Questions for those of you in grad school

[Moxlotus]

I'm not interested in grad school (I'm going to dental school in Fall '07), but my girlfriend is interested (she's a freshman undrgrad).  She's going to be asking her advisor about it, but sometimes its nice to get some input from people actually in graduate school (plus I kinda wanna know too ).  She's majoring in English (literature) and secondary education.

Note: I'm using this website as the info I have:

http://www.english.uiowa.edu/graduate/MA.lit.studies/index.html

How many classes and credits do you take each semester?  This has 33 credits required including thesis.  Normally in undergrad that's 1 year, but I thought a masters usually takes 2 years of full time studying.

For a thesis do you only take it, or do you take other classes with it?

How difficult is it to become a TA?  Would her bachelors in education help with that would it probably not matter?

How much tuition usually comes off for being a TA?  What's the workload?

I'll probably have other questions along the way.  Thanks for anybody who can answer!!!

[Harkius]

I'm not interested in grad school (I'm going to dental school in Fall '07), but my girlfriend is interested (she's a freshman undrgrad). She's going to be asking her advisor about it, but sometimes its nice to get some input from people actually in graduate school (plus I kinda wanna know too ). She's majoring in English (literature) and secondary education.

Let me preface all responses with two points. First, I am in science and the postgraduate education is notably different, but there are similarities. Second, each school is different as well.

Note: I'm using this website as the info I have:

http://www.english.uiowa.edu/graduate/MA.lit.studies/index.html

How many classes and credits do you take each semester? This has 33 credits required including thesis. Normally in undergrad that's 1 year, but I thought a masters usually takes 2 years of full time studying.

You would probably looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of 8 credits/semester, and probably 2-3 classes for that. This is about normal for grad school. I can't fnd the credit hours attached to different classes. Thesis work counts as credits, as well. It is possible that each class is three credits, which would mean that there would be a total of 11-12 classes, so 3-4 classes/semester.
For a thesis do you only take it, or do you take other classes with it?

How difficult is it to become a TA? Would her bachelors in education help with that would it probably not matter?

How much tuition usually comes off for being a TA? What's the workload?

Again, these vary from program to program. Some programs require graduate teaching. Her BA in education would probably not make a difference if this is the case. If teaching is an option, it may help, if the teaching positions are competitive. My experience has been that most people don't want to teach until they are done with their own classes. If she does want to teach, it will mean that she will probably get an assistanceship, which can cover a significant amount of your tuition, perhaps even all of it.

Wish her luck for me. Graduate school is pretty...harsh. It makes you rethink your purpose.

BTW, I have a lot of respect for your doing this, MoxLotus. It is the kind of class act thing that all guys should be doing for their wives and girlfriends.

Harkius

[Milton]

I teach at a high school in Wisconsin.  I would offer some advise here.  If your girlfirend is interested in teaching at the secondary level, she is most likely looking at 5+ years of school to get her undergrad.  Her degree in English, plus general degree requrements, will take about 4 years.  Education classes and student teaching will probabally take another year and a half.  I did it in five with two majors and two minors, but I took 18-19 credits a semester plus 6 credits a summer. 

So, say she works really, really hard and gets into the school of ed when she is a junior, and finishes her English major and gets everything done, including student teaching, in five years and she is certified to teach English, then why the hell would you want to go to grad school?  That's another two-three years! 

I work on hiring and selection committees and we almost never hire people with masters degrees.  We hire teachers right out of college, fresh from their student teaching experience.  They are inexpensive.  A masters degree might price your girlfriend out of the market if she is looking at teaching at a highschool.  There are dozens of applicants for each job in English, and I'd hire someone who was inexpensive.

If your girlfriend wants to teach, tell her to get the bachelors, get the education credits and then student teach as quickly as possible.  Then, get a job.  After she has a job and is earning income, then get the masters degree.  It is sooooo easy for teachers to get a masters degree or continuing education credits in the summer of after school. 

[thunderbass299]

Moxlotus,

I'm currently going to Boston College for my Masters in English and couldn't be happier.  To answer your questions...

The Masters of English at BC is 30 credits, with each course counting as 3 credits (ten classes total).  The majority of people take 2 years to earn the degree usually splitting their course load 3/3, 2/2 or 3/2, 3/2.  Additionally one could do it in 1.5 years if you went 3/3, 1 over the summer, and 3 in your fall semester.  To take more than 3 classes a semester would be a suicide mission.

There is no thesis involved with the BC masters, rather a series of 3 comp exams, one in each of your 2nd, 3rd, and 4th semesters (Close Reading, Historical Placement, Theory).  You also must pass a language comp in one foreign language (brief translation exam).

BC is one of the few MA programs that offers TFs (Teaching Fellowships) to its 2nd Year MAs.  There are 24 TFs available each year (most 2nd years get one).  You teach your own class and you design your own syllabus.  You have to take a composition theory/pedagogy course which really helps you prepare for teaching. 

