decisions!

[kshea333]

So this is more of a rant than anything else, but just seeing if anyone else is in the same boat/having the same thoughts

Comments

[lostreality]

id you're going into it to be a high school teacher, go for the more affordable school

[kshea333]

No, definitely not. And I may or may not have to go back to school to get my certification after this (though I think I'd be able to find a way to get that paid for through a teaching program), so there's that to keep in mind as well.

thanks, i think i just needed to hear this from someone else as well :)

[sahiya]

If you're going on to become a teacher, I would not recommend putting yourself $40-50k in debt for a program you don't really need. And "amazing locations," while nice, are usually very expensive to live in. I say this living in the SF Bay Area, which many consider to be an "amazing location," but I pay almost $1000 a month for a "cozy" one bedroom - and I got a good deal. So you have to factor that in as well.

Overall, it looks to me like you know the second program is the better option. It's reasonable for what you want to do and it won't put you in terrible debt. The teaching experience you would get from an assistantship would also be very useful if that's what you want to do long-term. So yes, I'd try to kick the "better ranking, better school" mentality and go with the one you know is better for you.

[thruyourveins]

i agree with all of this.

[kshea333]

yeah, it would be in santa cruz, california, which while i've heard it's not as expensive as SF is still pretty pricey.

[sahiya]

Oh, that's where I did my undergrad! Based on my experience, you would have to budget probably $600-$800 in rent per month, if you were sharing a two bedroom with someone. If you just rent a room in a house, you can generally find something in the $500 range. It's hard to find anything cheaper than that. Campus housing is limited for grad students and just as expensive, if not more so.

So yeah, as much as I'd like to recruit for my alma mater, I have to encourage you towards the second school.

[xenia]

I think you should I think you should go to the second one, less-ranked but affordable go to the second one, less-ranked but affordable.

[agentdanger]

oh my gosh, your post could have been written by me (but sub in "public history" for "teaching").

i also applied to a million MA programs of and got into almost all of them. at first i was just completely pumped to be accepted to multiple Ivy League schools. then reality set in and i realized i didn't want to go $40,000+ in debt just to have a fancy name on my resume. the lesser-known programs are quality and are offering infinitely better funding deals (NO debt!). like the infamous bank robber willie sutton once said, i'm going where the money is.

now my decision is between a funded MA and a PhD. stay tuned for a possible post by me on this topic...

[kshea333]

yay! nice to be in the same boat with you!

[agentdanger]

Also strongly factoring in my decision was the desire to NOT be a cash cow. I want to attend a program that wants me for me and isn't just accepting my money to give to a PhD student they care more about. Just a point worth considering.

[kshea333]

Yeah, the second program has been really on top of things getting back to me and i met with them a couple weekends ago and i know they really want me to go there, which is a good feeling. that is definitely something to consider.

[tisiphone]

Go with the funded program. You will thank yourself when you are teaching history for $35K or $40K a year and you're paying back $100 a month in student loans instead of $600.