (the PhD) from a great school, but you wouldn't have to worry about the ridiculous debt load that comes with option number one.

dfagdfsh · Mar 22, 2011

Originally Posted by MrG

When I was applying to grad school, I was looking at MA programs in political science. One of the professors who helped me out a lot told me never to attend a grad school without funding, particularly in a non-professional/terminal degree program. I effectively ended up taking his advice, given I was funded the whole time, but, even if I hadn't been funded, I probably would have gone anyway. In retrospect, however, he was 100% right, and I was lucky to have avoided learning that the hard way. It's just not worth ending up with a ton of debt, especially for an MA in something like English.

My advice to you is to take the second offer, rock it for two years, and step up a notch when the time comes to get your PhD. I know a couple of people who did this. They started in middling MA programs, but they were among the best students in their program. When the time came to move on to a PhD program, they wound up in outstanding programs (one in the second-best program in the country for her specialization). Doing this would allow you to get the degree that countys (the PhD) from a great school, but you wouldn't have to worry about the ridiculous debt load that comes with option number one.

My thinking is definitely along these lines -- and I know the second choice is a good enough program that it would allow such a transition (especially with the teaching experience it comes with), but still, dream school

Concordia · Mar 22, 2011

Originally Posted by Teger

Do you have an MA in History?
No, but every time I daydream about getting my spare time more organized, that's the sort of thing that pops up.

imschatz · Mar 22, 2011

$35,000 a year debt .. to study English? What doors would it open that would make it even possible to pay off that debt?

Assuming a 2 year program MA program .. you'll have $70,000+ in debt, and an English MA. I don't see how it would be possible to ever pay off that debt.

StephenHero · Mar 22, 2011

Originally Posted by imschatz

? What doors would it open?

The door to her heart.

MrG · Mar 22, 2011

Originally Posted by Teger

My thinking is definitely along these lines -- and I know the second choice is a good enough program that it would allow such a transition (especially with the teaching experience it comes with), but still, dream school

Yeah, the dream school part sucks. I went through something similar, so I'm sympathetic.

Look at it this way: The dream school will look a lot less dreamy through $70,000 in loans plus interest. Plus, if you're good enough to get into the MA without funding, you should be good enough to get into the PhD program fully funded after you spend the next two years killin' it in your second-choice MA program.

Grad School Thread

Professional Style Farmer

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Professional Style Farmer

Black Floridian

Professional Style Farmer

Black Floridian

Professional Style Farmer

Black Floridian

Stylish Dinosaur

Professional Style Farmer

Distinguished Member

Senior Member

Black Floridian

Stylish Dinosaur

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Similar threads

Featured Sponsor

It’s a mark of quality and craftsmanship

I like it when it’s subtle

I don’t like visible stitching

Doesn’t matter to me

Forum Sponsors

Forum statistics

FOLLOW STYLEFORUM ON: