Topic: DSL makes a career decision!
started by: damien_s_lucifer
Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Apr. 16 2002,02:22
I've decided that I am fundamentally fed up with the IT industry. There is very little chance of finding a job that not only pays well, but is meaningful to me.So I've decided to go back to school and get my MA in English. I've always wanted to do this, but the GRE always held me back... the GRE for English doesn't test your rhetorical or critical thinking skills, nor does it test your ability to write. Instead, it focuses on a bunch of meaningless facts and figures about the Great Writers.
My college, like many other schools, didn't emphasize these facts; it focused on honing your writing and reasoning skills. So I always thought I was fucked when it came to getting into a master's program.
But last night, I was looking at my local university's English courses because I wanted to get back into writing again. Just for kicks, I checked into the Master's program and saw these magical words :
"There is no GRE requirement."
All it takes is a BA in English, a GPA of 3.0 or better for the last 60 units (mine is 3.8), and a letter of recommendation from one of your former professors, which I can easily obtain. A BA in English will get you into a lot of office jobs, but an MA is required to get into some really cool jobs - like teaching at the undergraduate level.
I never wanted to teach elementary or high school. I love kids, but only in small numbers, and the last thing I'd want to deal with is being chewed out by the administrators because I deviated too far from the Standard Curriculum. But teaching college-level English is sweet... it pays well ($60-$70K/year to start), low stress (the hardest part is grading papers - but I like reading them), it's truly rewarding and meaningful, and there's always a need for really good professors.
Hot damn! MA here I come!
Posted by Uberkommando on Apr. 16 2002,02:27
Another techie falls to a teaching job... Well, congrats man! Good to hear another troubled soul on this board has found an answer.
Posted by ic0n0 on Apr. 16 2002,02:28
I am glad you are going for your lifes goal but......your going to teach english! AH! The most hated of all teachers!
Posted by editor on Apr. 16 2002,04:11
Congratulations, Jon!You realize, of course, that you've now informed untold thousands of Detvets and you'll have to live up to it!
Posted by Beldurin on Apr. 16 2002,04:46
I'll have my M.S. in 3 months. I'm planning on working in the IT field for 10-15 yrs. but eventually want to get my Ph.D. and teach at the University level as well. As a warning though...grad school is hard. I breezed kindergarden through my B.S., but things changed significantly at the post-graduate level.Anyway, good luck DSL!
Posted by TheTaxMan on Apr. 16 2002,06:00
They will see eventually DSL...English rox0rs j0ur box0rs!
Posted by Anztac on Apr. 16 2002,06:03
I love teachers who enjoying teaching! Congratulations!
Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Apr. 16 2002,07:18
| Quote (ic0n0 @ 15 April 2002,18:28) |
| your going to teach english! AH! The most hated of all teachers! |
I will resist the urge to correct your grammar
Yes, English teachers can be the most hated of all, but the really good ones are often the most beloved. I intend to be one of the really good ones, the kind that emphasizes the reasoning and artistic aspects of writing rather than cramming grammar and dead people down your throat.
Oh, by the way, I don't see this meaning I have failed as a techie. It means I'm brave enough to bail out of this awful industry
I love computers. I will until the day I die. But I have no love for incompetent managers and arrogant, rude, emotionally retarded coworkers.
Posted by editor on Apr. 16 2002,07:19
Are you *positive* you're not going to write a book?
Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Apr. 16 2002,07:30
Quite the contrary! I intend to write several. But writing books doesn't pay shit unless you're Steven King, nor does it provide much interaction with other people. All of my creative writing teachers at SSU were active writers, and they were all *really* good.That was their problem... if you can't churn out formulaic stories with a lot of potential for becoming a series, the big publishers don't want you. Small publishers will adore you, but they can't pay you enough to live. So my teachers turned to teaching to pay the bills, and every one of them *loved* their job. They all considered teaching an integral part of being a real writer
Posted by kuru on Apr. 16 2002,13:31
I found the grad level classes I took were a lot easier than the undergrad level. Most of the professors figured that by that point, we were more like colleagues than little shitheads and they actually treated us with respect and taught us something useful.But, I guess it's different for everyone.
Posted by Uberkommando on Apr. 16 2002,13:35
| Quote (damien_s_lucifer @ 16 April 2002,01:18) |
| Yes, English teachers can be the most hated of all, but the really good ones are often the most beloved. I intend to be one of the really good ones, the kind that emphasizes the reasoning and artistic aspects of writing rather than cramming grammar and dead people down your throat. |
Good man. The guy who had the most impact on me in my entire life was my 10th grade English teacher.
Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Apr. 16 2002,22:15
| Quote (kuru @ 16 April 2002,05:31) |
I've had the same experience as Kuru. When I was working on my BA I took some 500 level classes. The coursework was much more advanced, but overall they were much easier than the 300 level classes. They didn't have pop quizzes and brutal midterms, and yes, the instructors treated us as colleagues rather than peons.
Posted by Nikita on Apr. 16 2002,22:58
my experience is that the :100-200 levels (frosh-soph) are full of weedout busywork
300 levels (junior-senior) nitty gritty details
400 levels (senior-grad) finally, the cool stuff!
