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Honesty, Please.
Complete honesty please... I made it anonymous so no one has to declare their choice. I am trying to decide what course to take next. I have a real shot at every program, though one program has contigencies that I am not sure I am ready to meet.
I am applying to all, but am trying to weigh my options now so *IF* acceptance letters roll in I know ahead of time what I am trying most for.
If you are willing to respond to the post...please please please give me food for thought. I need questions to mull over so I can better define what I want in a program.
Job wise...when I am done there are 2 things I am very interested in, and WHERE I went to school does have a level of importance....but not greatest importance. I am not really ready to share those options because that is not what i want input on right now. I am still in the formulation stages of what specifically I want from it...but all the majors I talk about are applicable for the jobs.
[Poll]
Re: Honesty, Please.
I don't know how much help this is, but I would struggle with either the first or the anti first. I am in a constant state of LOVING what I have already built and created and wanting to start over somewhere else and do something crazy.
My only word of advice isn't I wouldn't allow money to be your driving force behind what you choose. In my experience, that has always led to regrets. I know I didn't have much to say, but I wanted to say something! HUGS!!!
Roni, luckily money has no bearing on my choice. The known is so appealing because I LOVE my school and program and the professors and it would be so easy to continue what I am doing but more defined of course. I know exactly what I would do, but I am concerned that by sticking with a csu it could limit me. It being a csu is the only thing...only thing that is holding me back from jumping in full force.
The only program I would give my right arm for happens to be in LA and is a PhD program, but 1) I cannot move to LA, 2) it would be well out of our financial range, even with aid, 3) I don't actually want my PhD, and 4) it is a 7 year program.
Money Matters The other half's blog.
EJ is growing up too fast!
My question would be if you DO change masters programs are you required to take any prereqs or that has no bearing on it?
For me, since I am a creature of habit, would go with option #1 or #2 since also $$ is an object for me.
I like the last option b/c it is an online program however, it requires you to have a FT job.
GL!
What kind of communications are you studying? That's such a broad term these days.
If it were me, I'd say option #1 or #2. Are there benefits to switching schools? I mean, do you think it would make you look more well-rounded to an employer? I don't know the answer to that question. Plenty of people to do their undergrad and grad at the same school and are just fine. At least in my workplace, CSUs are viewed as good schools, so no worry there.
The other options I'd worry about the career possibilities for the fields you mentioned, but I know you said you're not looking for input on that right now.
I am currently studying Communication studies in a more broad sense: Spatial/Social, Drama/Performance, Rhetoric, Quantitative, etc. If I stay where I am I will go on to focus on Pedagogy, Interpersonal and Performance Studies (technically speaking I will focus on the pedagogy of interpersonal and performance)...though this is not in stone, I am finding I am really interested and good at legal, forensics, and crisis communications which fall under Argumentation and Persuasion Comm and Organizational Comm. So I will choose which path to follow *if* I am accepted and stay at my current school.
The benefit of switching schools is that in Comm studies, in the areas I am focusing on there are 2 standards of study and I am currently learning both but mostly one (the Northwestern view opposed to the NYU view) and if I went to another school I could round out my studies more. This would not really do anything for me in jobs but more about forcing myself to expand my area of study.
Per other pp...I would not have to take any pre-reqs for any of the programs since I am in a feeder to those programs because of the focus/emphasis I would do under each.
The UC is highly appealing because it would push me towards the literature perspective of comm, and "UC" makes a splash in some job circles.
CSU's ARE good schools, I am totally in love with my school and my field but I do worry that without holding major clout it could limit me initially (aka harder to achieve a job because in most cases experience means more than institution in the long run, but in the short term institution can be more important).
Finally, the jobs I am most interested in will be limited severely for one field of work and only slightly for the other field based on institution alone. If that makes any sense, but in theory once I landed one job and got some experience I could "easily" land the "better" (aka desired) position.
Money Matters The other half's blog.
EJ is growing up too fast!
Donate to My Pancreatic Cancer Research Page
Totally chiming in late, so I didn't vote, but, FWIW:
If you were to be a TA at current institution, does this interest you at all, or would you only do it to have tuition + pay? Becasue I think that it would be a huge opportunity to gain experience/credibility in your field, especially if you're looking to do late or something simliar later (like teach, research, etc.) down the line.
