ArtHistoryandMuseum

^^ Oh - I forgot to mention that you can (and you should) see a CO-OP network logo on the ATM. Also, does any one know if it's easier, advisable, or more beneficial to have a credit union credit card, over a major bank card? Perhaps I should too consider the advice in this column - to get perks while continue building credit!

Good for you to be a deadbeat credit card user! I may have a solution to consider about banking -- credit unions & their networks. I have a debit card, as well as a credit card, from my local credit union. My debit card has a CO-OP logo on its back, indicating that I can use the ATMs at other credit unions, who are also in the CO-OP network. Read about the CO-OP network here. I'm a New Englander, with my base credit union in New England. However, when I was living for awhile in the west, I kept my credit union, and I definitely utilized my iPhone to find the nearest CO-OP ATM. It worked well for me. Full disclosure: the in-network credit union's atm that you use, you are not charged fees, but my credit union charged a tiny fee after the fourth withdrawal in a single month's time. I looked at that rule as that I could only withdraw funds, for free, only once a week. As a planner, honestly, I don't think that I had to go to the ATM more than that. But do check your rules from your credit union, should you elect this route. Another potential drawback to small credit unions -- I do not get the perks on my cards that you could find elsewhere. That said, I know that the credit union's focus is excellent service to its members, and not because they wanted to profit. Other advantages? I can link my checking account at the credit union to pay for my credit card if I'd like. So far, I pay for my credit card in full each month on my credit union's online banking. I rather just pay it off straightaway.

I just PM'd you! Haha - I think my response is longer than the reply above.... Have fun & do let me know if you have further questions.

Haha - nope! Especially not for emerging or mid-career museum positions... Now, if you are in an upscale museum, and/or if you are the executive director, deputy director, or established professor/PhD curator (or something like that)... there might be instances then to see six figures. But generally not during, or straight out of grad school. In other words, IF you were able to swing six figures immediately, I'd be really impressed!

I have completed a few collections internships. I'm en route soon for work (at a museum, no less), but my quick reply on my mobile device is that you may be able glean some helpful insights from this recent post: Please do feel free to ask me anything more regarding museum work, or just PM me.

Hi again! You might be delighted to see this article in the Scientific American re: blogging, in late stages of academia here. :-)

Thank you, I greatly appreciate this alert. And haha -- "DANGER WILL ROBINSON!" I'm in the universe of museums, where robots definitely have come up. This makes me smile. As for my letter choices, I had an application for grad school, which allowed and encouraged up to five letters of recommendation, two of which could be from museum work. I submitted three from the academia, one from that PhD, and one who was ABD but was also my most immediate work supervisor. This supervisor could best speak to my command of my subject (dec arts). Also, I never really studied dec arts in art history undergrad. Also, for that specific application, where I was applying, they are supportive of museums. However, I see that research-oriented departments may not approve so much, and that actually this supervisor's letter do some harm, as well as it may indicate a lack of good judgement. I will definitely keep this in mind this application round. Thank you so much again for pointing my attention to it! Being that I have some research experience in a museum setting and not formally academia, anything else that I should keep in mind?

Thanks for letting me know.

I will have to return to this topic when I'm not on a mobile device, but my first thought is if you want to get the humanities back into education (schools?), maybe a career in museum education is for you. I'm thinking primarily about school programs, and how you'll be researching history and utilizing a history background to design educational programming, while making partnerships with local schools. I can see consulting in this, too. Unlikely, you will need a PhD, though. However, whether it is in public history, museum ed, or history, an MA is definitely helpful. There is also this combination -- you could go down for a PhD in museum ed, but first earn a MA in in history? I'm unsure you'd want to do this, though.

