Which of these two options is better?

[janeng]

I see my fall semester being one of these two situations, and I would like feedback as to what others think is the more appealing choice.  I'm listing "positives" of each, but some things are just neutral details, or perhaps a con

Comments

[solipsismsaves]

Well, I think you have to consider what entirely different tracks these options will lead you down. If you're leaning towards teaching middle and high school, it doesn't get any better than option A, and you're right, with a Master's it would really open up the educational field for you.

I may be biased (I teach high school), but I was originally interested in teaching at the college level and ended up getting really turned off by the instability of teaching positions and the weird politics of higher academia. And having to worry about money while you're IN school is stress on top of stress.

I would do some serious research on the merits of teaching at the college level and of teaching at the secondary school level, and go with what appeals to you down the road.

[roseofjuly]

I'm in a Ph.D program and I just realized today how distasteful the instability and weird politics are to me. The more people talk about tenure-track positions and the wonderful life of an academic, the less and less I want it. Of course, I didn't come to a doctoral program wanting to get a t-t position anyway (I'd much rather work in government or industry as a researcher), so it wasn't too disappointing.

[lifelovelattes]

I think option B will leave you with MUCH more experience and MANY more contacts. I prefer a challenge, personally, and I think having to scrape by every once in awhile is worth what you'll get out of being more involved in the program.

[roseofjuly]

I don't know that she'll have much more experience -- I think Option A is definitely the "more experience" category. More of the experiences she actually wants to earn? That depends on what she wants to do. More contacts? Probably.

I like challenges too, but not when the challenge is "How are you going to eat today?" or "How are you going to pay the rent when you're out of a job for 3 months?" But I think it's very doable in graduate school; most people in MA programs are not funded over the summer and they find ways to do it, so not knowing exactly how you will get money but having loose plans is an okay position to be in.

[sparklingsoull]

What are you getting your Masters in and what are you teaching? If you are getting your Masters in Education then stick with A. If you are getting your Masters the certain subject then go with B.

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[janeng]

The M.A. program is in Literature. My undergrad degree is in English/Literature also. I'm not an Education major and don't want to be; however, I am certified to teach through an alternative certification program. I'm currently a middle school English teacher

Re: --

[roseofjuly]

You could do both, you know. I had an English teacher in high school who had her Ph.D -- she taught English literature (and drama) to high schoolers and also taught one or two community college classes. I don't think she needed the money -- she had been teaching for a LONG time and had her Ph.D -- so I think she just enjoyed it.

[endxgame]

As mentioned above: it really depends on what you want to do.
Option A: is perfect if you want to pursue teaching at the middle/high school level but it's not a particularly good option if you want to pursue a PhD and enter the academy.

There is simply no way that doing two courses a semester in the evenings while working full time during the day is going to allow you concentrate on your academic work or develop the relationships with professors that you would studying full time.

It's really a question of what you want to to do after you get your degree.

[freddie]

I'll say off the bat that I'm biased.

But if you're looking to build a life in the academy and possibly teach in the future at the collegiate level, Option B is much better.