Another graduate school question

[Confusion]

I know we had one of these recently, but my situation is a little bit different.

I have about seven years of full-time experience at a couple of 40,000-100,000 papers. I have an APSE award, etc. and some good clips. But here's the thing: I got in this business to win Pulitzers and change the world. Most of us lose that. I guess I'm starting to realize that I haven't.

But I have very little in terms of connections that matter in this business - and on top of that, my paper's Web site is a pay site, so very little exposure. And, in reality, not quite the training and background I need to take things to the next level (my J-school was middling, at best).

I read the New York Times, Washington Post, L.A. Times, Rolling Stone, etc., and think, "That's what I want. I want to go for it," but I don't think I ever got the proper training, connections or exposure to make it to that level. I work in a great environment with great people, but their ambitions essentially stop here - they're not the type to really tear apart your stuff and keep polishing you for the next level. Nothing wrong with that, but I'm at a bit of a crossroads where I feel if I don't make a play for the big time in some way, I'll have major regrets.

I am considering going the graduate school route - but only at one of the "Big Three," Missouri, Northwestern or Columbia.

My question: does this seem absolutely insane? Or are there no rewards in life with no risks?

 

[Gold]

No, it doesn't seem insane. In fact, you sound like the exact type of person who should go to graduate school and could benefit. The only place where you aren't a perfect template is maybe you should have done it with four or five years of experience.

I would say maybe you should broaden your list from "the big three". There might be other places which are also really good and might be more up-and-coming, and perhaps you would gain more than just being someone out of a cookie-cutter factory.

It would seem a degree might boost you to a better job and a better situation. It might also give you greater knowledge about new forms of media. Even if that doesn't work, in an age where there are job cutbacks, you could also teach. I think if you can swing it, grad school sounds like a win-win situation.

 

[Cousin Jeffrey]

A lot of SI writers, maybe not a lot but a few, did the Columbia thing, going back to Dr. Z. If I had the money, I would've done it. Regardless, you're putting yourself in a hole financially, but don't ever let anyone dissuade you from more education. Also, you can definitely make good connections through grad school. Anyone that tells you different is lying, or doesn't want to admit it.

 

[Claws for Concern]

I agree completely with Gold and Cousin Jeffrey. Sound advice. Good luck to you if you go.

 

[Cadet]

While your ambitions may have not yet been touched by disillusionment, ask yourself two things: do you have $40K to spare, and are you willing to have graduate school provide you with said disillusionment?

Listen closely: a masters degree from one of the big three is not a golden ticket. It is not a guarantee. You may actually find that your career has been hurt by taking time off to do grad school.

 

[fishwrapper]

My advice: PUNT.
Go to grad school and get an MBA.

 

[Gold]

Cadet: Even if there is disillusionment, getting a graduate degree would give somebody an opportunity to teach. Also, this guy has some experience.

Nothing can be more frustrating that ambition which is unfulfilled.

 

[Alma]

What are you looking to cover? International news? Government?

 

[audreyld]

One of my big reasons for going back to grad school was to have my work ripped into and made better.

They want us all to go straight to the top. We won't all make it, but that's what they're preparing us to aim for.

 

[Confusion]

What are you looking to cover? International news? Government?

You know, I actually think so. I think I'd rather spend a week among the Hurricane Katrina refugees, hearing their stories and filing enterprise on it, or on Air Force One, than I would sitting in another coach's press conference, trying to break his cone of silence to find out of the backup fullback's ankle will allow him to practice on Wednesday.

But - I know this is going to sound elitist, but oh well - I don't want to start off by covering car accidents and Podunk school board meetings any more than I want to cover the prep track beat.

Mostly I want someone to say, "This sucks. This should go here. This paragraph is contrived. Do it better and this is how," etc., etc., etc. I'm sure I got some of that in undergrad, but I was so full of myself back then. When I was supposed to be learning and absorbing, instead I was taking every assignment as a challenge to show that I was one step ahead of the professors. Dumb. But the truth is, I'm at a bigger paper now than any of my J-school professors ever worked at full-time.

 

[Alma]

I ask because, IMO, those are two good beats to go back to grad school for if you have no previous experience with them.

My suggestion is to field requests on this site for good schools. Then look them up, read the professor's bios, and maybe contact them. Do this search the right way. A lot of people get sheepish when it comes to contacting people, taking up their time...etc. Nah. Just do it.

 

[buckweaver]

Just IMO: I think you might have a better chance of moving up/out if you take a different attitude toward the way you cover things.

I don't think anyone *really* wants to cover school board meetings instead of Air Force One, but buying your way into a bigger beat (if that's even possible) isn't going to help you change the world.

As Cadet said, grad school isn't a be-all, end-all to professional success. If you think you're going to find someone (or somewhere) to solve all your problems ("Do this. Don't do that. Put this there."), you might have another think coming. To me, it sounds like you're looking for something external to figure it out for you internally. That ain't gonna happen; it's up to you.

