Big Kid Decisions
Remember, a while back, I did nothing but worry and complain about the application process for university? Well, it did end up paying off!
I have received three offers. It has been a really tough decision, but I think that I've slowly come to lean towards going to Carleton University. I'm going to be sending them my acceptance this week. Here is my pro-con list:
University of Alberta (AKA where I did my undergrad)
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Degree: two year master's program in History.
Pros:
-Excellent thesis topic and supervisor
-Amazing library system
-Cheap (free) rent, living with parents.
-Familiar environment - I have many friends still living in the city.
-TA position for the second year of my program
Cons:
-I want to go to a new place! Grow wings and fly!
-The funding they offer is really good, but it's theoretical: I was nominated for an award, so if I don't get it, I'm in a bit of trouble.
-If I do an MA in history, it will be only a jumping stone to a PHD in history as well, which is at least a six year program... and I'm not sure I'm ready to commit to a doctorate before working in the field for a few years first.
University of Western Ontario
Location: London, Ontario
Degree: one year Master's in Public History (AKA museums, archives, documentaries...)
Pros:
-Their Public History program looks dynamic, the course descriptions fascinating...
-I proposed an excellent history of medicine research project
-My potential supervisor is the supervisor of the medical artifacts collection at Western, which is right up my alley, and she offered me a position to help her curate it.
-It's a one year program, so I'd be able to get a job working more quickly - and more cheaply, with fewer tuition fees.
-I get a decent amount of funding (through a teaching assistant or research assistant position and awards), especially considering the shortness of the program
-They provide a summer internship in the field.
Cons:
-It's in London, Ontario, which is apparently not the nicest or most interesting city.
-If there are only one or two decent-sized museums in London, and I'm supposed to be studying the presentation of history in museums.
-The campus, while lovely-looking on Google Maps and in photos, is in the middle of suburbia. I'm sure that there are busses, but will it be a good place to live?
-Students in this program don't write a thesis but do a big group project instead. I don't like to depend on others for a significant portion of my grade
-I kind of DO want to write a master's thesis and be able to point to that as a body of work I have accomplished.
-Will a one year program without a thesis component be counted the same as normal MA in history if I do want to continue on to do a PHD in history?
Carleton University
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Program: two year master's in Public History
Pros:
-Public History program! (And it's fairly well-respected)
-Thesis writing!
-I would live in beautiful Ottawa, the capital city of Canada: full of museums, very close to Quebec and major cities like Montreal, Toronto, and Kingston. I would be more likely to speak French and perhaps sniff out a future job with the government.
-Decent funding, mostly provided through working for two years as a teaching assistant. Unlike Western, if I receive other major funding (like a great award or scholarship) my current package will not change: I'll just have more money.
Cons:
-I like my thesis topic SLIGHTLY better at Western, as I pitched a topic on the history of translation in Canada, not on the history of medicine. Caveat: I can still change my thesis topic a bit - it's not set in stone just yet. I'll be happy if I study history and utilize my French.
-Rent is expensive in downtown Ottawa. Caveat: according to a friend currently in this program, the TA position's salary will essentially cover my rent with a few hundred each month extra. So with RESPs and savings from the summer and (hopefully) from France... I think I'll be okay.
----
So... I think that while I would probably be really happy with any of these three programs, Carleton is the one that's really catching my eye. Now, to apply for scholarships and awards...
(Wah, I don't want to think about leaving France just yet! ;_; )
I have received three offers. It has been a really tough decision, but I think that I've slowly come to lean towards going to Carleton University. I'm going to be sending them my acceptance this week. Here is my pro-con list:
University of Alberta (AKA where I did my undergrad)
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Degree: two year master's program in History.
Pros:
-Excellent thesis topic and supervisor
-Amazing library system
-Cheap (free) rent, living with parents.
-Familiar environment - I have many friends still living in the city.
-TA position for the second year of my program
Cons:
-I want to go to a new place! Grow wings and fly!
-The funding they offer is really good, but it's theoretical: I was nominated for an award, so if I don't get it, I'm in a bit of trouble.
-If I do an MA in history, it will be only a jumping stone to a PHD in history as well, which is at least a six year program... and I'm not sure I'm ready to commit to a doctorate before working in the field for a few years first.
University of Western Ontario
Location: London, Ontario
Degree: one year Master's in Public History (AKA museums, archives, documentaries...)
Pros:
-Their Public History program looks dynamic, the course descriptions fascinating...
-I proposed an excellent history of medicine research project
-My potential supervisor is the supervisor of the medical artifacts collection at Western, which is right up my alley, and she offered me a position to help her curate it.
-It's a one year program, so I'd be able to get a job working more quickly - and more cheaply, with fewer tuition fees.
-I get a decent amount of funding (through a teaching assistant or research assistant position and awards), especially considering the shortness of the program
-They provide a summer internship in the field.
Cons:
-It's in London, Ontario, which is apparently not the nicest or most interesting city.
-If there are only one or two decent-sized museums in London, and I'm supposed to be studying the presentation of history in museums.
-The campus, while lovely-looking on Google Maps and in photos, is in the middle of suburbia. I'm sure that there are busses, but will it be a good place to live?
-Students in this program don't write a thesis but do a big group project instead. I don't like to depend on others for a significant portion of my grade
-I kind of DO want to write a master's thesis and be able to point to that as a body of work I have accomplished.
-Will a one year program without a thesis component be counted the same as normal MA in history if I do want to continue on to do a PHD in history?
Carleton University
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Program: two year master's in Public History
Pros:
-Public History program! (And it's fairly well-respected)
-Thesis writing!
-I would live in beautiful Ottawa, the capital city of Canada: full of museums, very close to Quebec and major cities like Montreal, Toronto, and Kingston. I would be more likely to speak French and perhaps sniff out a future job with the government.
-Decent funding, mostly provided through working for two years as a teaching assistant. Unlike Western, if I receive other major funding (like a great award or scholarship) my current package will not change: I'll just have more money.
Cons:
-I like my thesis topic SLIGHTLY better at Western, as I pitched a topic on the history of translation in Canada, not on the history of medicine. Caveat: I can still change my thesis topic a bit - it's not set in stone just yet. I'll be happy if I study history and utilize my French.
-Rent is expensive in downtown Ottawa. Caveat: according to a friend currently in this program, the TA position's salary will essentially cover my rent with a few hundred each month extra. So with RESPs and savings from the summer and (hopefully) from France... I think I'll be okay.
----
So... I think that while I would probably be really happy with any of these three programs, Carleton is the one that's really catching my eye. Now, to apply for scholarships and awards...
(Wah, I don't want to think about leaving France just yet! ;_; )