UCLA Ethnomusicology PhD vs. Cornell Historic Preservation Planning MA

[NightGallery]

I have just been accepted to the ethnomusicology PhD program at UCLA. I very much want to continue to study ethnomusicology, but after a lot of web-based research, I am concerned about finding real and lasting work that is commensurate with the effort it takes to eventually earn a PhD. i.e. I don't want to cap six hard years of work with loan deferment requests and delivering pizzas to pay the rent. 

 

Now I find that I have been accepted to Cornell University. What a strange impasse I find myself at.  Two paths are available to me. One is my dream; studying Ethnomusicology at a top-ranked program — the job market from what I have gathered is not the greatest for Ethno Phd's . The other path is a practical option: obtaining a solid and very employable ivy league degree from one of the best HP programs in the world.

Time: 6 years for the PhD vs. 2 years for the MA.

Prestige: A top-drawer public sheepskin vs. and ivy league degree.

 

I applied to HP programs as a fallback for ethnomusicology, because I applied to six EM programs last year and was rejected across the board.

 

• I am in my 40's
• I am married.
• Much to my surprise, I am actually leaning toward Cornell.

 

Any thoughts?

Edited March 3, 2014 by NightGallery