Comments on: Four reasons to skip grad school http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/ Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:18:48 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: One-Girl Factory | A freelancing blog http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-60062 One-Girl Factory | A freelancing blog Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:04:35 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/#comment-60062 [...] few days ago, Michelle Goodman wrote about the reasons why grad school isn’t a total necessity, and it got me thinking. On and off for the past six years (yes, years), I’ve been [...] [...] few days ago, Michelle Goodman wrote about the reasons why grad school isn’t a total necessity, and it got me thinking. On and off for the past six years (yes, years), I’ve been [...]

]]> By: Michelle Goodman http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-57300 Michelle Goodman Sat, 30 May 2009 17:19:16 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/#comment-57300 Hey recent college grad, if you're already dreading it, then why do it? Just because it's free doesn't mean it's a worthy path to follow. Maybe if you speak to a couple professors and past students, look at the syllabus for a coupla courses, and even sit in on a class if any are still in progress, that will help with your decision. You will still have to figure out what to do with your life in terms of earning a living after getting the MFA so if you're just doing it b/c you don't know what else to do... well, that's three years you could have invested in figuring out what you really do like to do for work, and hopefully getting paid in the process. Hey recent college grad, if you’re already dreading it, then why do it? Just because it’s free doesn’t mean it’s a worthy path to follow. Maybe if you speak to a couple professors and past students, look at the syllabus for a coupla courses, and even sit in on a class if any are still in progress, that will help with your decision. You will still have to figure out what to do with your life in terms of earning a living after getting the MFA so if you’re just doing it b/c you don’t know what else to do… well, that’s three years you could have invested in figuring out what you really do like to do for work, and hopefully getting paid in the process.

]]> By: recent college grad http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-57299 recent college grad Sat, 30 May 2009 16:57:35 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/#comment-57299 I realize I am many months late with this comment, but I have been trying to decide if I should attend grad school or not. I never really wanted to, so I didn't even apply, but my university offered me a full-ride out of the blue to be in the MFA playwriting program. It's because they don't have a lot of applications this year and I stood out amongst the drama majors as one who was most interested in playwriting. Which I am, to a degree. Of course at first I thought, why not take it? But now I have second thoughts. Because I didn't want to go enough in the first place to even apply. I don't really write alot (if anything, school would give me a structured environment to write in). I more or less hated my undergraduate years. I have no clue what I want to do with my life. I worry that grad school is just going to be three years of torture and then at the end I will still have no clue what to do with my life but I'll be three years older. I don't know if it would be more stupid to pass up a free ride or to go to school for no other reason than its being free. I realize I am many months late with this comment, but I have been trying to decide if I should attend grad school or not. I never really wanted to, so I didn’t even apply, but my university offered me a full-ride out of the blue to be in the MFA playwriting program. It’s because they don’t have a lot of applications this year and I stood out amongst the drama majors as one who was most interested in playwriting. Which I am, to a degree.

Of course at first I thought, why not take it? But now I have second thoughts. Because I didn’t want to go enough in the first place to even apply. I don’t really write alot (if anything, school would give me a structured environment to write in). I more or less hated my undergraduate years. I have no clue what I want to do with my life. I worry that grad school is just going to be three years of torture and then at the end I will still have no clue what to do with my life but I’ll be three years older.

I don’t know if it would be more stupid to pass up a free ride or to go to school for no other reason than its being free.

]]> By: Alexandra http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-47618 Alexandra Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:10:51 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/#comment-47618 Hey Michelle, I am a career services director at a college (won't mention any names) but I find your site refreshingly honest and true. In my job, I help grads find jobs. Employers tell me over and over again that the education and skills are NOT The main things they are looking for. So unless a job REQUIRES a grad degree, get out there and get some experience! Internships that just have you fetch coffee CAN turn into real jobs if you work hard. A lot of folks out there expect you to "pay your dues". A great resouce for anyone job hunting is Cynthia Shapiro's book "What does it take to get a job around here? 44 insider secrets that will get you hired" I recommend it to our grads all the time. Another thing employers also tell me that is that new grads lack in professional skills BIG TIME. showing up ON TIME, getting along with co-workers, dressing professionally and speaking like a business professional (limit slang), these are things that will take you to the next level whether you have an advanced degree or not. Hey Michelle, I am a career services director at a college (won’t mention any names) but I find your site refreshingly honest and true.
In my job, I help grads find jobs. Employers tell me over and over again that the education and skills are NOT The main things they are looking for. So unless a job REQUIRES a grad degree, get out there and get some experience!

