fandomsecrets | [ 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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07.

[Agents of SHIELD]

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08.

[kill la kill]

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09.

[Gravity]

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10.

[Revenge]

Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 023 secrets from Secret Submission Post #353.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 1 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

[ SECRET POST #2472 ]

Oh dear god DO NOT GO TO GRAD SCHOOL.

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Seriously, though

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