A question...

[ungothly]

Here's my dilemma.

I received my bachelors degree in East Asian Language and Culture (Japanese), and I want to continue my education along this route. Would it be stupid to do a Masters degree in East Asian Language and Culture again? I'm afraid that if I do my Masters program in the same field as my bachelors, then I wouldn't be learning anything

Comments

[b0nchan]

I got my BA in Psychology; then my MA in Counseling Psychology; and I've been contemplating getting my PhD in Counseling Psychology. Talk about not really learning anything new. My brain was immersed in Psychology for six years and I'm working as a Counselor right now. I'm never going to learn anything new or experience anything outside the world of Psychology. But I must really like the world of Psychology to be in the field for such a long period of time.

My take on continuing your education: study what you like to study because you're going to be studying it for two years (or more) depending on the degree you're working towards -- Master's or Doctorate. You might as well study something you like since you're going to be spending so much time reading, researching, and writing papers on whatever field you're majoring in.

And, at the Master's and Doctorate level, it really doesn't matter where you study. What matters is what degree you have. I've come to realize that after I started working. Your salary is entirely based on the highest degree you have, along with experience in that particular field. You can have your Doctorate degree from Harvard or from Hyogo Rice Paddy Field University: employers can't discriminate according to the institution where you got your degree from. (At least not here in the U.S.)

So, study what you want to study where you want to study. One should enjoy what they're studying in an environment where they're happy.

[b0nchan]

Tis a pity I won't get to see you when you come to Japan!

Yeah... visit too short and I want to spend time with my parents. My mom's doing pretty poorly (emotionally) and she needs some counseling!

[ungothly]

Thank you for the advice!! I'm really glad that I got to read your piece on it. It sort of pushed me back on track. =)

That's what I'm trying to figure out--to study what I really really enjoy and aim for that, because who knows how long I'll be in school once I get started. I agree that being in a good environment counts greatly, especially one that nourishes my happiness (very important) and education. But, I've never been out of the state before, aside from studying and traveling abroad a number of times (this strikes me as strange...), so however much I want to study at a particular school, I won't get to know the ambience of that place until I make a visit and decide if it is right for me (which, at this given time, is difficult to do, being here and all ^__^). Although I can make those phone calls and ask directly about their programs and living environment, but ooooh how much I dislike making phone calls.

And what to do (job-wise) with my field of study after completion...? This also weighs on my mind heavily.

I think I'm having one of those days...(sorry)

[b0nchan]

No need to apologize. Making decisions about what area you want to concentrate your studies on can be very stressful. The last thing you want to do is start working towards a degree, then somewhere in the middle you decide you don't want to study whatever it is that you're studying anymore and swtich tracks or something and have to start all over again.