Internships that just have you fetch coffee CAN turn into real jobs if you work hard. A lot of folks out there expect you to “pay your dues”.
A great resouce for anyone job hunting is Cynthia Shapiro’s book “What does it take to get a job around here? 44 insider secrets that will get you hired” I recommend it to our grads all the time.

Another thing employers also tell me that is that new grads lack in professional skills BIG TIME.
showing up ON TIME, getting along with co-workers, dressing professionally and speaking like a business professional (limit slang), these are things that will take you to the next level whether you have an advanced degree or not.

]]> By: Michelle Goodman http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-44940 Michelle Goodman Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:45:46 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/#comment-44940 Rachel, I would definitely sign up for a fiction writing class at your local college or through a local writing organization or center. Join a listserv like www.seattlewritergrrls.org (free; open to writers from all locales) so you can ask questions of your peers. And join a writing group for ongoing peer feedback. Rachel, I would definitely sign up for a fiction writing class at your local college or through a local writing organization or center. Join a listserv like http://www.seattlewritergrrls.org (free; open to writers from all locales) so you can ask questions of your peers. And join a writing group for ongoing peer feedback.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-44827 Rachel Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:34:36 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/#comment-44827 Michelle, This article was exactly what I needed. I've been in turmoil trying to figure out if grad school is right for me. I've talked to others who said it was unnecessary, but I fought tooth and nail, claiming that I want to go so that I can make connections and learn more about writing and have a writing community, and you've answered my queries on all those things. I'm also in the same place as Amy T. in that I feel if I had that kind of a structured lifestyle for awhile, it would propagate some better writing in me. But I have thought about writing residencies, so maybe I'll try that. As far as going to school for something completely different, I never thought seriously of it, but I'd love to go to culinary school! I'll admit I still feel unsure. I am completely sure that I want to write, for the rest of my life. But I use to write poetry and just decided two years ago that I wanted to write fiction. I'm completely new to it, so I feel like I need some strong mentoring. Thoughts? Michelle,

This article was exactly what I needed. I’ve been in turmoil trying to figure out if grad school is right for me. I’ve talked to others who said it was unnecessary, but I fought tooth and nail, claiming that I want to go so that I can make connections and learn more about writing and have a writing community, and you’ve answered my queries on all those things.

I’m also in the same place as Amy T. in that I feel if I had that kind of a structured lifestyle for awhile, it would propagate some better writing in me. But I have thought about writing residencies, so maybe I’ll try that.

As far as going to school for something completely different, I never thought seriously of it, but I’d love to go to culinary school!

I’ll admit I still feel unsure. I am completely sure that I want to write, for the rest of my life. But I use to write poetry and just decided two years ago that I wanted to write fiction. I’m completely new to it, so I feel like I need some strong mentoring. Thoughts?

]]> By: Barbara Saunders http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-36357 Barbara Saunders Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:04:03 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/#comment-36357 Graduate school stands out as the only big regret I have in life. It cost me time and money that I will never get back, posing an obstacle to other goals. Graduate school stands out as the only big regret I have in life. It cost me time and money that I will never get back, posing an obstacle to other goals.

]]> By: Barbara Saunders http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-28205 Barbara Saunders Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:27:22 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/#comment-28205 If writing is what one wants to do, it's worth considering -- what proportion of living, working writers have a master's degree in English or creative writing? What proportion of English or creative writing degree-holders are able to make their living as writers? Makes you go hmmm.... As for teaching -- I would bet that there's more money to be made and more jobs to be had teaching writing skills outside of the academic market (on or offline.) When I worked at Sybase, a woman was brought in to teach business writing skills to engineers. I'd be surprised if she made less than $1000 for the two-day workshop. If writing is what one wants to do, it’s worth considering — what proportion of living, working writers have a master’s degree in English or creative writing? What proportion of English or creative writing degree-holders are able to make their living as writers? Makes you go hmmm….

