Random Ramblings

Procrastinating the Inevitable...

A Long, Drawn Out Post About My Post-Graduation Plans...

By thePatrick

So, lately I have seen a bunch of friends and family that I hadn't for a while. During the usual catching up, they all ask about how school is going, and then ask what it is I'm studying. When I tell them I'm a History major with a Philosophy minor, obviously they ask me about job prospects. Let's face it, it's not like during these economic times people are begging for historians and philosophers to come and save the world.
Believe it or not, lately the plan has been to punish myself even further by going on to Grad School. Originally I had toyed with the idea of going on to get my PhD in History and becoming a professor. At least until recently when I met with my adviser.
My adviser just happens to be a History professor. He told me that being a History might not be the smartest idea ever. Again, it's not like people are pining for the days when historians were more readily available. But, he gave me a suggestion, and the more I thought about it, the better it sounded. He had recently written a letter of recommendation for a past student who just started Grad School this fall. He is getting a joint Master's degree in History and Library Science. With that degree you could work in the archives of a library, or as a curator in a museum, or something else of that nature, which fits along well with my nerd-ness.
So, the more I looked into it, the more I liked it. I searched the internet and I could find four universities that offer the joint M.A. in History and Library Science. Indiana University, University of Maryland, University of South Carolina, and Wayne State University (in Detroit).
Now, graduation is about a year off, and all my applications for Grad School would be due shortly before that, but that's not the important thing. The important thing is the poll at the top of the page, because I want to know what you think. Where should Patrick go? I'm interested to see what you say. Poll closes at the end of the month. And leave a comment here, too.
Long and drawn out enough for you?

3 Comments

Indiana or Maryland is your wife's vote.

I hear you... I am going to get a public history minor here at UNLV which opens up lot of what you talked about and also working at national parks etc. A guy graduated last year with one and he pretty much has a guaranteed job working for the gov't forever. Let's be honest the gov't isn't going to cut jobs anytime soon even though they really, really should. Good Luck!

MARYLAND!!!! I VOTE MARYLAND!!! 6 hours away is a lot closer than 2 days or more of driving! SO Heidi Says move out East... you know you really want to! :) It is Way pretty here... I can even send pictures to you that I took in Maryland! Maybe it will be more enticing... not that scenery is the reason to pick a school of course but hey... I don't know much about the school so there is my argument and standing on your problem! Move close to me and we can meet half way in DC! YAY!

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