The School/Uni Thread

[Zephyrus]

It does matter. Reputation in academia goes a long way. That and the fact of the matter is that public universities, while quite a few (like Michigan and Iowa) are world-renowned, they are grossly dependent on state and federal funding. Private schools like Harvard and Cornell, on the other hand, don't have that problem (for example, the state of Maine is dragging the University of Maine down to the Dark Ages with it by continually reducing funding to education). Alumni from Ivy League schools also tend to reinvest much of their wealth back into their alma maters, which keeps them going quite well.

It's a vicious cycle of reciprocity. If a school does well, people will be more willing to invest in it. If it doesn't do well, then they won't, and so reputation and results mutually inform each other and maintains pretty much a stasis.

 

[unknown]

I almost didn't go to college. I only applied to one university, the one I ended up attending (California State University, Long Beach). While part of me wishes I had attended a more "prestigious" university (even though we're ranked as one of the top in country) and stayed in the dorms, I graduated with my bachelor's and will be graduating with my master's and ZERO debt or loans. I also got to work with and get close to some amazing faculty and engage in some great lectures. I wish I could go back and revisit most of my classes Our classes weren't fancy. The majority of them were in "temporary" buildings that had been up since the 70's. My biggest major course had maybe 40 people in it. I still had a great time

 

[Dak]

I graduated with my bachelor's and will be graduating with my master's and ZERO debt or loans. I also got to work with and get close to some amazing faculty and engage in some great lectures.

Bingo. This is the trajectory I am planning.

 

[Zephyrus]

Not being at a prestigious place for undergrad doesn't really harm you in the long-run, because if you do exceptionally well there you can move up to a better school for graduate study. I went from UMaine to Iowa, and from there the step to a place like Michigan or Penn will not be so sheer.

 

[The Emptier]

Yeah my conservatory is known well regionally, and getting itself out there but for grad school i'll be looking at the top schools (hopefully) for jazz studies/musicology. but with my undergrad i will have no loans/debts and i'm willing to pay the price for a great graduate program.

 

[unknown]

while on the topic

http://chronicle.com/article/From-Graduate-School-to/131795/

 

[Dak]

while on the topic

http://chronicle.com/article/From-Graduate-School-to/131795/

Ph.D. in medieval history

lol

 

[Einherjar86]

Sad, but that's pretty true.

At the very least, English professors can usually land jobs teaching composition classes. Most have to do that for a couple years before finally getting hired for a tenure-track position where they can teach actual literature classes. It's a process.

Not being at a prestigious place for undergrad doesn't really harm you in the long-run, because if you do exceptionally well there you can move up to a better school for graduate study. I went from UMaine to Iowa, and from there the step to a place like Michigan or Penn will not be so sheer.

I agree, but I still feel like more prestigious institutions feel that you need more "work," so to speak, if accepted into their program. For instance, I certainly felt unprepared when I started at UChicago. USF had not prepared me at all for an intense graduate program at a university like that. I had to seriously adapt my work habits and time management in order to succeed there.

Aren't you doing your doctorate at Iowa? What do you mean when you say "step" up to Michigan or Penn; are you planning on transferring?

 

[Zephyrus]

Aren't you doing your doctorate at Iowa? What do you mean when you say "step" up to Michigan or Penn; are you planning on transferring?

I'm doing my Classics MA at Iowa, and I'll have the option of continuing to a PhD there. However, I'm still undecided whether I want to get a PhD in Classics or Ancient History. The beauty of Michigan is that their Greek&Roman History PhD program is a collaboration between BOTH departments. Whereas Penn's Ancient History program has the most breadth and depth of any I've seen.

 

[Einherjar86]

Ah, that's cool. I'll earn a master's in the first year of my program, but my fellowship requires that I continue on to get the PhD there too.

 

[unknown]

Sad, but that's pretty true.

At the very least, English professors can usually land jobs teaching composition classes. Most have to do that for a couple years before finally getting hired for a tenure-track position where they can teach actual literature classes. It's a process.

That's why my grad emphasis was Rhetoric & Composition, and it's still damn hard trying to find jobs.

 

[Einherjar86]

That sucks. Most of what I say is rationalization. I'm trying to avoid thinking about the utter hell that the job hunt will be.

 

[Zephyrus]

Post-doc?

 

[Dak]

Especially considering the college loan/attendance bubble is due to collapse *any day now*.

 

[Einherjar86]

Yeah Zeph, post-doc. I'm slowly accepting the fact that I'll have to work my ass off for minimal pay for a few years after I graduate before landing a firmer position.

 

[Dak]

http://mises.org/daily/6020/The-Case-against-Student-Aid

Speaking of BU, they get a mention in this. Doubly relevant.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Pretty sure I failed/near-failed my first final. (physical chemistry II)

 

[viewerfromnihil]

I've long made peace with the fact that I will probably have to slog it out in a high school for a few years, going after music composition and theory prepared me for that If I'm able to get my doc in history, hopefully I will be able to land straight into a decent college professor job, but I figure that I should mentally prepare myself for the worst.

 

[Zephyrus]

I've long made peace with the fact that I will probably have to slog it out in a high school for a few years, going after music composition and theory prepared me for that If I'm able to get my doc in history, hopefully I will be able to land straight into a decent college professor job, but I figure that I should mentally prepare myself for the worst.

Wait. You're a high school dropout and want to become a college professor???

 

[Dak]

Pretty sure he meant slog it out as a teacher.