<p>Hello. I have been seriously thinking about my future lately. I have two more years of undergrad left (maybe less if I drop some of my other concentrations) and I think I will use my junior year to prepare for the GRE, refine my interests and narrow down my gradschool list. Some of you may already know that I had a huuuuuuge list of potential gradschools and my interests jumped all over the place. I think I will only apply to maybe 6 or 7 schools (much better than the 16 or so schools I have on my list...lol). I have concerns though....</p>
<p>I am a linguistics major and want to go to gradschool for linguistics. i love studying language in general and W. European languages (Romance) in particular. However, many of those who get into this field go on to be professors or a teacher of some sort. For one thing, at this point I only want to do a terminal MA degree, and I also have NO interest whatsover in teaching.</p>
<p>Is it nuts to continue in this field because "I like it" even though I am not exactly sure what I will be able to do/what I want to do with it afterwards? Am I setting myself up for failure and heartbreak?</p>
<p>I have an M.A. in History, and I do not think I can get a job with it. Starting a Ph.D. in the Fall. I find that an M.A. is a good way to see if you want to go on in grad school, but then you have to move on and do a Law Degree, a Education Degree or a Ph.D.</p>
<p>The dangers invovled with going for an MA is that fact that MAs are not funded, while majority of PhDs are. However, if you are interested in an MA in Linguistics, I say go for it. </p>
<p>Here are a few of my suggestions (I'm starting an MA next year but originally applied for a bunch of English MAs, so I know the humanities drill).
-Try to get a funded MA program. If you never plan on using it accept as personal enrichment (NEVER TELL THEM THAT!), it's much better that you don't pay for it.
-Consider Canada: MAs are more structured programs here, so there is more attention placed on MAs as worthwhile degrees rather than as things that people not good enough to get into phd programs get.
- Try to look for 12 month programs-- When you start verging into two year programs tuition + living expenses become problems (IMHO).
-Keep up those practical skills. If you don't plan on using your degree in linguistics, try to find a unique way to market yourself so you can get a job afterwards.</p>
<p>However, I'd say go for it! PhD programs take a lot of emotional investment and the rates of depression for grad students have been going up lately (see. <a href="http://www.chronicle.com%5B/url%5D">www.chronicle.com</a> for futher discussion). If you aren't 100% committed to research, don't do it!</p>