Jae B.

I would happily friend fellow grad students. (I'm already adding potential peers I met at a welcome event.) But I would never add anyone who was currently grading me or I was currently grading. That just wouldn't smell right.

Basically, this means you have to be extra careful when you join sites that import your e-mail contacts to find relevant users.

If I am very close to a professor, I might add them once I'm well out of their classes. This has worked for me so far in undergrad. If I wasn't sure it would be okay, I'd either refrain or, if for some reason I really wanted to add them, I'd check to see if they're friends with any other students. Same policy applies with administrative officials.

Generally, if I socialize with someone, I add them on Facebook. But if we mainly have a working, professional relationship, LinkedIn is more appropriate and respectful of boundaries. But there is some cross-over, of course.

I'm the most relaxed when following people who post publicly on Twitter. People in my field tend to focus on posting relevant news and events, so there's usually no harm in following and it's a good, casual way to stay in touch.

I've used a MacBook throughout college. I definitely recommend going for the MacBook Pro -- it's a nice, speedy machine -- vs. the bottom-of-the-line Mac, which may cause more difficulty when multitasking. As the poster above said, specs are the most important thing.

The journalism school I'm most likely to be going to primarily uses Macs, so I'm right on target!


Office works okay on Macs (takes an annoying while to open and save on Macs with lower-specs), but as someone else pointed out, the transfer between machines isn't perfect for heavily-formatted documents. I've been disappointed many a time when my fancy cover page appeared as a mangled mess on another computer. One time my favorite font didn't come across somehow, and got replaced with what looked like American Typerwriter in size 16! I always have to examine Word docs before I print.

Therefore, I tend to use regular old TextEdit for papers.

Does anyone use iWork to make nice documents? I've noticed professors use it for good-looking presentations.

Hi everyone,

I'm in the midst of a unique situation and could use some advice. This year marked my second go-round at the application process, and it was much more successful than my first attempt last year. I got in everywhere I applied, including my top choice with full funding + a fellowship. However, when I went to visit this school and sat in on a few classes, I realized that I don't really think the Ph.D. thing is for me. I love my subject, and I loved everyone I met in the program, but sitting in on these high-level classes reawakened a lot of the feelings I had as an undergraduate -- that studying the media in such depth ruins the fun of it for me. I don't think I'd be happy approaching it academically for 7+ years, let alone the rest of my life. I was also discouraged my the lack of a practical application for the material, and I've always been disturbed by the notion of having to follow the job wherever it may be in the humanities. So, I think I'm ready to bid it adieu.

When I got back to town, I visited my alma mater's law school and sat in on a class, and really felt engaged with the material in a way that surprised me in light of my lack of engagement with the Ph.D. class. I am presently exploring the prospect of attending law school, and find myself much more excited about that path (with the large exception of the expense!). At this point, I'm confident in saying that I'll be applying for the Fall 2011 entering class.

So, long story short, how do I go about declining the Ph.D. program's offer? Do I give them a reason, or do I just say "no"? It feels kind of crazy to turn down such a great offer. And, of perhaps greater concern, how do I inform my recommenders of my decision? All three of the undergraduate professors who wrote for me again this year were very involved in the application process, and I spent a great deal of time convincing them of how much I wanted to begin a Ph.D. program. Surely they're sensible people, but I fear that I'm going to offend them in my decision, and that they will certainly not write again for me for law school. I also happen to work at the university I attended as an undergraduate, and so I run into them frequently. Awkward.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

I agree with the others here. You've worked hard for acceptance--are you really willing to give it up so quickly, after sitting in on one law school class?

You were about to commit to something huge, a PhD program in a field with certain pros and cons. It is natural to feel conflicted when you have an acceptance in hand and reality sets in. (I myself sometimes wake up in the middle of the night, panicking about the fact that I've applied to history programs and not MFAs in filmmaking, so I kind of get it...) But you clearly reflected on this choice for at least a year or two, and in calmer moments your past self determined that this was, in fact, the right path.

Maybe give yourself a year to thoughtfully reflect on the situation (and better prepare yourself for the LSAT and other components of law school admissions, if you do decide to go). Attend the Media Studies program for a year. If you do hate it, at least you'll know for sure and won't regret the decision to change paths. You have little to lose by waiting a year.

It's also worth considering that with a PhD, you could be the change you want to see in the Media Studies world--developing innovative, practical applications for the work, etc.

Lol, why does this sort of technical elitism stereotype persist? I design and talk with sophisticated instruments such as airborne mass spectrometers, spectrophotometers, quartz microbalances, etc. all the time with my tiny macbook. It doesn't matter what operating system you're using since you're talking using an interface, and who really needs to mess with hardware anymore besides upgrading RAM for most mundane daily tasks?

