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[Bradley Guire]

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[User 11148]

Re: Masters degree in English

Regardless, I'd love to hear any other advice or wisdom from those who have gone back to grad school to change careers.

I'm not in the humanities, but I would be very surprised if your former career as a journalist is held against you. That said, I hope you are aware how hard to get jobs like that are. I would suggest you go to the Chronicle of Higher Education's website (chronicle.com), create an account and check out/post to some of the fora there. You might get a better, more-informed sense of the realities of what you're shooting for. Further, if you think there's any chance you'd like to go on for the PhD, if there's a way you can do it in the business school (say, corporate communications or marketing) your job prospects will be ever so much more promising (and rewarding). At reasonably good universities PhD's in English (from really top-market programs) are a dime-a-dozen and they are paid accordingly. You'll make twice as much (or more) money teaching in the business school, and there will be more jobs available to boot!

 

[Stitch]

Re: Masters degree in English

If a community college is desperate for adjuncts, you might be able to teach a few courses right now. I taught a public speaking class based on my journalism experience. It will get your foot in the door.

 

[Zeke12]

Re: Masters degree in English

Don't do it for a career change.

If you want to do it because you want to study the material, then it's not a terrible idea.

But don't do it for a career.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Re: Masters degree in English

If you go back for a master's in English, make sure to double-major in a Romance language so you can differentiate between tall, grande and venti.

 

[dixiehack]

Re: Masters degree in English

This makes Creosote's Jeep shopping look like economic brilliance.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Re: Masters degree in English

Don't do it for a career change.

If you want to do it because you want to study the material, then it's not a terrible idea.

But don't do it for a career.

This. A thousand times this.

Otherwise you will hate every second of grad school.

 

[Stitch]

Re: Masters degree in English

Well, every teaching job at the junior college level or higher said a requirement is a masters in English. I'm not sure how I'd qualify for the work otherwise, so that's why it seemed to be my only option. It seemed like a viable option only because tuition is waived if I get on as a graduate assistant.

I'm not sure what to do for a career other than teach English or writing. I'll die before I go back to newspapers. I grew to hate the life too much. I've looked for nearly a year for media relations-type jobs. I've never gotten a call back, much less an interview. I'm getting to be at the end of my rope here.

Anything else you're interested in with a communications degree or public policy? Those programs can lead to good internships, depending on where you're at.

I'm in my mid 30s and in grad school for political science. The journalism experience is at least getting me in the door for some jobs, as well as the year I've spent working in the University Relations office as a grad assistant.

 

[Buck]

Re: Masters degree in English

Well, I'm intimately familiar with community college in California, but I'm support staff, not faculty.
Those are tough spots to land; but there is hope.
A huge percentage of full-time faculty in California are expected to retire in the next five years.
Also, get yourself a community college teaching certificate. Very hard to land an adjunct spot in California without one.
In addition the the grad degree, you really need classroom experience. Being a grad asistant will help and so will a CC teaching cert.
Learn everything you can about 'student learning outcomes' as a pedagological strategy. You'll kill every interview.

 

[farmerjerome]

Re: Masters degree in English

Dr. J has an English degree and sells cars. That's all I have to add.

 

[Shoeless Joe]

Re: Masters degree in English

Sorry to hear that.
After I bailed on the newspaper business I went back to school for a MAT (Masters of Arts in Teaching) and thoroughly enjoy grad school and my new career. I hope everything works out for you.

 

[farmerjerome]

Re: Masters degree in English

There are jobs out there. They are crappy jobs, and you will be underemployed -- but I assure you they are out there. I've been working in retail for seven years now. I can barely survive, but my husband and I have great insurance and I'm making enough to put a little towards a 401K. I'm still looking for another job while I squeak by.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Re: Masters degree in English

Not that anyone gives a ****, but I got my rejection notice on Friday. After 14 months of unemployment and now this, not sure what the next step is. Anyway, thanks for whatever advice was imparted her or via PM.

The only way to get into grad school is visiting College Confidential or Gradcafe; list your GPA, GRE, and state you have a killer Statement of Purpose and letters of recommendation; and post "Chance Me!" so undergrads can give you useless advice.

Did you just apply to one school? Are you English or nothing, or open to other fields?

 

[Shoeless Joe]

Re: Masters degree in English

Does your area not have programs for people to go back to school to get there masters? Here, most schools call it GPS (Graduate and Professional Studies). Most of the programs are like the one I am in to get an MAT or an MBA or in nursing or the like. Most of the programs are very accelerated. You got to school usually 6-10 Friday night then 8-10 on Saturday morning.

It would take a lot for them to reject someone, I think. Most of the small private colleges in our area are having an arms race to fill those classes. On any give stretch of 10 miles of road I about guarantee you'll see billboards for 3-4 schools. They advertise on TV and radio like crazy. If you go to a movie, they just about all have ads during the commercials. It's big business to them. Within an hour of me, there are 5 small private colleges. They go as far as putting billboards across from the others' campuses.

All that said, I don't know if any of them offer a traditional masters in a specific subject.

 

[Tom Petty]

Re: Masters degree in English

Not that anyone gives a ****, but I got my rejection notice on Friday. After 14 months of unemployment and now this, not sure what the next step is. Anyway, thanks for whatever advice was imparted her or via PM.

my J degree has an emphasis in PR. as i was leaving school, they were just starting a new master's program and the chair of the department -- i knew him well -- begged me to stick around for it ... public administration. i wish i would have. i mean i really kick myself in the ass, i wish i would have.

give it a look?

 

[Captain Obvious]

Re: Masters degree in English

http://forum.thegradcafe.com/forum/43-literature-and-rhetoric-and-composition/

http://forum.thegradcafe.com/forum/62-communications/

 

[Riptide]

Re: Masters degree in English

Bradley, taking that computer path seems like a good idea. Go for it.

 

[Tom Petty]

Re: MA in English is no go; considering IT training

can you legally grow weed in your state?

 

[Tom Petty]

Re: MA in English is no go; considering IT training

See, that's why I'm so bummed I didn't get into a liberal arts program. So much potential for clientele ...

damn. i tried, my friend. i tried.

 

[Ace]

Re: MA in English is no go; considering IT training

Go for the computer stuff. Seems like half the IT guy don't know what the hell they are doing so the bar for success and employment is pretty low.