I think I chose the wrong masters degree program.

[YabbaDabba]

This is probably going to be me rambling, slightly panicking, so feel free to tune out whenever the mood strikes you.

 

Okay...I just graduated college in June with a BA in English Lit. As an English major, I have to admit, I did very well academically (despite my overall laziness) and I really do love English. But as I was getting closer and closer to graduation, all I could think was, "Okay, so what does one DO with a degree in English when teaching isn't appealing and neither is something like marketing?"

 

Previously, I'd wanted to go into editing, but I know my grammar skills aren't up to par to be a copy editor. Still, I've "worked" at two publications on my college campus and volunteer-edited a street newspaper in my city. And, honestly, few things are as satisfying to me as editing.

 

But, yeah, I was paranoid about my grammar skills (partly because I took, and dropped, a grammar class during my junior year) so I shifted focus and explored other career options. Which is what lead me toward library science. After some more research, I figured getting my masters in library science was a good transition between my BA in English into a career that I'd actually enjoy. I currently work part-time at the library where I grew up visiting, which is cool. I really like it and am interested in librarianship, but now that I've applied for my masters programs, I keep having this niggling doubt that I should've gone for a masters in English.

 

Three of my former professors, who I asked for letters of recommendation, all seemed to question why I was going into library science rather than English. Two of the three repeatedly encouraged me to pursue a PhD in English. A PhD, in any field, is still way the heck off on the horizon for me, but I'm just...worried, I guess. Like I said, I am very interested in library science--especially archives--BUT I'm paranoid. I feel like it's a toss-up when it comes to whether or not I'll actually enjoy the classes, which, I've been told, are a struggle for even the most library-minded individuals.

 

Anyway, another thing that's brought me to this big fat question mark is that I've been frequenting a few websites where writers post their work to be critiqued by other writers. I seriously LOVE this site. I can spend hours there, just going through editing/critiquing other writers. I just finished doing a critique when it dawned on me that if I spent the next 10 years doing something similar, I'd be perfectly content.

 

Well, that's all well and good except for the small detail that, even as I type this, several graduate programs for library science are evaluating my applications for Fall '09.

 

Now, my options are:

 

1) Suck it up and pursue the MLIS

 

2) Choose not to go to grad. school for my MLIS, stay out of school until March (maybe Fall 2010) and figure out how to pursue a career in publishing/editing.

 

3) Pursue the MLIS anyway, as a fall-back, but still attempt to start a career in publishing/editing.

 

4)Well...this one is really contingent on whether I get into a certain MLIS program. This program is online, through a university, and takes two years to complete. BUT this same school offers a dual masters degree in LIS and English--so, in three years, I could earn two masters degrees. One in library science and the other in English. The problem is: a) I don't know whether or not I'll be accepted into this program and b) if I AM accepted, I'd have to transfer over into the dual program--which their website says will only be considered "under extraordinary circumstances."

 

Anyway. My head hurts and I'm all question-y and paranoid now. Ugh. Sorry for rambling and everything. I know no one's gonna be able to offer much help with this, but it just kind of helps to work out the thought-process in writing (another symptom of my degree in English, probably).

[CaptainPlanet]

English is an easy major as are all humanities. Have you considered studying law ? You should have the grades to apply for law school.

[alli]

Why don't you pretend for a bit that right now, you have your MIL degree & look for a job. I'm serious... actively LOOK for a job that you qualify for & is available right now. If you can find something you would love with that degree NOW, you will probably be able to find something later when you have your degree.

 

Now do the same for your Master's in English. Pretend you have that dual degree & see what you can find.

 

If I had done this 5 years ago when I was a freshman I would have probably changed my major & got a different degree that gave me different career options. Which is why I also need to pursue a Master's program. You're a step ahead of me, at least you're in school!

 

If you really want to do the dual program, apply for it. If they don't take you, you are no worse off than you are right now.