As for teaching — I would bet that there’s more money to be made and more jobs to be had teaching writing skills outside of the academic market (on or offline.) When I worked at Sybase, a woman was brought in to teach business writing skills to engineers. I’d be surprised if she made less than $1000 for the two-day workshop.

]]> By: Michelle Goodman http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-27636 Michelle Goodman Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:30:23 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/#comment-27636 Thanks for the input, boohoo. I obviously can't speak to doing a regular teaching gig at the univ or community college level, but the online classes and writing center classes that friends and I have taught at (outside the university setting) have paid very well. And the pay is the same whether you have a higher degree or not. (Though I'm sure the pay leaps if you're a best-selling author.) But again, I'm talking about non-credit courses and people who are not interested in becoming full-time or 50%-time instructors. For most I know, this is a very part-time deal; something that comprises less than 20% of your income, gets you out of the house once in a while, and doesn't take too, too much time away from your writing week. Just a little way to mix things up financially and get your name out there. One travel writer I know, however, makes a majority of her (decent enough) income through online teaching. But I do get that some want to teach at the U level and will want the degree for that, which seem to be what you and Janna are addressing... Thanks again. I learn a lot from you guys! Thanks for the input, boohoo. I obviously can’t speak to doing a regular teaching gig at the univ or community college level, but the online classes and writing center classes that friends and I have taught at (outside the university setting) have paid very well. And the pay is the same whether you have a higher degree or not. (Though I’m sure the pay leaps if you’re a best-selling author.)

But again, I’m talking about non-credit courses and people who are not interested in becoming full-time or 50%-time instructors. For most I know, this is a very part-time deal; something that comprises less than 20% of your income, gets you out of the house once in a while, and doesn’t take too, too much time away from your writing week. Just a little way to mix things up financially and get your name out there.

One travel writer I know, however, makes a majority of her (decent enough) income through online teaching. But I do get that some want to teach at the U level and will want the degree for that, which seem to be what you and Janna are addressing… Thanks again. I learn a lot from you guys!

]]> By: boohoo http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/comment-page-1/#comment-27633 boohoo Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:03:04 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/02/02/four-reasons-to-skip-grad-school/#comment-27633 Well, I would like to chime in on the "teaching issue". I have a few friends who have done the “guest lecturer” thing with only a B.A. while relying on their significant work experience. While I agree they are a coveted resource and part-time positions are available, I would also say they end up being paid quite a bit less than those with degrees and equivalent work experience (many times less experience with an advanced degree). For example, someone with work experience and a B.A. are generally invited to cover a specialized topic or course in during a semester, but are considered incapable of teaching general courses in their field (this is an academics opinion of course, but they are the ones doing the hiring for teaching positions). In my case I have an M.A. and on the few part-time teaching gigs I have taken, I have been paid at least $1000 or more than my friends with just B.A.'s doing the same thing. Part-time teaching with a B.A. is totally doable; it just doesn't pay as well for those with M.A. and PhD degrees. Also, if a person wants to teach part-time in conjunction with a professional “day career”, I would say it’s a minimum requirement to get a graduate degree at night while working part-time. Because without it, you will get paid less and have less offers to teach part-time. Well, I would like to chime in on the “teaching issue”. I have a few friends who have done the “guest lecturer” thing with only a B.A. while relying on their significant work experience. While I agree they are a coveted resource and part-time positions are available, I would also say they end up being paid quite a bit less than those with degrees and equivalent work experience (many times less experience with an advanced degree). For example, someone with work experience and a B.A. are generally invited to cover a specialized topic or course in during a semester, but are considered incapable of teaching general courses in their field (this is an academics opinion of course, but they are the ones doing the hiring for teaching positions). In my case I have an M.A. and on the few part-time teaching gigs I have taken, I have been paid at least $1000 or more than my friends with just B.A.’s doing the same thing. Part-time teaching with a B.A. is totally doable; it just doesn’t pay as well for those with M.A. and PhD degrees. Also, if a person wants to teach part-time in conjunction with a professional “day career”, I would say it’s a minimum requirement to get a graduate degree at night while working part-time. Because without it, you will get paid less and have less offers to teach part-time.

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