Hell, on my 3 year-old Macbook I can run molecular docking simulations/graphical manipulations, a variety of mathematics suites, etc. etc. ad infinitum. And it still works flawlessly.

I haven't used a PC laptop in 3 years, but my experience before my Macbook was one of frequent software/hardware problems. I'm sure there are plenty of equally reliable PCs and I don't issue blanket statements, but I have to recommend macbooks for their sheer utility and durability.

Methinks not exactly boss. Some programs that are vital to some of us are Mac specific. So it honestly just boils down to you what is the best fit (programs, money, the damn thing not dying one year after the warranty, etc.) that should be the main reason you make a choice between the two.

It's as simple as this: If you know how to maintain a computer, go for PC; there's no reason to go for a Mac. Otherwise, go for a Mac.

The only information this post adds is that you're an idiot when it comes to computers.

What's with the nastiness on this board? I don't know why people have the incentive to burn bridges at this point in the game. People like SOOT are your potential colleagues....

I think you waste your time. What will be amusing is when SOOT gets relegated to Penn State - Altoona after graduating (that is, if she ever gets admitted to a program that confers the appropriate name/geographic cachet).

I never pulled an all-nighter. I used to need at least eleven hours of sleep, but I've cut it down to a measly ten. I never wanted to put myself in the position of needing to finish a paper the night before, though. I need at least an extra day to proofread or I have really idiotic errors in my paper.

"Some graduate-degree-earners have been known to find work in their fields, but many end up teaching in the very schools that issue these degrees of questionable value," Comey said. "In this way, the grift sustains itself."
http://www.theonion....rdegrees-scheme,1193/

It's okay if...

You bring them gracefully and don't seem awkward or uncomfortable about introducing them They don't take a good seat at an event away from an admitted student, or the last flier, etc. They let you concentrate on talking with other people and don't need much attention You don't have them dine on the school's buck unless they're invited to do so I've seen people bring friends pretty gracefully in the past.

It's okay if...

You bring them gracefully and don't seem awkward or uncomfortable about introducing them They don't take a good seat at an event away from an admitted student, or the last flier, etc. They let you concentrate on talking with other people and don't need much attention You don't have them dine on the school's buck unless they're invited to do so I've seen people bring friends pretty gracefully in the past.

I think the advice to slow down and consider how much debt the OP has is misplaced.

That was advice that needed to happen 5 years ago. Now the OP is stuck and needs to make a rational decision. If the OP can double his or her earning power (High Ed Administration can be around 6 digits eventually) without doubling his or her debt load (it would be hard to do at this point really...) then it turns out to be a win.

Since the OP is already so deep in debt, even if the OP could only gain an extra 20% in salary, that means it's reasonable for the OP to take on up to 46k of additional debt.

I think in this case if the OP can do the masters in a year and can reasonably expect their salary expectations to go up by more than 20%, it's a win.

(I am not a financial advisor. It sounds like you could use one. Go see one.)

Because "his" is not gender neutral?

You're right; English is a pretty flexible B.A. degree to have. You could go into almost anything that isn't math or science.

The flexibility isn't going to help you get into graduate school, as others have said, unless you really know what you want to do. (Frankly, I designed my whole undergraduate education around my specific career and graduate school goals.) Focus on finding out what area you want to achieve mastery in, and then go for it.

Have you done work already that you've enjoyed? Think about the people you most admire. What do they do?

Also consider how much longer you're comfortable with being in school.

I ditto DeepShadeofBlue, an English undergrad degree is excellent for journalism, but not for you since you want a payoff.

Hey Scytheye --


The previous writers make some great points. You've really got to know what you want to go to graduate school for. You will be asked that many times during the application process.


That said, I also studied English as an undergraduate. My father was an English major as well, and he sternly warned against pursuing it. (But, we love literature, and sometimes we can't help loving the things that we do). In my father's case, he went on to become a minister. Being able to communicate, and communicate well, is essential to his job. He utilizes his communication skills during sermons, hospital visits, funerals, weddings, counseling sessions, even in what he writes for the monthly newsletters.


So thinking along those lines, you could pursue an advanced degree in journalism, communication, or media studies. These are pretty difficult fields to get into without previous experience, as in internships or publications, but it is feasible to find opportunities around your area.


Like you, I also struggled with the question of "what to do with an English degree?" After graduating, I went abroad to Korea and taught English for a year. It combined the opportunity to "use" my degree with the chance to "see the world," and really invest in another culture. When I came back, I had a clear vision of what I wanted to pursue in graduate school - International Affairs. In the Fall, I will be attending American University in DC, studying US Foreign Policy.


