Slightly different career path..

Graduate School
1

<p>I've been talking to a lot of grad students and applicatns in my field lately, and there seems to be that general dream of being " a professor at a respected university, producing amazing research."</p>

<p>As for myself, I'm more interested in teaching than research, and really, all I want to do is get a professorship at liberal arts colleges or undergrad-heavy schools, have some fundings for my research, but spend lots of time in class.
Of course this is not to discredit scholars at those schools - I just don't like how many profs/dept. at prestigious schools end up being very research centered without much emphasis on students and teaching. I guess I'm not that ambitious when it comes to becoming the next Michel Foucault. I just like being in school :P</p>

<p>So my question is, is going after the schools with the best name value the best option for me? Even if that means spending a lot more money, or getting less personalized attention from the advisor? I have to choose between a top10 school with huge department and no funding, and a top 30ish school with smaller but solid department with funding. Right now I'm entering MA, but I'd also appreciate comments regarding grad career as a whole..</p>

2

<p>No PhD? Go with the funded MA. And whoever has better track record for getting students into top PhD programs.</p>

3

<p>Ooh! Ooh! I found one. Yay kindred spirits.</p>

<p>I'm looking at teaching more than research myself. I'm thinking community colleges--that's where the future of tuition inflation is headed.</p>

<p>Honestly, why choose a school by name alone? Of what use is a top ten school if you become a bitter, impersonal teacher? I really don't think potential employers will care for the prestige as much as they will your accomplishments wherever you go--and I'm sure they'll have heard of whatever smaller, respectable program you prefer.</p>

<p>I plan to choose my grad school by which would teach me the most, and by which adviser is most helpful. And by which one gives me money :/ There will always be bountiful career choices for hard workers.</p>