 

Don't worry so much about it. I don't know much about your program but I wonder how different these degrees are from each other that each will lead to totally different career options. Honestly, they sound pretty similar to me, but I'm not the one in the program. Good luck figuring it out! Either way you will end up with a very good degree.

[karvala]

Alli has a good suggestion there, which is certainly worth following.

 

I would say generall if you're not sure you really want to a particular Master's course, then don't do it; it's a lot of time, effort and depending on finanicial aid, money, to spend on something you don't really like.

 

Are you really too late for English Master's courses for entry this coming September? For my second Master's I applied in June for entry that September, and got not only the place but a full scholarship (all fees+stipend) as well. I know that it varies a lot, but it seems early to declare an end to all English Master's application for the next academic year already, so if you think you might want to do that, stick in an application or two quickly, to keep your options open, and not waste a year.

[YabbaDabba]

English is an easy major as are all humanities. Have you considered studying law ? You should have the grades to apply for law school.

 

I'm not sure what this has to do with my issue, but no I haven't considered law school because I don't want to be a lawyer.

 

Why don't you pretend for a bit that right now, you have your MIL degree & look for a job. I'm serious... actively LOOK for a job that you qualify for & is available right now. If you can find something you would love with that degree NOW, you will probably be able to find something later when you have your degree.

 

Now do the same for your Master's in English. Pretend you have that dual degree & see what you can find.

 

If I had done this 5 years ago when I was a freshman I would have probably changed my major & got a different degree that gave me different career options. Which is why I also need to pursue a Master's program. You're a step ahead of me, at least you're in school!

 

If you really want to do the dual program, apply for it. If they don't take you, you are no worse off than you are right now.

 

Don't worry so much about it. I don't know much about your program but I wonder how different these degrees are from each other that each will lead to totally different career options. Honestly, they sound pretty similar to me, but I'm not the one in the program. Good luck figuring it out! Either way you will end up with a very good degree.

 

The thing is, with library science, I pretty much HAVE to have an MLIS to hold a full-time, entry-level job in a library. To go into editing, I don't necessarily need a masters but to advance in the field, I most likely would.

 

My other problem--which I just realized--is that the dual-degree application deadline is Feb. 1st. Ugh. It'd be fine since all of my other stuff is on file with that school, but the English Dept. requires GRE scores--which I didn't take b/c none of my MLIS programs require them.

 

Alli has a good suggestion there, which is certainly worth following.

 

I would say generall if you're not sure you really want to a particular Master's course, then don't do it; it's a lot of time, effort and depending on finanicial aid, money, to spend on something you don't really like.

 

Are you really too late for English Master's courses for entry this coming September? For my second Master's I applied in June for entry that September, and got not only the place but a full scholarship (all fees+stipend) as well. I know that it varies a lot, but it seems early to declare an end to all English Master's application for the next academic year already, so if you think you might want to do that, stick in an application or two quickly, to keep your options open, and not waste a year.

 

Yes, I do agree with the whole "why go to grad. school unless you're sure" adage, but with library science it's kind of a Catch-22. Where I live, at least, it's almost impossible to get professional library experience without a masters. My State is home to one of the top MLIS programs in the country, so job competition is fierce. I did start working in a library a few months before I really, truly decided to apply to the program. And, like I said, I do like the whole library atmosphere/field. My worry is that I really enjoy editing much more.

 

As for still applying to an English masters program, that's a possibility but I don't really relish the idea of asking my former professors to write me new letters of recommendation. The ironic thing is that, I'd be a much stronger candidate for an MA program than I would be for an MLIS program. Ugh.

 

Anyway, yeah, in the light of day--and after my late-night panicking subsided--this isn't as hopeless as it seemed. Like I said, I enjoy working in the library, so I'm not dreading the MLIS thing and, yeah, I think I have some wiggle room either way.

