fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2472 ]

[ SECRET POST #2472 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2472 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

01.

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02.

[Whitechapel]

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03.

[Hannibal]

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04.

[Bartender]

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05.

[WTNV]

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06.

[Agents of SHIELD]

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[Agents of SHIELD]

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08.

[kill la kill]

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09.

[Gravity]

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10.

[Revenge]

Notes:

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Secrets Not Posted: [ 1 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
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American here seeking advice. :P I graduated college and am trying to figure out my life. I'm interested in doing grad work in ancient to medieval European history, and figured the place to study that would be, well, Europe. I know some schools, like in Scandinavia, are free, but coupled with high costs of living, whereas others are cheap if you're an EU citizen but more expensive for non-EUs.

Any non-EU people consider or have experience studying in Europe? How were the costs? Which countries are easier to live and study in?

Norwegian Universities (and University Colleges) are not completely free*, then agian I wouldn't advise you to come to Norway, it is really (and I mean really) expensive over here, as in I can barely survive on my 1200$* a month student loan/Scholarship expensive.

My step brother is studying medicine in Latvia and is enjoying that, the downside is that you have to pay for tuition, but on the upside it is a lot cheaper living there.

Aaand that is all the help I can offer you really, make sure you either know the language in the country you move to or that you have the ability to learn a new language (language courses will be offered, but it can be difficult to learn), because not everything will be offered in English (except in the English speaking countries).

*though the cost is like 100$ each semester so it isn't like that is the worst of it.

Avoid capitals if you want to cut costs! If I'm not mistaken, public French universities are around €240 per year, just for tuition. Rent depends on the area, anywhere from €300/month for a one-room studio (with furniture) to €900/1000 for the same thing, but in Paris.

Not that grad school in general is a bad idea! You, personally, should not go.

You appear to have done zero research into what constitutes a good program. Did you know the best medieval studies program is in Toronto? Yes. Toronto. Canada. And there are plenty other places in North America with absolutely wonderful programs. Each of these places would be easier to live and study in.

Do you even want to be a historian? Or do you just "really like history?" What you appear to want is to go overseas and feel intelligent. You can go backpacking in Europe for a lot less money than a random masters is going to cost you and I guarantee you will feel smarter than at least half the drunks in the hostel.

Do not go into a whole lot of debt to "figure out your life." Go figure out your life. If you figure out that your life should involve a job that will require a masters, THEN you go get your masters. If you go for a phD I guarantee you will have to go overseas to do research, and will find a way to get funding either from your department or other sources.

For the love of god, DO NOT GO TO GRAD SCHOOL FOR HISTORY unless you get a good funding package or are trying to become a high school history teacher. The job market is terrible.

Citation: I'm ABD in history.

Edited 2013-10-10 02:03 (UTC)

Isn't that... kind of what OP is trying to do? Research schools and see what s/he wants to do?

I find this post very judgmental and bitchy.

No. It's good advice. Sorry if chard made it in a harsher way than you would have, but seriously, it's all good advice and the only thing that's even critical at all is the first couple lines.

You shouldn't go to grad school either, then. You'd find the atmosphere pretty judgmental.

Seriously, though: this is a really bad place to research schools. The fact that their question boils down to "which European nation is cheapest to go get a masters in" rather than "which program is best for my needs" reveals how little they've done.

Go look at one of several Medieval Studies professional organization websites. Look at college websites. Make a list and then show it to someone in your school's history department and ask them for advice. I remember doing this research, guys. That's what you have to do. Otherwise you might end up with a useless degree.

On top of this, for god's sake do not go to grad school to 'find yourself.' I'm not saying you have to feel like a Real Adult before you do--lord knows I didn't--but you have to have a good reason beyond "history is fun and makes me feel good." It's simply too expensive. For an American it's still going to be expensive in Europe. If OP wants a scholarship, they REALLY need to do research on programs. I'm getting a degree because I literally need it to do the job I want. Otherwise it isn't worth it, I promise you. It might kill your love of history. Or, again, you might end up with a halfassed degree that is ultimately a useless debt pile for you.

Ask Noodle how stressful history grad school is. He's seen when I'm under serious pressure.

Edited 2013-10-10 03:31 (UTC)

I'm not saying don't go overseas. I'm saying don't get a masters so you can go overseas.

If you decide the best program for your field--the faculty you want to work with, remember--is overseas, go head. But do it because the commute is worth it, not because you want to live overseas.

tbh kinda seems like you're projecting a lot onto OP's post. that's what your first comment seemed like, too - you unloading your own baggage.

Let's just say OP's attitude is very common. Ask anyone else here who's actually gone to grad school.

Or don't. Someone who sees a graduate degree as a vacation opportunity to "find themselves" is going to be very lucrative to whatever random history department they end up in. Gotta rake in those delicious loan bucks.

Edited 2013-10-10 04:59 (UTC)

I have to say, as someone who went straight from undergrad to grad, it's not the place to find yourself.

I knew what I wanted and I don't think a Master's degree has helped me currently, but 10 years down the line I'll be glad I did it right away. I also worked part time in my field (I'm a structural engineer) while I wet to grad school, which helped tremendously. I'm in no debt currently because I worked through grad school.

If you think "go to the school with the best faculty for what you want to study" is unloading baggage I have no idea where you are coming from. Your prof is going to tell you the same thing.

(reply from suspended user)

The best (or one of the best) philosophy programs is at Pittsburgh. I always feel like that's one of the ones that surprises people.

But yes, this is very good advice.

I think you just graduated college, and you're scared. School is what you know, so you think staying in school is going to help. You think it's going to be a comfortable place to grow up and defer your loans. So two things:

1. You will never feel "grown up." It doesn't happen. Your parents spent your childhood flying by the seat of their pants getting songs from high school stuck in their heads.

2. I'm in the first semester of my sixth year of grad school--I'm in a phD program. One of my major regrets is going straight from undergrad to grad school. In short, I felt like you. I knew I wanted to teach in a college, but I was scared to do anything but jump right from one academic program to another. But there has never been a point in my life when I wasn't in school, except summer. I don't know what that is like. I have friends in my program who do, and let me tell you, they have cooler stories.

let me put it this way: in this economy especially, if you don't go to grad school straight away it's unlikely you will ever get to go. Once you get a job, and suddenly your responsibilities start piling up, it's really hard to turn your back on it and go back to school. I'm sorry there are a lot of people in your program who don't take it seriously enough and that it makes you want to lash out on the internet, but you're kind of being an ass.

some jobs will pay for your classes

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ SECRET POST #2472 ]

Grad School in Europe?

Re: Grad School in Europe?

Re: Grad School in Europe?

Oh dear god DO NOT GO TO GRAD SCHOOL.

Re: Oh dear god DO NOT GO TO GRAD SCHOOL.

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Re: Oh dear god DO NOT GO TO GRAD SCHOOL.

Also:

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Seriously, though

Re: Oh dear god DO NOT GO TO GRAD SCHOOL.

Let me put this another way

Re: Let me put this another way

Re: Let me put this another way