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I think I've made a decision...

TurtlesAllTheWayDownTurtlesAllTheWayDown member
10000 Comments Sixth Anniversary Combo Breaker
in Wedding Etiquette Forum
I'm currently in an MA program (US history) which is taking me 3 years. It's a 2 year program, but I work full time, so I've scaled down the workload.I have to do either a thesis or comprehensive examinations. I've started work on a thesis, but have put it to the side this semester because my course work (including 2, 25 page papers) is a bit overwhelming and I have a busy schedule. The reason I'm doing a masters is to make myself look enticing to a PhD program, which I'm planning on applying to in a month or two. (Well, I'll obviously be applying to several programs - I hope one wants me.)I would be starting a PhD next fall. Possibly in another state. So we MIGHT have to move next summer. We are supposed to get married in October because: 1) I really really want to get married in October and 2) Because I'll start doing a dissertation about 2/2.5 years into my program, and that would be a great time to get pregnant and take a few months off if necessary. Totally flexible schedule. I don't want to have kids right away.So... I'm considering stretching out my MA another 6 months, and graduating NEXT fall instead of this spring. And applying to schools next fall, probably right after the wedding.This will also allow FI and I to pay off debt because I'll be working at my (sucky) job another year, we won't have to worry about moving expenses right away, and he won't have to worry about finding another job. Oh, and we already have CC debt. I'll have mine paid off in a year, though.I feel REALLY relieved and non-stressed to realize this is an option. But kind of bad because I'm not going to know for ANOTHER year where I'm going to grad school. AND it sort of looks like I'm being an idiot to outsiders because I'm putting off my education to get married. This also means that my MA will take exactly as long as my BA (3.5 years). Cliff's notes version: I'm putting off grad school for a year and getting married to avoid the stress of doing both at the same time. But it sort of makes me feel like a 1950s housewife.
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Re: I think I've made a decision...

  • sassygal22sassygal22
    100 Comments
    k.
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  • ricksangricksang member
    10000 Comments Combo Breaker
    My MA is taking my 3 years. Sucks. I think you should do what makes sense to you.
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  • Kristin789Kristin789 member
    Sixth Anniversary 2500 Comments 25 Love Its Combo Breaker
    You just put your thesis to the side this fall. That means you won't finish it in time to get the chapter to your committee by Nov 1, so they can get you the changes to you by Dec 1, so you can defend it in January or February, so can get the changes done/approved/filed in time to meet the spring graduation deadline at your school which is probably March 26 (our spring graduation deadline is March 26). So you can't be a spring 2010 graduate. Not enough time. And it's nearly impossible to be a summer 2010 graduate, because most of the faculty don't teach summers anymore - it's all adjuncts and graduate assistants - so no one is there to look over your chapters and meet with you and have your defence, etc. So you really ARE going to be a fall 2010 graduate anyway. Which eliminates the "people will think I'm an idiot/1950s housewife for doing this" part of your question...
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  • TurtlesAllTheWayDownTurtlesAllTheWayDown member
    10000 Comments Sixth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Well I have a third of it done and in my department, changes won't take terribly long. I've known people who have finished their revisions over the summer if push comes to shove. We don't have a formal defense, we just have to submit it to the department. Clearly I accepted the fact that I wouldn't have it done in time to submit as a writing sample with my PhD applications.I basically just have to readjust my thinking now to putting it off another year. I need to get used to the fact that I won't know where I'm going in 6 months, more like 18 months.I also need to talk to my thesis advisor. Though I'm pretty sure he won't push me to finish sooner rather than later. I also think he'd be more comfortable writing me a recommendation once my thesis is done.
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