Conflicted About What to Study in Grad School

What's On My Mind Today:  I am equally in love with journalism and creative fiction writing.  It seems I am equally as good at journalism and creative ficition writing, so which Master's track to do I follow?  My one professor wants to enter a play I wrote into a contest to have it performed.  But then my journalism is good too. 

The MFA though has a lot of financial perks including tuition remission, stipend, possible health insurance and the ability to just write, in some cases without teaching.  A few even give you a relocation stipend!  Where graduate and teaching assistantships for jounalism carry a 20 hr teaching load and smaller, if any, stipend.

At this point, while I am so focused on journalism, I must consider the severe cost savings I could gain from following my MFA track first.  As well as I could probably move to a more desirable climate at the same time. 

I AM SO CONFLICTED....what would you do?

Immature People

What's On My Mind Today:  At some time in your life, you must transition from child to adult.  It occurs for boys usually later than girls, but still by the time your are a junior or senior in college, you would think the transition would be complete.  This is just amazing to me because when I was 21 or 22, I was married with 2 children, working a full-time job and attending classes whenever I could at Tri-C (Cuyahoga Community College).  Yet, in my second go round to finish my bachelor's, I find that these people who will be graduating with me in May 2011 are no more prepared to deal with the true pressures of life than they were before entering college. 

Some of them are still trying to prove they know everything and what they are really showing is "I am immature" and wasted 4 years of time and money.  Or they are still playing childish games from junior high.  I feel sorry for them because it won't be their cute faces or fashionable clothing that will keep them employed. 

TRUTH: 

1. Your parents will not always be there to back you up so stand on your own two feet.
2. Your boss only cares about your most recent accomplishment...Make yourself an asset to your employer with consistent, dependable work ALL THE TIME.
3. Avoid office gossip and only talk about your children.  DO NOT tell them how great your girlfriend/ boyfriend is because people are sneaky and may go after your man/woman because of what you spread.  
4. DO NOT date your co-workers.  True some people have found their soulmates but just as many have had bad breakups that tend to effect the work evironment for both of you and your co-workers.
5. Establish a strong work ethic, IMMEDIATELY, if you don't already have one.  You cannot fake it til you make it!
6. Keep your work area clean!

College is where you learn how to survive...I hope you learn it in the next six months because if you don't it will be a very rude awakening!!!

FINALS-Different than before

What's On My Mind Today:  I have a unique experience for the first time as an undergrad, NO FINALS!  I will have to come to class to turn in assignments and get my final grades but I don't have one final and I am so excited.  Even though I don't have formal final, I have a major paper assignment due in each of my classes if not more than one.  But that is all good because writing is what I do! 

I will not be doing note cards, staying up all night and hibernating this semester.  I will not turn into one of the many people who live in the library searching for a quiet place.  Yaaaaahhhhhhooooooo!

To those of you who have to do the study thing, here are a few suggestions, don't procrastinate.  Start your study process, a few weeks in advance (NOW), especially if your final is cumulative.  Study in the way usually study (examples:  note cards, re-reading your notes, etc.) then give it a day or two and do it another way (examles:  writing definition/key terms, reading book chapters, etc.).  But the most important thing you can do is get a good nights sleep, DO NOT stay up all night cramming. 

Good luck on your finals...I will be thinking of you as I chill and wait for my A's to roll in!

Graduate School

What's On My Mind Today:  I am looking into graduate school programs and I am so perplexed.  I love Cleveland State University but they don't have a masters program in journalism. 

Now, I am looking for a grad school with an online journalism program that is also accredited.  My top two are University of Missouri and Boston University.  Grad school is gonna break the bank at an average cost of $35,000-$45,000.  The advantage of to BU is I won't initially have to take the GRE.  But there online program is still in the works, but scheduled to begin in Fall 2011...which is when I want to start.  So, BU is hedging a head.

Then the next issue is paying for it.  While you can get still get a pell grant for grad school, how much more will I have to find?

Then there is also the fact I could delay my masters in journalism and do my MFA in English at CSU.  I could probably get a graduate assistantship which could eliminate the majority of expenses but I don't think I want to do my MFA first.  The issue with CSU's MFA program is its a consortium between 4 schools (CSU, Kent State University, Akron University and Youngstown State University) which may mean taking classes at those other schools.  AU and KSU are only about 45 minutes away but YSU is much farther and with the weather in Ohio those drives are not viable to me! 

I want to follow my journalism first.  We have always wanted tomove out of state to a warmer climate and that has been postponed while I finish my bachelors.  If my husband can get a job, earning my degree online will not matter.  I would have the flexibility I need to move without interrupting my studies or being separated until I could transfer. 

At the same time, I know I could probably get a graduate assistantship in other places to defer some of the expenses of grad schoo but without a job for my husband there, how will we survive? 

Of course, I am doing scholarships and grants but they are far and in between for grad school.  So, I am looking for suggestions and ideas.