The TF covers your entire tuition for your 2nd year (you get half in credit and half in cash that you can apply to the rest of your credits).  We have a wonderful faculty, everyone gets along really well, and I'd be happy to offer any additiona info on specific fields of interest. 

In your first year you can work study for the department (I'm doing that right now and if your g/f needed the job I could probably secure it for her).

As to why get the MA before teaching?  I'll give you 5 good reasons.

1)  You'll get better jobs at good private schools who couldn't care less about State certification (several of my friends will be teaching AP English straight out of the program).  And they're going to be paid more than they were when they just had the BA. 
2)  You'll be able to adjunct at local colleges, something you would be unable to do with a BA.
3) You'll have a greater understanding of your field both in terms of historical content and theoretical underpinnings.  You will have a better sense as to how everything fits together.
4) You'll be better prepared to apply for PhD.  Yes some PhD programs take people right out of the BA, but they need to be total superstars or "know somebody" if you get my drift.  The application process is much easier once you've had the extra experience.  I can't even begin to describe how much difference one year has made for me. 

If you or your g/f have any other questions about preparing for grad school in English or about the BC program specifically, I'd be happy to answer any questions.

[oldbsturgeon]

im in graduate school right now, getting my ma in psychology. for this field its necessary but its not very hard, actually easier than undergrad. its only 3 yrs for me.
if you need to get as me, go for it, but as someone said, it may not be necessary

[jpmeyer]

My program (film, not English, though) is 36 credits (three courses per semester for three semesters, generally), with no thesis but with comprehensive exams.  We only have Ph.D. candidates as our TA's, but MA's can serve as GA's for professors.  I believe that that covers their tuition.

However, when I was considering doing my MA in English in order to be a high school teacher, I pretty much got the same advice that Milton is giving.

Oh, and Harkius is right.  Grad school does make you reconsider your purpose (although speaking for myself anyway, that had more to do with what I wanted to do research on).

[pyr0ma5ta]

I think the important question that nobody's asking is:
Why are you dating a freshman if you're going to be entering grad school this fall?  Are you really that sketchy?  (Just kidding, obv.)

On topic:
I'm a science undergraduate in my 3rd year, and I'm looking to enter graduate school soon.  Biology graduate students go to school for a year, and then they work in a lab until their advisors decide they've done enough to graduate.  Seriously.  But when you get out, you're a PhD, and everyone calls you Doctor.  Sweet.

[thunderbass299]

im in graduate school right now, getting my ma in psychology. for this field its necessary but its not very hard, actually easier than undergrad. its only 3 yrs for me.
if you need to get as me, go for it, but as someone said, it may not be necessary

Interesting.  I'm definately doing considerably more work that I ever did as an undergrad.  I'm doing less busy work, but the meat and potatoes labor is definately increased.  The reading load is at least tripled, and the average undergrad english paper (not counting maybe a senior thesis) is probably no more than 10 pages, where as the MA requirements for papers are more in the 20-30 page range with much higher standards in regards to research. 

It's worth it.  And again, Harkius is correct in that it changes your sense of purpose.  We've already lost 3 people from the program who have decided that spending their life doing English was not for them.  Its also a good test of whether or not you can handle a PhD program.  Not only does it test your academic abilities, but also some less commonly considered ones such as:

how well can you manage your tasks with out firm deadlines?
are you prepared to spend *much* of your time alone doing reading/writing?
are you outgoing enough to reach out to your professors outside of class? (There's no coddling here.)

It will also force you to consider your specialization (if you intend to go on for the PhD).  I came in thinking I was going to be studying American frontier literature with a focus on it's implications on gender politics.  Instead I'm now going to be focusing on Composition and Rhetoric with an emphasis on the the role of collaborative pedagogy and Writing Center theory.  You get introduced to so many new topics in grad school that it can blow your mind.  It's wonderful for the person devoted to that particular art or humanity (or science for those with that inclination).

[Harkius]

I think the important question that nobody's asking is:
Why are you dating a freshman if you're going to be entering grad school this fall?  Are you really that sketchy?  (Just kidding, obv.)

On topic:
I'm a science undergraduate in my 3rd year, and I'm looking to enter graduate school soon.  Biology graduate students go to school for a year, and then they work in a lab until their advisors decide they've done enough to graduate.  Seriously.  But when you get out, you're a PhD, and everyone calls you Doctor.  Sweet.

You forgot prelims...

How could you forget prelims???

:suffer:

Harkius

[Moxlotus]

I think the important question that nobody's asking is:
Why are you dating a freshman if you're going to be entering grad school this fall?  Are you really that sketchy?  (Just kidding, obv.)

LOL.  I'm currently a sophomore majoring in biochemistry.  I will be entering Dental School at the University of Iowa after my junior year of undergrad since I was accepted into an Early Admit Program (screw you bachelor degree, thesis, and shitty required gen eds!!!).  My dad's a dentist and I pretty much know what goes on at professional schools--but I knew that grad school was a completely different ballgame and had no idea what goes on there.