Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Should I or shouldn't I?

I need some friends who do not think education is a waste of time to convince me not to go back to school for another master's and a PhD. I would like to. I would REALLY like to. And my GRE is good for another two years. But I should probably work long enough to have some retirement funds, right? Or I could just go back to school and stay until I die?

I found a program that I am really interested in. I have sent an email to the "contact" person for questions... and heard nothing. Perhaps I should just give up... instead, I want to email the professor who I think might have coinciding interests. But I am terrified of sounding stupid! I do not feel like I am quite articulate enough to describe my interests. Or, what if he is interested and I end up in the program but am not smart enough to earn a PhD...

If you cannot tell, the one thing I have always wished I could change about myself is my lack of confidence. And that is the one thing I know without a doubt I would need in order to complete a PhD. So, what do you think? Any ideas? Suggestions? Warnings? Talk me out of it. Or into it, if that is the way you think I should go...

2 comments:

  1. Dearest Dorothy,

    As you well know I wanted to do a Ph. D. in library science. I went through the top ten list of library science school's websites and read each professor's profile until I found one that sort of matched my interests. I didn't even think twice. I e-mailed him and asked if he thought my ideas would work at FSU, where he works. Paul Marty, the professor in question e-mailed me back and said yes. We spoke over e-mail for four years and still do even though I am no longer getting a Ph. D. at FSU. He even told me my second master's program is really what I should be doing and will be a great combination with my MLIS. When I was speaking with professors at Pitt I got nothing. No one wanted to study with me. But Paul was an amazing resource and has really helped me with issues in continuing my education.

    What I'm saying is "you need a Paul". Everyone thinking about more education needs a Paul. So I say e-mail the professor and don't worry about if you don't sound smart (like that's really an issue). If you are talking about something you are passionate about that passion will come through in your e-mail language and the professor can help you.

    Take advantage of your youth and get the degrees while you can. You can always work while going through school. I did. It took me longer, but I still graduated.

    So what is the program? Are we into the disaster planning? I took an online course in Museum and Library Security at the Northern States Conservation Center. If they still offer it, it might help you get your feet wet to see if it's what you really want to do.

    There is never anything wrong with learning and getting an education. And Dr. Dorothy Parker sounds pretty good :)

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  2. Thanks, Jane!

    Yes, we are into disaster planning. The program is an interdisciplinary program in Disaster Science and Management at the University of Delaware. They have the Disaster Research Center there. It would be really amazing to even work with their collections! I will have to work on an email tomorrow.

    I will look into the online course you did. It sounds interesting and like it would be a good start!

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