Graduate School

Originally Posted by Tamburlaine

Before the collapse, undergrads from my school would just work at J. P. Morgan or go into consulting and make a killing immediately. I don't see why I shouldn't have done the same thing. In fact, I don't see why I shouldn't have just kept the money I used to go to school and opened up a business.

Is money all that matters here, or are you genuinely interested in lit crit?

I mean, the dudes at JP Morgan are one thing. But literary criticism is another thing. I assume you'd really want to pursue it because you genuinely enjoy it. Not everything we all enjoy is lucrative, but the pay off is hopefully in the fact that you love what you do. Sometimes, that's more important than the money you make. Waking up every day to go do something you'd be doing without pay is an ideal situation for people. Very few of us ever really find it.

Although I guess with the cost of university these days, you really better hope you can make a buck with whatever you chose to do. All those loans aren't going to pay themselves off, are they.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by M.U.G.E.N. Forever

Here's a question: why are you paying for grad school? I thought grad school was something that was done under a scholorship program most of the time. 400k is a shitload of money and I'm guessing that 200k was full school without a scholarship. Presumably you're not one for receiving those? In that case seriously consider what you're getting yourself into, especially in THIS economy.

You may want to really think about it, it's a relief to know that you're still a junior and have time to do that. 600k is on the line.

Yea, I'm curious too.

(The only experience I have is via my sister, who got a full scholarship for her Master's and the university will pay for her doctorates)

Also, fucking kudos to RR for posting a concise mathematical depiction of what you're looking at. (Though fucking $600k? That's uhhh...really? Someone with experience seriously tell me that's wrong.)

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Tamburlaine

I don't have any loans to repay for my undergraduate education (which, by the way, Sass, is in the Berkshires. Aren't you from around there?).

Yea, I'm in Westfield. Are you in northern or southern western MA?

Quote:

But -- my parents have gone through a lot of trouble to get me through it and $200k went into it, period.

That's depressing. $200k. That's a large investment with no guaranty of return.

I've always been of the opinion that you can have a life without a Masters in something. Admittedly, people seem to need some kind of degree to function in the real world these days, but it all depends on your priorities.

How ya doing, buddy?