500 levels (grad) detailed integrative fun! But can also be hard (I got shoved into a ChemE class and I never took any ChemE ... and I hate chem)
Posted by Beldurin on Apr. 17 2002,05:07
Mine are all 600 level. Of course, it's a technology program, so that has something to do with it but, for example, we covered 2 semesters of undergrad EE in 1 three-hour class period. Midterm for that class was 43 chapters, another 250-page book, 8 wks lecture, and 8 wks lab. The final was comprehensive. That was just 1 4-hour class in my schedule (5 classes 14 hrs...9 is a full load for a grad student. This semester I have 15).Hopefully your experience won't be quite the same, though.
Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Apr. 17 2002,12:39
eek... that sounds positively mind numbing. I wonder how much information you'll retain... reminds me of a common complaint about MBA programs. The courseload is so ridiculously hard, and the programs so competetive, that the people who successfully complete an MBA aren't the ones who make good managers. They're the ones who are the most ruthless and the biggest workaholics, yet think the least... which is hardly what you want out of a manager.If experience is any guide, postgrad English courses clip along at a rate of one novel and some supplimentary material per week. Read a book, spend the next class discussing it, repeat. Major papers due every 2 or 3 weeks. It's not easy, but it's not ridiculously tough either... just enough to immerse you in literature without drowning you in it. Plus I'll be taking the creative writing option, so my thesis will be a work of fiction... aren't they all?
Posted by jim on Apr. 17 2002,21:25
Good luck DSL. I may soon give up on the IT industry myself. But teaching? Fuck that.I've got my eye on some real estate in the DFW area and will be opening my own bar in the next year or so.
hehehe, have fun in school. I know I sure as hell didn't.
Posted by Wiley on Apr. 17 2002,21:28
Traitor!!!
Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Apr. 18 2002,00:46
| Quote (jim @ 17 April 2002,13:25) |
| But teaching? Fuck that. |
JIM!!!!! Where ya been, man? I've missed your presence on this board.
I think teaching would be a blast as long as it's not K-12. It's all about teaching at the university level, where your students are there 'cause they want to learn, not because they have to.
Posted by kuru on Apr. 18 2002,01:26
Oh then you get the ones who are there because their parents threatened to cut off their allowance if they don't go to college so they skip class constantly and then bitch at you for hours about why they failed your class.Yeah, it's lovely.
Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Apr. 18 2002,02:17
From my future syllabus :If you skip class all the time or show a complete lack of interest in this course, I will not listen to your complaints about your grade. You may, however, submit your complaint to the Dean. This process is outlined in your University catalog. End of discussion.
Posted by Bozeman on Apr. 18 2002,19:59
Kudos to you, DSL, the world needs more good teachers. Congratulations, and here's wishing to a good future.Don't teach middle school, when my dad did, he almost got his thumb chopped off by a student with a paper cutter, and then had a nervous breakdown. He's all better now, thanks to booze, but I wouldn't want that to happen to you.
Posted by kuru on Apr. 18 2002,20:35
They usually do go to the Dean. Who then has to come visit me to verify that they really were absent 13 out of 24 days that class met, and they really did deserve to fail.
Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Apr. 18 2002,22:05
I'd much rather talk to the dean than some shmuck who thinks he's entitled to pass my class just because he showed up.Bozeman - thanks for the warning. I have no intention of teaching anywhere from K-12.
Posted by Marie on Apr. 19 2002,09:18
Cool your heels, brau!Don't knock the little ones.
They're less bitter and easier to please.
In addition, they'll teach you more about how to enjoy life because they only do what they want to..............
Posted by editor on Apr. 19 2002,09:33
dibbs on Marie.
Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Apr. 19 2002,10:13
editor, calm thyself.marie, I spend plenty of time with children and I adore them thankyouverymuch. but if I had to spend seven hours a day dealing with 30 of them at once, it would not be pretty.
i'd much rather be cruel to young adults. especially the nasty ones.
Posted by TheTaxMan on Apr. 19 2002,15:54
So even if someone managed an A in your class but never came, you'd fail them?Down with attendence...
Granted, unless they're retaking it this probably won't happen, but....down w/ attendence.
Posted by kuru on Apr. 19 2002,16:01
Ed, put your cock away, eh?
Posted by editor on Apr. 19 2002,17:08
Kuru, DSL, Detnet, I'm sorry, I came straight from chat and I agree that didn't sound right in retrospect.You too Marie; I thought I knew who you were...
my bad
Posted by BlackFlag on Apr. 19 2002,21:01
| Quote |
| I'm sorry, I came straight from chat and I agree that didn't sound right in retrospect. |
See what AOL can do to a perfectly good mind?!
Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Apr. 19 2002,21:47
| Quote (TheTaxMan @ 19 April 2002,07:54) |
| So even if someone managed an A in your class but never came, you'd fail them? |
If someone did A work on their assignments, but never came to class, I'd do what I could to meet with them to discuss their grade and why they never came to class.
If it turned out that they had a good reason, I'd probably give them a B or an A. If not, I'd give them a C. The only people I'd fail were those who didn't do the work and never went to class.
Posted by editor on Apr. 19 2002,21:57
Mr Flag; you're slipping!I thought I heard you say I had a perfectly good mind!
Last night on chat was only my second time... wow! It's like combat!
Mr DSL, it's endearing to me that you are already figuring out your protocol for grades and you don't have the job yet!
That's enthusiasm!
Posted by Cmurder on Apr. 21 2002,06:38
Johnny Rockets its Rock the puerto rican whats up player?
Posted by editor on Apr. 21 2002,06:43
Another drive-by posting?
Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Apr. 21 2002,08:58
I think I know Cmurder....so tell me, brutha. do you sign your checks with a spraycan? And if you die, can I have your girl? And her sister too?