Grad School

[MirrorriM]

I find that University graduates of journalisms come out with 1-2 years of more 'school', not necessarily skills or 'practical knowledge' compared to a College graduate. The University graduates have a greater understanding of the the theoretical side of journalism but not the practical knowledge, and the sad part is that they don't tell anyone that this industry is 90% practical.

This. I'm graduating this June with a degree in Psychology and Social Behavior, and I've been researching grad schools also. I dislike the idea of more school, I just want to get on with having a career, but I know I need a Master's. After a couple of years working, I hope to get my master's in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.

Every school I've looked at has a huge focus on research and statistics. Basically, they all assume that those 2 components are what is needed to do well in a field of psychology, despite the fact that surveyed grad students said that they wish they had more practical experience and less numbers-crunching. Something like 90% of the psychology grad students surveyed didnt go on to do more research after they got their master's.

[Cops]

My hopeful career path is going to require a lot of practice and honing. For that, I can't get better help outside of a university.

I find that University graduates of journalisms come out with 1-2 years of more 'school', not necessarily skills or 'practical knowledge' compared to a College graduate. The University graduates have a greater understanding of the the theoretical side of journalism but not the practical knowledge, and the sad part is that they don't tell anyone that this industry is 90% practical. Even the post grad program for journalists at my school which is only a year is way too intensive for University graduates, they might be bright young people but they suck shit at putting a show together or doing anything 'practical' in journalism. Most of the people in the post grad program spent a lot of time learning theory but the job market for 'theory' doesn't exist, what can you do and how good can you do it is the motto that will get you a job. You can't land a job without some skills, so having no skills and a piece of paper wont help you. It's great to have a degree, don't get me wrong but I'd pick up avid, finalcut, or any other editing program if you plan on getting into journalism.

You're pretty open to your education and that's absolutely awesome and respectable, too many people wouldn't have the balls to take film as a major because they think it's worthless but if it's what you love to do then that's what you should do. You're also 'playing the field', instead of saying 'I'm a business major and that's all I'll ever be'. I think school can be fun but if I knew I was going to end up in news or TV production and I spent four years to learn how to hold a camera opposed to two I'd be mad pissed. I'd look into what kind of courses in journalism your school offers, if it's all theory you're in for a mind numbing 'oh my fucking god' why did I even do this, on the other hand they might be amazing classes that involved feature pieces, story packages (short news story 1:30), basic editing or even more detailed editing. If there is a class that asks you to make a journalistic documentary, I'd definitely take that.

Ryserson is a University in Canada, they're known as one of the top notch schools for journalism. The thing is that they don't really do much work with the cameras or editing programs, at least not until their final years. Next year I'll be running two weekly shows (magazine show, as well as a newscast). I'll take on the roles of a producer, anchor, vtr-roller, editor, writer, as well as many other jobs. I think journalism is something that can be 'honed' in College or University, we just have a lot better time relating practical skills to practical jobs. Once you've heard 'a journalist is a storyteller' a hundred times or 'our duty is those who can't defend themselves' you'll want to amputate your own balls.

[Sufficient]

Mandarin would be harder, but more useful.

[Money]

I changed my major for the first time last week. I'm no longer a film major, but instead a Creative Writing major with a minor in Journalism. Woo me.

I'm also thinking about taking French next year. I've always wanted to learn a second language and French doesn't seem too difficult. I have a friend that said she'll take it with me and she's fully fluent after 3 years of Jr. High and 4 years of HS. Easy A. If I do decide to go through with that, I might double minor in French. It only takes 5 quarters worth of classes to be able to qualify, so I figure it would be a breeze. Journalism on the other hand takes almost 40 credits to minor. My friend could also talk with me until I too became fluent and I could actually (gasp!) learn something.

My hopeful career path is going to require a lot of practice and honing. For that, I can't get better help outside of a university.

spanish is easier, and would be more useful..

[Squeezer]

I guess it boils down to the subject matter of what the degree is for and the job applications you'll use it for in the end run.

I changed my major for the first time last week. I'm no longer a film major, but instead a Creative Writing major with a minor in Journalism. Woo me.

