Who can help Onebat with advice about PhDs or MAs? (Wanker's Corner 101 AND long)

[onebatmother]

Can any mother help me?

I am at a career crossroads, and floundering somewhat .

I'm fantasizing about completely re-training, but I'm uncertain which way to go. I resemble, more than anything, a 41yr old large-arsed Easter Bunny, paralyzed in the glare of The Headlights Of The Future.

But a vague memory has resurfaced from university days and I'd like you to tell me what you think. My degree was in English Lit from a University of London college, and I got a first. I seem to remember that one of my tutors told me that because of the first, I could bypass an MA and go straight to a PhD.

Does this sound right? And if so, might that still be the case? And if so, would it have to be an English literature erm... thesis thingy, or could it be in some other discipline which required critical thinking? My career so far has been in making (directing/producing) documentaries about "Society".

And if it could be in anything.. what can you think of? Anything, anything at all! It's quite likely that it will not be poss to go back to university bcs of finances, but if it is, I would really like to think that I had considered every option.

As a starter, I am interested in how and why people think. I've considered training as a psychotherapist, but I think it's a v v long process. Also not sure that I'm patient enough.

And that;s poss too literal an interpretation of 'how and why people think' iyswim. For example, I am also interested in the process of things, in culture, and how it is constructed; and why groups believe what they do. How the things that people produce reflect and disseminate the political necessities of their world - the power structures which underpin societies, etc, etc.

So people, politics with small p, power, pornography - all the p's really. Oh and cultures and what they express, erm, you know the kind of thing.

Obv v unlikely to be all of these - but I'd be really interested if anyone thought that they had, or knew of, a career where one gets to consider this kind of stuff (which -CRUCIALLY - pays a small mortgage)

I'm not sure that I want to continue being freelance: I'm a bit shit at it and there's an inbuilt anxiety which does me know favours. But it's not a deal-breaker.

Thank you, my dearies, for your attention to this matter.

"know favours" = blowjobs for grades, obv.

Absolutely no knowledge which can help you, but in awe of your ambition.

I am just guessing until someone more knowledgeable comes along, but I wonder if a one-year MA might be a good stepping-stone anyway to get you back into it, as well as give you a chance to clarify what you are most interested in?

there are 168 hours in a week
assuming you sleep the standard 8 hours each night you will spend 56 of those 168 hours asleep
If you work fulltime you will spend 40 hours at work
This leaves 72 hours of leisure/family/wanking time - call it what you will

How lucrative does the 40 hours at work need to be for you to really enjoy the 72 hours of leisure family time? Or do you just want to absolutely love what you do for those 40 horus and don't really mind what you earn?

I always think this is the best place to start.

My tutors at Uni fixed up for me to do a PhD even though I didn't get a first; and they told me not to bother with a Master's either - totally unnecessary they said.

Justabout, how many have you got then? 24?

I've been through all this.

You need Penthesileia, she'll be able to help.

I'll go and find her.

I've studied Critical Theory and Cultural Studies as an undergrad. LOVED IT! When I can I'll certainly do a MA or a PhD in a related sunject.

Oh, thank you.

ProP - good point. I hadn't thought of that. It might be a gentle reintroduction. Prob is I'm 41 and have been fannying about for too long and I need to Get On. But I'll def consider that.

LeninGrad, mixing theory and practise is noat a good idea, you're quite right.

Swedes, it's a good question. I would like to to earn a huge amount obviously. But I've recently be doing some 'just for money and convenience work' and it's really not me. I need to do something that expresses some aspect of my personality (not stripping), and I accept that will mean that I earn less than I could if I retrained in eg. business.

But a not-brill salary would have to have concomitant advantages eg academic = long hols (I know those are shrinking)

Justabout - Oh brill! I will email. But prob tomorrow or Mon.

WHEN DO APPLICATIONS HAVE TO BE IN?

And how do I go about saying to a university, this is me, this is what I've done, what will you let me do?

Penthesileia yes - thanks Damon. And Habbibu too, I think; also WilfSell? I will go and look for them.

Wht don't you lecture in English Lit? You love it don't you?

Well Swedes you'd think so, wouldn't you? but weirdly I've come to the concl that I don't. I love the analysis, but I don't love the lit itself.

I'm better with Society than with Art, which is cruelly nebulous and makes me wince when I try to be empirical about it. I'd rather consider it as a 'cultural product'.

And also, you're not allowed to lecture in anything with just a degree I don't think - probably huge competition for all these kind of things? Anyone know?

I did my undergrad degree in cultural studies and creative writing at art school. I really enjoyed it. I've just got a place to start a PhD at UEA in September and I am using some of those theories as a starting point.

I did do an MA in between so I don't about skipping it but lots of people seem to?

I was told you can apply all year for the place but the funding deadline is coming up.

Don't know about

I always thought you needed an MA to lecture too.

I think you need a PGCE, do you?

a few people from the MA are teaching undergrads now but that may just be seminars

Guadalupe that sounds interesting. V envious of UEA.

From a total beginner, how does the funding work? Who funds - the institution, or.. ? Should I just pile in and try and get something.

My local university - which would be astonishingly convenient though not as prestigious as say UCL UEA etc is the University of East London. I get the general impression that they are on the up though and fairly edgy and interesting. Anyone know anything about this?

And how competitive is it after phD? Would one ever get a job? I couldn't go all over the coutnry.

If v competitive, what can one do with a cult studies-type pHd other than lecture/research/write?

"Or just advice/research work in general? You might get to do theory and practice then."

LG, Yes! Dream scenario! But HTF to do it? Who actually needs an ex-maker of documentaries?

The ahrc (arts and humanities research council) are the main ones to fund the arts. They've just changed the system and you can't apply to them though, your institution has to nominate you, and then they consider you for their studentships as well as passing your application along to ahrc.

It's all very confusing I must say.

I don't really know about career prospects other than lecturing or writing. I am having similar crisis! Mine is 50% creative so the main thing for me is having the umbrella to work on my own stuff alongside the literary thesis.

Onebatmother I've got a friend who did her undergrads in cultural studies and then went on to do an MA at and currently a PhD in same subject. She's very knowledged about Unis as well as her DH is a lecturer. She's same age as you. Will see her on monday possibly and will ask. She's been working while studying on and off so she might know what you can do with it.

Also I made quite abstract things, about cultural trends, rather than Panoramas about actual issues. So although I can research things, gather all the arguments, and then think about them and what they mean, and how they fit together in the story so far, I've not really got any journalistic training.

Thanks Guadalupe - so presumably I've missed it for this year?
Part of me is thinking fuck, should I just go for it? Go to UEL and say this is what I used to do, I'd like to do some more work on - can I leave it at that and give you a more detailed title is a couple of months?

What do you think - it's a really interesting subject which is at the centre of important societal shift. email me kate at minimum dt co dt ukay for details?

Damon - that would be absolutely brilliant.