Quote:
Originally Posted by Kybosh
I know you're probably just ranting but if you think other grad programs are easier to complete or find academic placement afterward, you have another thing coming. Although, if you like to have these little pity parties you might really like grad school because pity parties are rampant.
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From what I understand, a bunch of other grad programs (not necessarily leading to a career in academia) are much less competitive. Not easier to complete, just holding a lesser overall standard. From speaking to Religious Studies or Theology students, that appears to be one of them. With the world climate as it is Islam is a very hot topic of study, and universities without Islam professors are very keen on finding one. Same goes with History and a focus on the near east. Buddhism might be more oversaturated an area, and studying ancient Rome would be so for History. Etc. etc. Even things like archaeology, from what I understand from talking to a professor of the subject, are less competitive. But that's not even really the focus of my post. For example, I heard that you can do okay and have a good career with a Library Science grad degree. As previously mentioned, a Master of Counseling degree. Stuff like that. I don't want to change my focus at the undergrad level, but there's lots to do, as you surely know, at the grad level which doesn't necessarily require you to have done a bachelor's in the same field.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kybosh
It sounds to me like you're just trying to figure out which direction to take your life (which is something everyone goes through. . . constantly. . . their entire life). I'm not going to convince you to go into a particular program but I have some general advice for grad school. First, the most important element for grad school is to choose a supervisor that you can work with. Second, try to get a project you find stimulating. Without those two elements, grad school can be unbearable. Also, forget about the name of the institution in your grad school choice. . . it's just a label.
Finally, don't be so down on your English degree. The most important job skill is communication and an English degree helps tremendously with this. Both my Dad and brother have English degrees and they have done very well for themselves in the private sector.
By the way, as Mr Ski so eloquently put. . . I am a doctorb so I do know what I'm talking about in regards to postgraduate school.
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I'm getting mixed messages on this. One one hand, a lot of people are telling me the same thing. On the other hand, there does appear to be name bias in terms of placement. Perhaps this is just a matter of the brightest tending to go to big-name schools, and every so often you do see someone who went to Buffalo teaching at Harvard, but there seems to be a contradiction there.
I'm not down on my English degree. I'm just frustrated with my options. I sometimes wish I'd grown up in a Joe Briefcase environment so I would be excelling at a management degree, be in a frat, and become a soulless beauracrat, but a rich one.