I'm also thinking about taking French next year. I've always wanted to learn a second language and French doesn't seem too difficult. I have a friend that said she'll take it with me and she's fully fluent after 3 years of Jr. High and 4 years of HS. Easy A. If I do decide to go through with that, I might double minor in French. It only takes 5 quarters worth of classes to be able to qualify, so I figure it would be a breeze. Journalism on the other hand takes almost 40 credits to minor. My friend could also talk with me until I too became fluent and I could actually (gasp!) learn something.

My hopeful career path is going to require a lot of practice and honing. For that, I can't get better help outside of a university.

[Burzum]

Perhaps you should stop doing everything the TWD-boss way and read what the fuck has been said. Just saying, randomly.

[phata$$]

awesome

My dream job (supersonic propulsion engineer)

[pascone]

grad school is for people who don't want to grow up

or are looking to advance in their current job, but usually it's the first. so they go to school after they graduate because they don't know what's going on

not saying that applies here, as i read none of this thread other than the title. just chiming in randomly

[Fit of Rage]

My dream job (supersonic propulsion engineer) would be at either Pratt & Whitney (who have already vocally stated that they prefer master's degrees), Lockheed Martin or Boeing (which follow the same guidelines that you stated) or NASA at Langley, Glenn, or Ames. NASA's breakdown is about 1/3 BS, 1/3 MS, and 1/3 Ph.D. but there's no way in hell I'm getting a Ph.D.

Only reason I wouldn't take advantage of a program like you describe is that the majority of aerospace companies, at least so far as I've heard, do what's called a tuition reimbursement program. You work for the company full time and attend school part time, all of it out of your own pocket, and when you produce satisfactory grades (C+ I guess?) then the company will reimburse you for those educational expenses. I would prefer not to subject myself to working professionally and going to school at the same time (way different than having a part time job while going to school).

[404 Not Found]

One thing that I always hear from conferences I have attended in my field is that people are better off with the undergraduate degree and then getting a job with the firm/company they have interest in. Then have the firm send them for continuing education and the Masters Degree.

The only reason I make note of this, is that I have friends as well as workers that have been turned down by other firms due to being over qualified with no experience. Hence the degree calls for a higher salary, so why hire someone with a masters in this or that when I can hire someone for 1/2 - 1/3 the cost and then send them to school with the company paying for it.

I would definately hire and undergrad over a grad student in the Architectural field. Especially if they hold no working experience and only hold a degree from a University.

I guess it boils down to the subject matter of what the degree is for and the job applications you'll use it for in the end run.

[Kolar]

2 right now. I was lucky my program had an paid Coop component (like an internship) and my program finishes in December (3 year Advanced Diploma). I will probably have to take a much larger amount for university. I was looking at Mcmaster because they have a 4 year bachelors degree (B.Tech.) which I can complete in 2 but tuition is very high compared to other degrees.

[project dragon]

27k give or take a few grand : (

[Cops]

yeah I'm about 4 right now too,

[Squeezer]

Just out of curiousity how much are you guys in debt for school?

4 grand so far.

When all is said and done, it'll be about 8. If I decide to work for a masters, I'm looking at close to 15 grand.

[Cops]

Thanks guys, I'll be heading to my financial aid office in the next couple weeks to check out some options/scholarships. I think I visited there once but didn't qualify for anything since I was still listed as a dependent on my parents tax forms. After next june (my 22nd birthday) I'll be off their health insurance and the umbilical cord will finally be cut. Hopefully then I'll qualify for some shit.

you sir need to do what I plan on doing next year, finding a welfare office and hitting it up hard.

ta da!

Also, if you can PLUS loans through the dept. of education are nice. You basically have your entire life to pay it off and the debt is unsubsidized. I don't know if you'd qualify (I barely qualify, and the govt. considers me an independent income), but they're definitely the best and safest loans I've found.

That's what I've got, I can defer interest payments if I can't afford it. I can also get my debt consolidated, one of my teachers last year took her 30k student loan debt and got it down to 15. The government loans seems like a safe bet compared to banks who give you no grace period and no leway on how much you pay back.

Just out of curiousity how much are you guys in debt for school?