 

With the editing thing, I don't need a masters right away, so I'm thinking that, depending on which program I get accepted to, I might just try to find an entry-level job in the editing field to work in while I get my MLIS. Since it's too late for me to do the dual-degree this year, I'll probably just stick it out for a year and try to transfer into a dual program next year.

 

Wow...my life would've been ten times easier if I'd actually thought about all of this six months ago, lol.

[CCarr]

I realize this is an old thread, but I would be very interested to hear the ending of your story, YabbaDabba. I am in a similar predicament (thinking I'm in the wrong master's program) and it may be useful to compare notes. Thanks & I hope to hear fro you!

[Ariel85]

English is an easy major as are all humanities.

 

Disagree! I would say 90% of the people out there can't write or verbally communicate effectively or properly. Being an English major is hardly the easy choice.

 

OP, you have a good liberal arts background, and that can take you a lot of places. Don't feel like an English major is only valuable if you choose grad school or teaching. You could go pretty much anywhere at this point.

[YabbaDabba]

I realize this is an old thread, but I would be very interested to hear the ending of your story, YabbaDabba. I am in a similar predicament (thinking I'm in the wrong master's program) and it may be useful to compare notes. Thanks & I hope to hear fro you!

 

Well, nearly three years down the road, I'm in the home-stretch for that MLIS program that had me so worried. Like I said back then, I like the whole library atmosphere and I can see having a career in library science, but it wasn't--and isn't--my true passion/area of interest. A big part of my problem (which I now realize), is that I have a fear of taking risks; getting an MLIS seemed like a clear-cut career pathway for me, while my getting an MA in English felt like self-indulgence, with no real plan or goal for what to do with it afterwards.

 

So. I have three years of library work experience under my belt, along with an almost-completed MLIS; I can't say that it's been smooth sailing through the program (because it definitely hasn't been), but I can say that I'm glad I stuck it out. I just got hired for my first professional library job (I had health insurance and vacation time with my prior library job, but this one actually has some degree of technical requirements behind it...). Anyway, I'm probably still going to get an MA in English somewhere down the road, but I don't regret pursuing this degree, either. I can honestly say that, after I started the program, I never once thought about quitting it (although there were a few times, here and there, where I was seriously worried I might not make the grades to complete the program). After a while, though, I got my act together and straightened up; what really helped was the fact that I was working in a library while pursuing the degree. It helped put a lot of the stuff I was learning into perspective, and really helped me realize that even the sometimes bone-dry readings weren't what really make up the entire field; and working in the field also helped me visualize where I might end up after the fact.

 

Are you working/interning/volunteering in your field, right now? I highly suggest you do so, if not. The real-world context might help you realize if this is truly something that you want to commit all of that time and effort toward.

 

 

 

Disagree! I would say 90% of the people out there can't write or verbally communicate effectively or properly. Being an English major is hardly the easy choice.

 

OP, you have a good liberal arts background, and that can take you a lot of places. Don't feel like an English major is only valuable if you choose grad school or teaching. You could go pretty much anywhere at this point.

 

Yep! People tend to think that being an English major is "easy." When I was pursuing my BA, there were a lot of people in my classes who--to put it frankly--just weren't very good writers; I mean, they could string sentences together and got decent grades, but as a former English major who loved/loves literature and writing, I truly took Gene Fowler's sentiments to heart: "Writing is easy, all you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead." And, the thing is, a great deal of that discomfort, that disquiet, that doubt, is internal; someone might read something I write and say, "Wow, that's really good," but all I can think about, sometimes, is the idea, concept or image I failed to flesh out to my satisfaction.

 

Nothing easy about that, if you ask me.

[Angel Irulan]

Actually, being a lawyer is something you have to have the personality for: don't go to law school by default. If you can't get into a top ten school (law) then don't waste your time!!! If you like the library, why not stick with that? I don't think it's the degree that does it: it's the training you get when you decide on a career path and start working at a company. You only succeed with a mentor.

 

Angel