^^ I generally agree with Arcanen. While I'm not in the history field, I *am* in the museum field. If in your museum -- you would be conducting original research, and/or writing for publication of some sort (such as, but not limited to: exhibition catalogues, newspaper columns, magazine articles), for your grad apps those may be worthwhile activities. It would also be a wonderful boon to you, if the person(s) supervising you at the museum had advanced degrees, e.g. MA, PhD (like what Arcanen writes). That these people would be able to write you letters of recommendation that fully reflect your researching abilities. However, if you are just "bringing the museum to the 21st century," where you are doing tasks like: updating the social media accounts, inputting donor info (or object info) into the museum's databases, offering audience-geared tours, etc, it is not a waste of your time per se, you'd be helping the museum, but it is not really helping your ultimate goal of preparing yourself well for your grad school applications. Now it would be one thing if you are using this experience to be able to work in a museum someday, or use it for a back up plan (such as build skills for the workforce, in case you are unsuccessful with your apps). Otherwise, all of those activities that I've listed in the above paragraph... they are simply busy work, distracting you from putting your energies elsewhere (where you can really demonstrate your academic capacities). A better use of your time would be tasks like, writing/rewriting your SOP. Finally, if this is helpful for you - both of my LOR for this application cycle were from museum staff. However, one of my letter writers has a PhD (in a subject closely related to my field), and the other is earning a PhD. Also, my role at the museum is researching history, culture, and art. Although I do offer tours to museum visitors, I am often speaking on my academic focus (decorative arts), or contexts related to it. Furthermore, I conduct a lot of independent research. That's important. I also get a ton of reading from my institution to do. It's almost like... grad school. Which is great prep! Unfortunately, this last application cycle, I didn't discuss this (or the topics of my tours) at all, but I'm thinking of doing so for the next cycle, especially as it can distinguish me (I'm thinking about a meta-topic actually too: histories of collecting). This discussion also illustrates: my sustainable passion for my subject, and that I love this research/topic so much that I continue it outside the workday. Anyway, this nascent idea I have shows you how I'm considering how I will spin this museum life that I've had in the past few years, to best support my case that I'm curious, enthusiastic, and ready for research in academia. But this may be a unique set up that I have. I also work for a pretty large museum, in terms in staffing. Given your language of describing your volunteering "as bringing the museum to the 21st century", I'm thinking you will be spending your time in a small museum, and often, in those kinds of museums, you are: fighting for funding, fighting to keep people interested, and fighting to essentially keep the lights on. Even fighting for the reason to be active digitally. (I've volunteered at a museum where Facebook was looked at with suspicion by the board. True story.) If this is the case, that you'll be volunteering in a small museum, it might be interesting, but it is probably going to take up your energy, and you might be spinning your wheels. So if you want to help out your community museum, that's great, just know it doesn't probably translate for whole lot for the world of academia. Anyway, if you have any more museum questions, let me know. I wish you the best of luck!

To add to what I wrote in the above comment (22 April 2013), have you emailed or connected with any of the HASTS faculty?