Any English major will be able to find a decent job because the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and written, is an imperative skill that every employer seeks. If you're truly serious about graduate school, you need to sit down and define your interests. What do you enjoy doing? What do you not enjoy? What kind of job setting can you see yourself in? Where can you not see yourself?


I'd suggest thumbing through your university's course catalog, and looking at which courses interest you the most. What are some of the other majors and minors at your university? Graduate and Professional Programs look for individuals from diverse backgrounds, so don't be afraid to apply to a field outside of English. What they want to know is do you have potential, can you do the work, and are you a good fit the program. And, those are the kind of things that can be explained in your Statement of Purpose and with Letters of Recommendation.

Wow! I wondered about that! But I'd think your dedication should help your application, not hurt it.

APHI224, I'm going to dispense with the pleasantries that so many others have offered you here and say flat out that you do not get it. Of course, you're only at the Master's level, so that's to be expected. If I can get over how angry I am at your naive and condescending responses, I'll reply with the "why" later.

Clearly:

Most useful: Computer Science. The information age is just beginning.
Honorable mention: Philosophy.

Lease useful: American Studies
Honorable mention: Guitar and Lute Studies (they offer this at my university... LUTE!?)

What do YOU think?

minnares,

My understanding is credits from a decade ago are considered expired in many institutions. So maybe it's unnecessary to report such information. It might be best to first check the policies of the institution to see if such credit can be considered in the application. I highly advise contacting the admissions office of the institutions you're applying to.

Anyways it is usually the case:

1 semester credit is worth 1.5 credits. So take semester credits * 1.5 = quarter credits. 1 quarter credit is worth 1/1.5=(2/3) semester credits. Hope this helps.

I often feel the same way, but then I remind myself to trust the wise and all-knowing admissions committees. After all, they've looked through hundreds of apps and picked YOU. Chances are they even met you and liked you. Considering the fairly low attrition rates of top 10 schools (at least in my field) there is a high probability that they know you will succeed. It's going to be hard, it's going to suck, but you can do it!

...and then I eat some Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia to drown the fear

Journalism isn't a dying field at all, just a devalued occupation. There is still journalism -- even profitable -- everywhere, but overall it's not earning enough.

The new trouble comes from an outdated financial model relying on advertising (another field in turmoil) revenue, compounded with negative affects of centralized media ownership that, among other things, cuts whatever doesn't earn enough. Finally, there is the media's haphazard usage of the internet that has been giving news away for free.

Still, some news organizations are doing well: small local newspapers, and some larger operations like Politico. And media jobs in social networking and multimedia are expanding.

I strongly believe the field will recover. It's just a matter of how and when.

Frankly, journalism has never been the best paying field, even if there was greater job security in the past. But I consider myself lucky to have found an occupation I am passionate about. I'll find work even if it means freelancing and doing other work until I find a decent job in journalism. I feel good about my decision to continue in school in the meantime; I'll get better at my craft, gain new multimedia skills, improve my portfolio, make new work connections and get to watch what happens in the industry.

I agree with the advice others have given. Do not list your awards in terms of what you've earned from your previous work. That's what your CV is for.

However, you can use your SoP to give your awards greater context; to frame them not as mere compliments to your work (again, they'll be the judge) but as extraordinary privileges you are grateful for.

Instead of just listing awards as outcomes of your work, show productive benefits: that each award and opportunity has led you to greater personal achievement.

For example, if certain scholarship programs (yes, that admire your work) have helped you on your way, humbly give them credit and explain how they have helped to elevate you to this moment, where you are applying to graduate school.

Let the school know that your past privileges were beneficial investments in the future you foresee -- with the program you are applying to. Let them know they will become part of a greater narrative by accepting you. You have generated momentum -- and this school can keep you going!

In this way, your awards can be an exciting and meaningful part of your application, not an example of arrogance.

If you have contributed back to the organizations that have given you awards, try to mention your efforts. It is proof of your caring, understanding of your privilege, gratefulness and dedication.

Without saying so explicitly, let the school know that, by accepting you, they are helping put you in an even better position to give back...and hint that you won't forget to give back to them someday, either! (Examples are volunteering, producing more fine work in the program's name, speaking on their behalf, or just by being a good "face" for the program.)

This speaks to your ability to take advantage of your opportunities, learn, work hard, improve, and, overall, to be honorable. Which is why you got the awards in the first place, right?

Not only can this help you get accepted, it can also put you in a better financial aid situation. It says you are a worthwhile investment.

It is always good to show that other people have believed in you, entrusted you with opportunities, and that you consider it your responsibility to continue to do them proud! You consider this program to be the next step that, in turn, helps you pay back all the previous steps.

Then the school knows you aspire to excellence on behalf of people who invest in you.

Who wouldn't want to be part of that?