Help Me Decide the Rest of My Life

[Townhallsavoy]

I usually scoff at threads like these. 

But I need second opinions. 

As some of you know, I'm currently a high school English teacher, and I have been for four years.  I enjoy my job, but I'm ready to advance my career.  I guess ambition's getting the best of me, and public school doesn't have much room for promotion. 

So I'm stuck on the following options for grad school, and I can't for the life of me figure out what to do.

Should I get....

an MFA in Creative Writing to teach college courses on writing and also spend time writing on my own?

an MA in Instructional Leadership with the intent of working towards a Ph.D so I can teach college courses?  (I could also become a principal at a public school if I needed to.  But fuck that for now.)

an MA in English with the intent of working towards a Ph.D so I can teach college courses? 

an MA in Language Arts education with the intent of working towards a Ph.D so I can - you guessed it - teach college courses? 

Why is this so difficult to decide?  I've been wondering about this for two years now. 

[wesfau2]

I can't weigh in specifically on your dilemma, because I have no idea what any of that entails.

That said, let me say this:  the 4 year degree has become the high school diploma of the younger generations.  Everyone has one and you must have an advanced degree to...well, advance.

[Townhallsavoy]

I can't weigh in specifically on your dilemma, because I have no idea what any of that entails.

That said, let me say this:  the 4 year degree has become the high school diploma of the younger generations.  Everyone has one and you must have an advanced degree to...well, advance.

Exactly. 

I know no one here can make the decision or even really help, but I'm getting to a boiling point.

I know I'm interested in teaching at the collegiate level. 

Perhaps that's the problem.  I don't know what route to take to get to teaching at a university. 

Would it be better to get a masters in something I'm interested in, or should I investigate Ph.D programs to see what masters degree leads to that Ph.D?  And how do I investigate?  Email random professors and ask them to give me the lowdown? 

And what questions would I even ask?  "Dr. So and So, what am I truly interested in?  I don't have a clue."

I called a few schools with similar questions.  They sent me brochures. 

[AUTiger1]

I thought you had already completed your masters, no?  Or am I confused on that with you getting hired back and having tenure?

Get a masters and teach at a JUCO while you work on your Ph.D? 

[Townhallsavoy]

I thought you had already completed your masters, no?  Or am I confused on that with you getting hired back and having tenure?

Get a masters and teach at a JUCO while you work on your Ph.D?

I have tenure.  That's it. 

I'm stuck at "get a masters." 

Masters in what? 

I think I'm going to down a bottle of whisky and then write out my rationale for each option.

[AUJarhead]

an MA in Instructional Leadership with the intent of working towards a Ph.D so I can teach college courses?  (I could also become a principal at a public school if I needed to.  But fuck that for now.)

Just a thought, but with this type of degree, could you get a job at a company like Oracle or SAP as an instructor?  Not sure if you'd even want to do that, but dealing with one group of adults for a week can't be that bad.  Maybe teaching some of the basic toolset that each of them use (so for Oracle/PeopleSoft, teaching "PeopleTools I" or "Application Engine."  Yes, I realize you have no idea what those are, but if you attended the training session, you could teach it (Train the Trainer).

Would that be something you'd be interested in?

[JR4AU]

I usually scoff at threads like these. 

But I need second opinions. 

As some of you know, I'm currently a high school English teacher, and I have been for four years.  I enjoy my job, but I'm ready to advance my career.  I guess ambition's getting the best of me, and public school doesn't have much room for promotion. 

So I'm stuck on the following options for grad school, and I can't for the life of me figure out what to do.

Should I get....

an MFA in Creative Writing to teach college courses on writing and also spend time writing on my own?

an MA in Instructional Leadership with the intent of working towards a Ph.D so I can teach college courses?  (I could also become a principal at a public school if I needed to.  But fuck that for now.)

an MA in English with the intent of working towards a Ph.D so I can teach college courses? 

an MA in Language Arts education with the intent of working towards a Ph.D so I can - you guessed it - teach college courses? 