Hello there! Given my screen name, I couldn't help, but be compelled to write :-) While I do not think you intended to be casual in your post, I would take your decision entering the museum field very carefully. Have you researched today's labor market for museum work? The picture is not attractive in terms of the job market right now; for example, some museum jobs in metropolitan areas are receiving several hundred applicants for entry and mid-level work. Even the museum that I work at now in a New England state received a couple hundred applicants for a single position. In other words, the competition is intense, and the "hanging in there" to get a job definitely seems to require sustainable passion and drive. I'd recommend an internship or volunteering in a museum if you haven't already. This will also help you get the institutional clues needed to apply for work, and some work experience. You've written that you are unsure about curatorship. There are many roles in a museum that aren't "curatorial": development/fundraising, museum education, human resources, conservation, marketing/public relations, social and web media, collections... Do you have any idea which kinds of professional roles in a museum setting, which best fit your interests and abilities? In addition to "museum theory," museum studies programs do train you and teach you a little about each professional role, so you can determine an appropriate fit for yourself. However, actual museum experience will probably tell and teach you even more whether or not it's a fit for you, and what an actual day-to-day is like. Generally, at smaller museums you'll be more likely wearing "all hats" (i.e. you may update the collections database AND give tours AND mail gift acknowledgments) and at larger museums you may be more niched, and limited (say, curator of decorative arts). Based on your description of not wanting to do the "technical," I could only guess that you might not enjoy the data entry and the computer heavy work that collections technicians and managers do. Although, your library training would be probably most transferrable to collections manager, collections technician, cataloguer, and archivist kinds of roles in a museum (well, mostly -- you'll still have to know the particular databases of the institution, such as Past Perfect and Multi-Mimsy, and possibly, their ways of processing metadata). You did remark about connecting with your art roots, however. Do you have enthusiasm for art and/or history, and want to share it with people? Do you think you'd like to plan programs, tours, or interpret collections for visitors? Maybe a track, or focus, in museum education is for you. In any regard, it is absolutely ideal you have passion for what you do. Unless you are working for an upscale museum (like the Getty or the Met), generally museum positions are not highly compensated, so you'd be doing it for the love, really. At the museum that I work for... ... the HR staffer is PASSIONATE for employment law. ... the curator is PASSIONATE for minute details about objects. ... the education team is PASSIONATE for museum education theory -- and based on current studies, how multigenerations learn best in museums. ... the collections manager is PASSIONATE for deciding things like, whether in the database it is "medicine, bottle"... or "apothecary, bottle." And on and on... Our museum has a lot of fine art, but as you can see, it's not simply that they are connecting with their "art roots". Hence, my earlier comment on not being casual about entering the field -- this is a serious career, and there are many paths that you can elect to take, each with specific responsibilities. So, should you matriculate in a Museum Studies MA, over Art History? That will depend on your interest to study for a year or two a topic, and on a few other things that you want. If you seek to enter museum work, you can honestly work either degree to your advantage, especially if you couple it with actual museum experience (make sure any museum studies program you do enter supports internships or connects you in some way to the workforce). Although, as I think about it, an art history MA may be slightly better for fulfilling work duties, even as a museum educator or what have you, because you have that important background of art. So much easier to develop a tour on a certain movement of art when you know it! Regardless, though, while depending on the job description, a MA in Art History, or a MA in Museum Studies, should get at least you considered for a job in museums, AND if all goes well, hopefully to the interview stage. Keep in mind, also, that museum jobs like HR, marketing, development -- you won't necessarily need a MA. You might, however, need other professional training. Maybe community college or business courses? Finally, I offer my personal experience. I hold a MA in Museum Studies, and I am employed in a museum. Because I seek ultimately to research and curate American decorative arts in a museum or university museum, a further degree in material culture or art history would serve me better in my job search. While I am currently less competitive for academic museums or curatorial positions, with my MA in Museum Studies, and extensive museum experience, I do still receive invitations to interview for other professional roles in museums, which is great because it is so hard to get a museum job these days. However, for me, sadly, the degree that I have is generally not sufficient for curatorial jobs, of which role seek demonstrable academic knowledge/background in a particular subject or topic. Lastly, a PhD in Art History, or even a MA in Art History, might "over-qualify" you for a position like collections or database-driven development... which I like, too, so I have to weigh that when I apply to MA/PhD in Art HIstory. Anyway, I truly believe that further graduate school in Art History would prepare me well particularly for the museum roles that I desire to fill. I couldn't imagine another career for myself, but to study dec arts in depth. Hence, why I'm on grad cafe, interested to learn more about the process myself :-) My bottom line? I hope these rambles of some help to you, and I do wish you the best of luck deciding!

When I am finished with what I'm doing on social media, I log out of any social media sites. That way, I have to re-log in to the website, and that extra step makes me stop and think if it's really worth it. Along that same line, I'd also change your social passwords to something hard to recall, like a bunch of numbers or something, so you don't have as easy access... I haven't gotten to this point yet, but I'm considering it. For my phone, I do not have an app for Facebook. Not having that social media site only been a nuisance a couple of times, such as when I wanted to take a photo and share it with friends, but for the most part, I enjoy not having access to Facebook on my phone, because I am focused on the world around me, and the present moment. I also turn off my laptop when it's not in use. Like the re-logging in, I am less inclined to start up my computer just for social media. Anyway, I give you my support! Good luck!

Thanks anonymousbequest for this fuller information! I, by no means, have an extensive knowledge about Roberts or her current research; I was merely piping up about the book's author and where she is currently. Now Roberts may no longer be a great fit for the OP. However, she may be for me, since I work with 18th-19th American! Thank you for speaking up.

71 is a bus number (part of MBTA), the T is the subway (also part of the MBTA). The 71 will run you to Harvard or to Watertown square, where I think there's a bus that'll run you to Newton/Boston College (no 57). I cannot speak to driving it because I have never driven in Boston. Public transit all the way!

