Okay, as you may know, I graduated from college in March. I moved in with my parents and have been telling everyone I’m trying to save money up for grad school, which I would start in fall of 2001. The thing is, I’m not really sure I want to go. It’s time to get on the ball about getting my letters of recommendation ready and taking the tests and all that stuff, and I’m just lagging. I think the problem is that while I do want a graduate education, I don’t really want to go to back to school. Yet. So, I think well, maybe I’ll take another year off. It’s at this point that my plans disintegrate. Then what? Do I live at home for another year? Shall I become a vagabond traveller (kind of a fantasy of mine)? I haven’t really been to enough of the U.S. to know where else I would like to live, but another year at home sounds like torture. So maybe I should through a dart at a map and just move somewhere!
Then I try to be realistic. I really should go to grad school. That would probably be the best option, right? I’m afraid that I don’t really want to go, but am making plans only because I’ve been in school my whole life and am not really sure what else there is to do. It’s the safe choice. I have to make a decision, and make it fast, as grad school application deadlines are approaching. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Any good advice to impart?
What’s your degree in? This would be a useful starting point for gauging your (perhaps vague) direction. Anything you’re interested in doing? Do you want to work for a while, or just get a random job for the sake of moving somewhere cool?
What says your heart? Then perhaps help you better we can. (When 900 years old you reach, post as lucidly you will not.)
My degree is in anthropology. I know, great job market for anth majors, huh? I kinda want to be a teacher or a writer or something. I mostly want to do anything that doesn’t require me to be in a little office all day looking at a computer screen. (Not that I don’t love the Straight Dope or anything!)
Maybe I should join the Peace Corps. That was actually my plan through most of college, but I chickened out a couple months ago.
Since I am quite older than you and I still have not figured out what I want to do when (and if) I grow up, I am not going to give you any advice on how you can best decide this question.
I will say this though. If you take a year off, an experience in a foreign country can be very enriching. You can join the peace corps or go on your own and teach English or even take some courses. Being pretty much a vagabond myself I have met a lot of people in my travels who were doing this kind of thing and not one of them was sorry for having done it.
There are plenty of opportunities abroad in any country you may like to know better. If you have any interest in any other language or culture now is the time for you to do it as you may not have another chance.
I know a few people here in DC who were with the Peace Corps and they all loved it.
Well, part of the thing is that I’ve already lived and travelled abroad, so I’m thinking, hey, maybe I should just settle down and do something. But I really LIKED living and travelling abroad. I’d go again in a second if I thought I could get a work visa in an English-speaking country. Hey, Ruadh? Any info on scoring a work visa for Ireland?
you just answered your own question. Get out there. The Peace Corps sounds like a good idea - what made you chicken out ? Or, as sailor suggests, go teach English somewhere.
Go for it! - and if you come across Hamburg in your meanderings, I’ll be happy to buy you a Weizen.
Yeah, sure it would be fun, but shouldn’t I go back to school?
I don’t think I’m convincing anyone. I really do want to get a graduate degree. I swear. It’s just that every time I start thinking about tests and more loans and getting my letter-writers to actually write their letters and being broke for another couple years I get kind of depressed. Also, the thought of ever having to discuss postmodern theory again makes me physically ill.
I wish I were independently wealthy. Of course, don’t we all?
No, Kyla. I don’t wish you were independently wealthy. Unless your independent wealth led to me getting stuff. Then I do wish you were independently wealthy.
on a topic related note.
We believe you want to get a graduate degree, but you don’t have to get it right away! Go abroad, learn alot, enrich your brain. Come back and return to the world of grades teachers and ivy covered campuses.
why be so focused on figuring out what you do with your life right now? Hell, I’d bet most of us aren’t exactly doing what we’d planned on at 22. I know I’m not. But it worked out well.
You can go to grad school right away if you want. You’ll probably enjoy it. It’s an extension of what you’ve been doing so it’ll be comfortable (at least mine was).
But never underestimate the personal growth available from doing something uncomfortable. Join the Peace Corps if you want. Hell, just fuck around for a year or two. Grad school will still be there in a couple of years and you’ll be able to bring a fresh perspective to what you’re doing.
Free advice is worth what you pay for it, however…
IMHO, don’t even think about not travelling this next year. It’s absolutely the best thing you could do for yourself and for your future career. This seems to be one area in which the US is behind much of the developed world so it might seem like a big deal but it really isn’t. There are 100,000’s of students out there on their year off, all with a $1000 round the world tickets and picking up work along the way. Seize the day, grasp the nettle and jump.
Research it, plan it and just go for it. Once you’re in the groove and on the grapevine, you’ll never look back.
You’re wanting to get a masters degree right? Go for it. Maybe re-locating would spice up your life. Consider Boston: there are more colleges in the Boston Area than anywhere else in the world, and the city is vastly people your age, intelligent, and in the same exact boat that you’re in. It’s also a good searching ground to find a SO. Aside from all that, you don’t need a car in Boston, you can get around very well by way of the subway (it’s called the T).