Why is this so difficult to decide?  I've been wondering about this for two years now.

If you go the Phd/College Prof. route, remember you must publish or perish. 

[Townhallsavoy]

Just a thought, but with this type of degree, could you get a job at a company like Oracle or SAP as an instructor?  Not sure if you'd even want to do that, but dealing with one group of adults for a week can't be that bad.  Maybe teaching some of the basic toolset that each of them use (so for Oracle/PeopleSoft, teaching "PeopleTools I" or "Application Engine."  Yes, I realize you have no idea what those are, but if you attended the training session, you could teach it (Train the Trainer).

Would that be something you'd be interested in?

Yes. 

Chalk one point to instructional leadership.

[CCTAU]

Get a masters in mathematics. Then you would be well rounded.

[Townhallsavoy]

If you go the Phd/College Prof. route, remember you must publish or perish.

I'd love to focus on research. 

That's one of the main reasons why I'm interested in teaching at the collegiate level.

[JR4AU]

I'd love to focus on research. 

That's one of the main reasons why I'm interested in teaching at the collegiate level.

Cool, go for it! 

[AUTiger1]

I have tenure.  That's it. 

I'm stuck at "get a masters." 

Masters in what? 

I think I'm going to down a bottle of whisky and then write out my rationale for each option.

Personally I would go with English or Language Arts Education......you heart seems to be in teaching.   With all the options you have presented, they all lead to teaching.


I fully support your decision to down a bottle of whiskey and writing out your rationale!   

[Tiger Six]

Serious business.  My sister was in your shoes 25 years ago.  I am shoot her your email and she can give you actual advice, not just send you a brochure. 

She ended up with a couple of advanced degrees before she got her doctorate and ended up staying in high school administration and teaching at Southern Union, Auburn (short period of time) and Jax State on the side. 

[GarMan]

Get a masters and teach at a JUCO while you work on your Ph.D?

This...  Of course, it really depends what you want to do. 

[chinook]

join the peace corps.

[GarMan]

That said, let me say this:  the 4 year degree has become the high school diploma of the younger generations.  Everyone has one and you must have an advanced degree to...well, advance.

I think it depends more on your profession and/or industry as well as your career level.  Teaching definitely requires advanced degrees for career progression, but I think that's because they don't normally consider merit or other suitable measures of performance.  College level teaching will require a PhD.  Occasionally, they'll allow experienced professionals with Masters degrees to become instructors, but you'll be stuck teaching Freshman and Sophmore classes. 

[AWK]

Become homeless and sell your body for sex...under the interstate.

[AUJarhead]

Become homeless and sell your body for sex...under the interstate.

$15 for a ZJ

[Vandy Vol]

Exactly. 

I know no one here can make the decision or even really help, but I'm getting to a boiling point.

I know I'm interested in teaching at the collegiate level. 

Perhaps that's the problem.  I don't know what route to take to get to teaching at a university. 

Would it be better to get a masters in something I'm interested in, or should I investigate Ph.D programs to see what masters degree leads to that Ph.D?  And how do I investigate?  Email random professors and ask them to give me the lowdown? 

And what questions would I even ask?  "Dr. So and So, what am I truly interested in?  I don't have a clue."

I called a few schools with similar questions.  They sent me brochures.

If I were you, I would start looking at job openings right now.  Do they list preferred qualifications?  If so, look at the positions you want, and see what specific qualifications they require.

Alternatively, if they don't list qualifications, then start looking at the bios/online résumés of their current faculty.  Do they all have a PhD?  Or just masters degrees?  You'll likely have to look at the younger professors/more recent hires, as some of the older ones may have gotten a PhD after employment.  Then you can also see what exactly their masters/PhD is in so that you can make a better decision about it.

[Saniflush]

Become homeless and sell your body for sex...under the interstate.

I bet dirty Mike and the boys would like that.