<p>Hi all, I am currently finishing up my last few courses in my bachelor's degree in American Studies at the University of South Florida. I have already been accepted into their Master's degree program and will be studying alongside two musicologists and a performance theorist for my master's thesis on Floridian and Southern Identities portrayed through music. </p>
<p>My goal is to be a musicologist, but not necessarily limit myself to academia. While it would be nice to be a tenured professor at a well-funded school, I understand this is a practical impossibility for the most part unless one graduates from a top-tier institution and is within the top .5% of their class within that respective field. I want to study American Music, particularly regional scenes, countercultures, and folk/vernacular musical scenes. </p>
<p>I understand my chances are slim. But I have no problem translating my skills outside of academia: I will gladly work as a secondary/middle school teacher, a for-profit "history" company or in retail/service industries: I have spent most of my collegiate career apprenticing as a meat cutter so I do have a trade as a backup. But I do really want to study what I like, and I think I have the skills necessary to succeed in my field. </p>
<p>I have been looking at schools to consider for my PhD program. I do see that UCLA, Buffalo, Memphis, Texas, Hawaii, and Indiana seem to offer what I look for in a American Studies/Musicologist degree. But my parents are aging and I'm not sure I could leave them entirely alone into their 60s and 70s while I pursue a PhD program on the opposite side of the country. </p>
<p>I have looked into Florida, Florida State, and even UCF's respective Musicology and Humanities related PhDs, and I was wondering if I could get some feedback from anybody who's studied anything close to what I want to study at these respective schools. I'm leaning towards UF just because they're closer to home, but it looks like FSU has a bit of higher prestige in the humanities/arts? Will my education be stunted by attending UF? Also, UCF's Texts and Technology degree stands out as incredibly attractive: my dream is to work for and educate students in music industry and technology, so this degree seems fitting. Should I look out of state regardless of family commitments? My current mentors at USF are both UCLA grads and are pushing me towards their school and while I think it would be great academically, is it worth the risk?</p>
<p>I know my question wasn't the most focused, but if anybody who has any stake in the aforementioned schools and especially within relevant departments, I'd love to hear it! I want to make my PhD program decision based on the right reasons!</p>