Also...as a CSU alum...I went to a CA state school. One of 33000 students at my school. Alot of people complained that it was "only a state school", yet I worked my rear off, took advantage of my education and have been working with 2 industry leaders companies amongst all KINDS of "well noted" university graduates (Ivy Leagues, UC's, private schools, etc.) I feel that super proud of my school because I look at my resume and it speaks for itself...even though I only went "to a state school". My employers...super competitive employers...clearly didn't see my state school as a bad thing.
Basically...what I'm trying to say is DON'T let reputation/"name brand schools" rule your decision. It really comes down to YOU and how hard you work/the networks/connections/etc. and ultimately, HOW you perform.
I know it's not an easy decision, so good luck!
I think the most important thing is what you want to do afterwards, and how the coursework prepares you for that position. The best school for you is the one that has the program that will suit your needs. I really can't make any kind of call since I have no idea what you are planning to do with your masters and none of what you discussed really makes any sense to me, but if you can decide where you want to go with the degree then you will be able to choose the best path for you.
I don't think online degrees are a good idea, I know for someone I work with he did an online RN degree and now they won't accept that degree at the licensing board so it was sort of a waste of time.
I think you should nix #4 - it's online, it's $$$, it's a 7 year program (which you don't sound too thrilled about.)
I also think that you should go with the plan that's going to be the most fulfilling to you.
Emmie: #4 is an MA program through USC, it is not the PhD program (the PhD is a on campus one). While the degree is online it is a USC degree (the certificate doesn't say "online" on it it just awards the person the degree of masters from USC). It is within the financial range we are OK with (it works out to approximately $45k for the MA).
RRW: I couldn't agree with you more, I honestly believe that what a person gets out of any institution is what they put into it. I mean...when I worked in recruiting/HR I preferred candidates who had the 3.8+ from state schools than 2.5-3.0 from Privates and UC's. I mean, there is a big difference between the amount of work someone is putting into their education if they are pulling A's and B's than C's and B's. (though at the companies I worked for we didn't hire based on school work alone, it was more of a tie breaker if we fell in love with 2 candidates)
Amy: I have not expressed the jobs I am interested in because I am still formulating the plan there and I don't want those to overshadow what I want from my education.
I will be honest...if I chose the UC/Privates I would most likely have a better shot at one specific job, but I am not entirely sure the job is really right for me. I am really leaning more towards something else and institution really has very little bearing on that job. The biggest appeal of staying at my school is continuing what I am doing and KNOWING that I will love the process because I love my professors and I love my school and I have friends who want to do it too.
The other big appeal is doing TA. I LOVE public speaking and that is what I would teach if I got into the TA program. After one semester of teaching my professor from the community college who helped me through the transfer process will then submit my resume etc and help me get in to teach another course or two of P.S. also so I could have a little influx of cash and be getting some experience that I can take anywhere because having teaching training and experience is something virtually any employer would love to see.
I know it must sound silly of me to even ask because it is clear that I love my school and want to stay, but I want to make sure I am considering everything before settling into a plan. I also have to have backups because what if I don't get in? Seems ridiculous to think because I have amazing grades, I am in multiple Comm clubs and have mentors and additional professors who are working to try and get me ready for it, but there is always the reality that for any number of reasons I might not get in.
Money Matters The other half's blog.
EJ is growing up too fast!
Donate to My Pancreatic Cancer Research Page
Santa Cruz
Money Matters The other half's blog.
EJ is growing up too fast!
Donate to My Pancreatic Cancer Research Page
ok, I was confused.
I stand by my opinion that you should do whichever will be the most fulfilling. :-)
I think the program you love with the people you love and the opportunity to TA gives you the most options. Having those close positive contacts with your profs will serve you very well...better than the name of the school on your diploma IMO
Oh, and I totally missed your change of careers. I thought you were working towards nursing.
That was a fleeting fantasy because the gravity of my hip issue settled in and blew that one out of the water. =(
There is no way I could be on my feet ALL day like that. My body is just not equipped to function that way anymore.
Money Matters The other half's blog.
EJ is growing up too fast!
i'm not a fan of getting your MA/MS at the same school you got your BA/BS at. thankfully there are a ton of CSU campuses in the bay area. i think the exposure to a different school - regardless if its in the same system ie CSU is incredibly beneficial.
Not sure if I'm too late, but I think you should go to the best program you can get into. You'll learn more and make better connections (your classmates, alumni networks, and faculty).
That said, another thing to consider is the dire situation the state is in right now and how it's impacting the quality of education at the CSU and UC. If you want more of an elaboration on this, PM me (and let me know you've PMed me).