Take life as it comes, don’t try to plan too far ahead. Anyways, I wish you luck in whatever fork in the road you may choose.
You can always start an Anthropology Web site, make all sorts of trips around the world to collect interesting info to put on the site, and become independantly wealthy doing this.
All you need to start is a few measly million dollars. Hah, you can raise that in SV in two weeks.
Well, just in case that does not work out, you can get around the world in various ways including work-study. Try the University you attended, and see if they have ties to others oversees. Good Luck.
You sound like you are in a rut and you are too afraid to make that decision.
You want the best of both worlds and you think that you have to pick one or the other path. Well, I can tell you from experience that this sort of indecision will just drive you crazy. I’ve been there. My $0.02 worth is that you can always go back to school and get your grad degree any time you want. Don’t let it hold you back from doing something exciting. Go out and experience life for a year or two… or continue school. Whatever you pick, don’t procrastinate on making the choice, just do it… and when you choose (Whatever you choose), don’t look back and say “What if…”
And remember… there are ALWAYS options. Just don’t stop looking for them.
Well, if you were to go back to school would you continue in anthropology or move to a tangetial study such as mythology or theology? Or, staying in the sciences, perhaps biology, organic chemistry, marine biology, etc???
Are you going to stay in the Bay area? If not, a semi-tropical climate seems in order. (Southern California, Florida, Hawaii, etc…)
In my experience people who say “I’ll take a year off and then go back to school” never do. They get too tied up in other things, like making good money. On the other hand, I’ve done the grad school thing, and dropped out after four months because I couldn’t take the politicking.
I got a manual labor job then (which I loved), but now can’t get back into the “real” job market. So whatever you do, don’t waste time finding a job that will make you some real money. It’s far better to get an office job now and change careers in a few years than to start looking for your first job while in your late twenties.
Have you considered getting a museum job? You said you’re interested in teaching, so how about leading a tour group? Most museums in large cities have special programs for local schools, you could work in one of those, if that interests you. A lot of museums also need help cataloguing and maintaining their collections. You’d get a leg up in the industry, at least.
Before I tap the fount of wisdom, can you tell me what kind of degree you are looking for?
I just graduated school in May, and my intention was to go immediately on for my PhD. Part of my Grand Unified Life Plan. It still is, of course, but just not yet.
If you are looking to do a 1 year masters, then it doesn’t really matter in the long run what decision you make right now. In three or for years you will have amounted enough work experience that a masters will be unnecessary.
If it’s a PhD you want…don’t even think about going unless you are 100% committed. I adore the academic work I was doing. I can say truly that it gave meaning to my life. Fortunately, it still does. Grad school is an ego-eroding process without a bright light at the end of the tunnel. Since there is no guaranteed employment in academia afterwards, you could end up burnt out and surpassingly bitter after seven years and a ton of money down the hole.
Bottom line: if you are committed enough (and don’t have any wanderlust), then to hell with the risks and do it. But if you need to do other things first, then stay away from grad school. If you truly want to go, some time will not diminish your desire. If you decide after a few years that you do not want to go, imagine if you had gone. It might not be a pretty picture.
I came to grad school (getting my PhD) right after college. A few points, based on my personal experience:
Graduate school for me has been more fun than college. I’ve had a better social life, partly because there are less immediate deadlines (classes in undergrad have lots of tests and frequent homework – more casual in grad school). The work is stuff you’re interested in. Don’t think of it as “ugh, more school”. It’s a lot better.
Applying to graduate school completely sucks. The tests, letters of recommendation, stupid applicatoin forms, essays. Blech. But, if you’re ever going to go, you’re going to have to do it. Once you’re in, though, life is good.
If you’re going to take a year off, do something good. Get a job that you’ve always wanted to try. Maybe something random. (Ski instructor, camp counselor, park ranger, etc.) Go travel. What’s the worst that happens? You end up broke, and living at home. (The broke part is good practice for school anyway.)
Either way you go with this, you’ll probably end up all right. Both choices are pretty good.
Her: I’m thinking of doing X
Me: Ok, so go.
Her: But I’m feeling lazy
Me: well, just stay home then
Her: But I really need to do it
Me: Ok, do it then
Her: On the other hand it could wait until tomorrow
Me: Ok, do it tomorrow
Her: But tomorrow I should do H
We could go on for hours and she would never make up her mind. But she did not like others telling her waht to do so…
I just came over here as a tourist, sent my resume to a few employment agencies and found a company willing to do the paperwork for me. Amazingly simple. And I don’t have any special computer skills or anything like that.
The permit took 7 weeks to come through though … so if you’d need to have a lot of time and money to hold you over …
If you’re really thinking about it, email me and I’ll give you more details.