Grad school can help, sure. Especially when it comes to covering a beat you've never worked. And if you ever want to get out of the business, grad school can help more. ... But if the qualifications you listed are accurate, you might be better served to stay on the career path (maybe move over to news side instead of sports), and work harder on connections to get to a better gig. Sounds like you're on your way, if the "elitism" doesn't get you off track.

 

[Confusion]

I ask because, IMO, those are two good beats to go back to grad school for if you have no previous experience with them.

My suggestion is to field requests on this site for good schools. Then look them up, read the professor's bios, and maybe contact them. Do this search the right way. A lot of people get sheepish when it comes to contacting people, taking up their time...etc. Nah. Just do it.

That's kind of what I thought. I mean, the valiant way would be to start off covering local news - cops, town council, etc. - then work your way up. And I admire the hell out of people who do those beats the same way I admire the hell out of people who find fulfillment in doing a bang-up job on prep sports.

You go to Medill or Columbia or NYU, you're covering that stuff. Or your interning somewhere big.

I'm from a blue-collar family that kind of scoffed at elitists and taught me that if you work hard, the honorable way is to scratch and claw your way to the top. But the American Dream, noble as it seems, doesn't work out for everybody that way.

 

[Cadet]

You go to Medill or Columbia or NYU, you're covering that stuff. Or your interning somewhere big.

You are making gigantic assumptions. I repeat: a masters degree, even from one of those schools, is not a guarantee.

For as much as admissions departments like to hold up grads who are covering major beats, winning major awards and doing major internships at major papers, it's not always the case. For every one of those people, there are nine others who interned at the Podunk Press, covering school board meetings. Those people, surprisingly :, aren't on the cover of the alumni glossy.

Also, an advanced degree from one of the big three can close just as many doors as it can open. Not everyone looks upon it favorably. There are editors who don't want to hire Medill or Columbia grads because they don't want to deal with the pretentious attitude.

I don't mean to demean the benefits of an advanced degree program and, as has been mentioned, future teaching opportunities. It's certainly the right choice for those looking to further formal education. And the big schools do provide educational opportunities that others may not.

It sounds, in my opinion, that you would be best served by knocking a chip off your shoulder and transferring to the news desk.

 

[Clever username]

I work with a (news) guy who went to Columbia a few years ago. Ten months and $51,000 in student loans, which includes cost-of-living, rent type expenses. Not trying to dissuade, just putting it out there.

 

[Confusion]

You go to Medill or Columbia or NYU, you're covering that stuff. Or your interning somewhere big.

You are making gigantic assumptions. I repeat: a masters degree, even from one of those schools, is not a guarantee.

For as much as admissions departments like to hold up grads who are covering major beats, winning major awards and doing major internships at major papers, it's not always the case. For every one of those people, there are nine others who interned at the Podunk Press, covering school board meetings. Those people, surprisingly :, aren't on the cover of the alumni glossy.

Also, an advanced degree from one of the big three can close just as many doors as it can open. Not everyone looks upon it favorably. There are editors who don't want to hire Medill or Columbia grads because they don't want to deal with the pretentious attitude.

I don't mean to demean the benefits of an advanced degree program and, as has been mentioned, future teaching opportunities. It's certainly the right choice for those looking to further formal education. And the big schools do provide educational opportunities that others may not.

It sounds, in my opinion, that you would be best served by knocking a chip off your shoulder and transferring to the news desk.

Thanks for the other side. Really.

But I promise I don't have a chip on my shoulder or anything like that. I guess, in many ways, I'm hoping to help re-set my course after having a chip on my shoulder when I was younger.

If I came out of one of those schools covering school boards and utilities, I would work to be the best damned school board and utility reporter there ever was. But I'd be doing so without the nagging feeling that I hadn't explored every option.

 

[Cadet]

If I came out of one of those schools covering school boards and utilities, I would work to be the best damned school board and utility reporter there ever was. But I'd be doing so without the nagging feeling that I hadn't explored every option.

That's fair.

Your initial posts just made it sound as if you believed an advanced degree from the Big Three would be a "get out of jail free" card past covering the more mundane beats.

By all means, go back to school if it's what you really want to do. Nothing wrong with it. But be realistic about what it will, and will not, get you.

 

[DyePack]

Going to Columbia grad school for journalism is nuts. In case you haven't noticed, the industry is shedding people like trees lose leaves in the fall.

 

[Gold]

Dye Pack:

There are going to be newspapers, and a better education is a way to protect yourself. And there are always going to be magazines and internet sites which will be new and hire people. One door closes and another opens.

 

[DyePack]

Gold:

I heard all that 10 years ago.

There may still be newspapers, but they aren't doing what they used to, or what they should be. What good is it to learn about doing things the right way if you can't do them the right way because of the business management?

And yes, I'm referring to design doltitude with that, too.