pinto

Do you think it is more plausible to pursue a PhD (including copious amounts of debt) if my degree and focus would not limit me to a job within academia?

Yeah that definitely makes sense then. Unfortunately, I do not have an exact career sector that I can estimate salary and my ability to pay off debt for. But for me I would only work in academia, I think, if the opportunity somehow presented itself. Otherwise, I am guessing I will have to search out my options as to where I can work with the knowledge that comes from Islamic studies. So in that light it seems better. Better than trying to break into the field of Shakespeare scholarship or something of that nature. Arabic is the game changer for me. The only thing that makes me feel better after reading the article from eskidd titled 'Graduate School in the Humanities: Just Don't Go' is that I am not set on working in academia only etc.

Wow. Thanks for the responses everyone. That is useful info though disheartening no doubt. I did not realize it was so expensive to live in Chicago. That is quite absurd and based on the responses the personal risk is perhaps too high. I will not take the time to respond to everyone but I appreciate all the responses. The article by Thomas H. Benton on why one should not go into graduate school in the humanities is quite enlightening (though pessimistic indeed). I liked this quote especially, "It's hard to tell young people that universities recognize that their idealism and energy — and lack of information — are an exploitable resource" (http://chronicle.com/article/Graduate-School-in-the-Huma/44846/), as it is definitely true. And I will definitely take into account the idea of mortgaging my future to the U of Chicago. Luckily, I have some other schools I am waiting to hear from so maybe I can bargain a bit. The only factor I have working in my favor is that I would be studying Islamic studies and so would come out with (ideally) expert knowledge of the Arabic language and relevant cultural knowledge for jobs both inside and outside academia. But I think Thomas H. Benton would psychoanalyze me and tell me that I am making justifications in order to fulfill my wishes (God, the University of Chicago is exciting isn't it?) Finally, last thing, I would like a poll to know what is the maximum debt each person would take on to complete a Masters in religious studies??

Is this true? $60K? I was accepted into the AM for religion at Chicago with the standard 50% off tuition. A full time student is considered as registered for 3 out of 4 quarters. So my calculation for tuition and fees (minus the 50%) is about $22K per year. The question though, I suppose, is whether one can obtain the degree in 6 quarters or 8 quarters. Because at 6 quarters one is looking at somewhere between $50K and $60K for the total (keeping the living expenses to a minimum). Also, I would like to know if anyone thinks it is absolute lunacy to accept a $60K debt for master's in religion in this economic climate and current transition of the processes of production? Of course I am thinking to continue to the PhD but really, those are big numbers to subject oneself to. But then again it is the University of Chicago and it is pretty much a once in a lifetime chance to absorb the knowledge and methods of the world's top religion scholars. Does anyone have some thoughts on these things?