Comments | applyingtograd: I Need Help

2am_limbo in applyingtograd

I Need Help

Apr 01, 2013 22:22

Hi guys!
I'm finishing up my undergrad in psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University, and due to some mental health problems that have pushed me back a bit and caused me to get behind, I have just now decided that I want to go to graduate school. The semester before I graduate.

Ridiculous, I know.

Here's my thing: I'm a huge mental health ( Read more... )

english departments, questions, english ma, suggestions, english

Comments 8

somniumdraconae April 2 2013, 03:02:57 UTC

So, 2 questions that might seem kinda obvious ( ... )

six_dollar_baby April 2 2013, 04:09:22 UTC

humanities departments, as a rule, tend to be unfunded at the master's level. there ARE exceptions, though, especially if the OP submits an excellent writing sample. i'd also recommend submitting more than the required number of letters of rec.

(The comment has been removed)

2am_limbo April 2 2013, 11:49:02 UTC

Hey there! :)

coaldustcanary April 2 2013, 04:22:37 UTC

I have a journalism background, and what I want to do is maintain my blog on mental illness professionally, and maybe have my own column or something for an organization such as NAMI, DBSA, or AFSP, and do some freelance work, etc. etc.

Will a MA in English help you do this, or is a MA in English a prerequisite to do this? I'm not sure that either one is the case. Don't go to grad school just to go to grad school. Really really don't.

tisiphone April 2 2013, 06:10:23 UTC

An MA in English is not required to be either a professional blogger or a journalist. A journalism degree, similarly so. Don't spend money you don't have to just to get an MA.

papergreen April 6 2013, 01:54:38 UTC

This. I have an MA in English and am now working on a Ph.D, and the skills you will need to do the kinds of jobs you describe are not the kind of skills that a graduate degree in English will give you.

cozmic_oceanz April 2 2013, 06:41:22 UTC

Here's my advice - before even thinking about applying to any program, get some sort of job related to the field you are interested in first. It might lead to a career (esp. if you're doing writing) w/out needing an ma, or you might discover that it isn't the right field for you and can then explore other ideas. MA's are usually really expensive, so you want to be sure it's something you really want before starting a program and going through the agonizing app process ( ... )