NOHOWNOWAY, I am SO happy you are in love! I'm definitely familiar with John Durant from the museum world. He's the director of MIT Museum. A very curious site indeed for "public learning of science", as the MIT Museum is not primarily for children (a la "science center"), but actually for adults, Unrelated to his research and his directorship duties, he's also the founder of Cambridge Science Festival http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/science/mits-john-durant-a-cheerleader-for-science.html?pagewanted=all I hope that continues as I heard the cancellation for some events following the MIT shooting... As for particular faculty in mind at MIT, I afraid that I am not as far along as you, and I'm still at the beginning of my research. There is exciting research for sure at HASTS, but upon closer look, MIT's HTC (history, theory, and criticism) may actually be a better research fit for me with its two focuses: American art and architecture, and history of preservation (connoisseurship, and collecting). With a background that I have interpreting 17th-20th American art/artifacts, and art movements (aligned with: histories of collecting), the work of Kristel Smentek appeals greatly to me..... So, I'm thinking that the best way forward for me to work in this kind of research is that I should really obtain some experience in an auction house, or have some formal training in connoisseurship. I also need to get my hands on some of Smentek's work or lectures, so I can see if there are appropriate fits across the board. Again, exactly like you said: I know it is a bit of stretch and I imagine HTC takes few students, but if I didn't consider it... I couldn't live with myself. I couldn't say it better (-: Cheers for application research for Fall 2014!

This! At the Catholic church on campus nearby me, not only does the church offer masses in the evening for students, but they also provide mingling activities for students (like hikes). The center also offers a separate area with tables and comfy seating for students to use to study. As this church has made it cool to hang out at the center, with a number of people around... I could only imagine you'd meet people. So if you are religiously inclined, a local church (especially one that is on campus) -- might be a great place to meet people.

Also, you write that your interest is Europe. I cannot say this for sure, but it would be my sense that the ESL positions are more plentiful in Asia. The person that I know who did the Korea teaching mentioned that your housing, insurance, even flights is covered. In other words, the money you earned may be useful for student loans and other bills. Finally, you should keep in mind that likely you'll be signing a contract. Should you be accepted next round, make sure the date works with your potential start for grad school.

I'm trying to find the name of my friend's program in Japan... without success. I do remember she went through an organization which ended up being good, but I vaguely recall that she also mentioned some are not good. This was a few years ago. It is my sense from hearing from the both them that Korea is preferable. If you chose Korea, keep in mind that you'll likely still be able to travel to China, Thailand, etc. Lastly -- especially in Korea, there are significant differences between public and private schools (for things like compensation, vacation time). There are pros and cons to each type. I would definitely do your research and ask around.

^^ I cannot vouch for her as a person to work with because I am not personally familiar, but Jennifer Roberts is at Harvard.

Yes! yes! yes! Being dedicated to planning ahead and buying only what you'll eat and really use, is important for everyone, and *especially* for those on a budget. I'm not saying you shouldn't have some canned clam chowder (hey - I'm a New Englander ) or bag of nuts on stock, but my goal as a person of one to eat everything that I am able and to zero out perishables every week. Now it takes time to know exactly how much to buy each time you grocery shop. However, if you are observant and honest with yourself, over time you'll figure it out. Good luck!

Like Fort Collins! While I love Boulder more, I loved Fort Collins. Well - I might have also been swayed slightly by the stop at the New Belgium brewery... :-)

I don't have personal experience with this; only that friends who have gone to Japan and Korea to teach English, and loved it. I imagine you already know about the website Dave's ESL cafe?

Zabius gave you pretty much the advice that I wanted to share. I fully agree with the above. Thanks Zabius for saying it nicely and more eloquently than I could! As for Boulder and CU Boulder -- like you, I love so much! I cannot tell you how much it broke my heart for me to decide NOT to apply. But I knew it was not a good research fit. I just could not do it. The art that I wanted to do would not be there, and I would struggle for a likeminded POI. Sometimes, though I wish I had applied. I love Boulder so darn much; and uniquely, for my course of study, I could get graduate assistantship to work in one of their two museums (not all art history programs offer this). Ugh - I really wish I could have attended CU! But in the long-term it is not a help, and you should consider that taking out loans in the long-term, may also not be of assistance for you either. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck deciding!

I'm shaken by the events, too. I have friends who are affected. Boston and its greater area are like any other city -- you have to be mindful of your surroundings. However, in recent years, I have walked through the currently restricted areas of Watertown, and during nighttime. I do not recall any gun fire or any shootings. While walking through Watertown, I was more spooked by being alone, as it was a little shady (and there weren't a lot of people out at night), but ultimately, I was OK. On a day to day basis, I think the overcrowded late night buses running on Mount Auburn are more of a concern... Anyway, I would sign up for any text/social media alerts from Harvard, and perhaps the surrounding universities, as a precaution when you are here. Last night, MIT did a spectacular job informing people.