Define my future

[Alan]

Seriously, I don't know what I'm gonna do. I have a year to think of what to do after college.
It was a bittersweet realization. With a little organization, I realized I can manage to graduate with my double major plus minor in the four year time span. But that means I only have one more year before my next phase in life and I don't even know what that will be.

It's not that I don't know what to do with my life; only that I don't know how, so I wanna hear opinions.

I want to eventually get a PhD in both of my majors. Is it feasible to do a masters in both at the same time?
Then there's also the fact that postgraduate education is expensive as fuck! A friend tells me that studying a masters in France is quite cheap, so there's also that.
The last option and the one that seems to appeal to most people is that apparently in UT Austin, and probably several other universities, I can study law at the same time as I finish a masters in a relevant field, namely philosophy. So I get a masters and a law degree in three or four years, but I don't get a masters in political science.
What would be a good strategy I should follow?

One thing, though. None of that "you're still young" shit. Bertrand Russell wrote his first book at age 26. I consider myself on a deadline.

[Still Jack]

Check out Scotland for options, I know they have some kind of deal that some EU citizens can get free education, but I'm not quite sure about the US citizens and postgrad courses. You could also see what's up with the Erasmus project, I looked into that once. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erasmus_Programme

[Lochnar]

Originally Posted by Alan

Seriously, I don't know what I'm gonna do. I have a year to think of what to do after college.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I take it you are currently a double major Philosophy and Poli Sci.

Well Alan, you have some great options. Philosophy is, imo, the best pre-law degree you can get. If you want to study law that's the way to go. Political Science is a tricky beast in comparison, it has more options. With a PhD Poli Sci you can easily end up in public service or advise/consult politicians (if you don't want to be one). A law degree can lead in that direction too (politics). You can teach with either or both. Being a corporate consult is another option. Let's examine the paths you could take.

1 - Philosophy and Law - The obvious, would be a lawyer. But what type? Criminal? Civil? Tax Law? Corporate Law? Civil Rights? Intellectual Property? Environmental? Entertainment? If you know what type of law that can help you with your Philosophy MA by choosing a compatible specialization. Do you want to work toward a Judgeship? If so, that can lead you to a career in politics. But you don't have to be a lawyer. You can consult as well. Corporations need people to keep them out of trouble, as we have all seen. Teaching is an option as well.

2 - PhD in Poli Sci - Foreign relation jumps to mind. So does politician (again). Campaign adviser or maybe staff management. Corporate consultant (again). Teaching (again). I must admit that I don't know as much about this as about philosophy, I never considered it as an option for myself during school. But that's off the top of my head.

3 - Both PhD's - Anything you can do with one you can do with both. What can you do with both that you can't do with one? The only thing I can think of teaching, it is after all more advantageous to have both then one as a professor. Why do you want both?

Now, as a side note, there is not much difference between a PhD in Philosophy and an MA. At least when I was looking at doing that, mind you that was almost 20 years ago (fuck that makes me sound older then I am), the difference was a thesis and and a big check for the university. You can do that in a year if you want so putting off the PhD is not a huge thing, imo.

Maybe asking yourself some questions is in order. Why did you study what you have up till now? Is that still a relative force in your life? How have you changed over the past few years? Some vision quest maybe in order.

Once you got that down then you need look a schools.

Sorry if this rambles some, I'm just going off the top of my head here. Good luck!

[Lochnar]

And if that doesn't help here is A brief history of pretty much everything to contemplate.

[FlowerGirl]

ahh. Who here suggests a gap year?

Do you have any experience stimulating other men's penises?

[FlowerGirl]

Originally Posted by Doppleganger2

Do you have any experience stimulating other men's penises?

No Doppleganger. I havn't. And you?

[Ben Lahnger]

Alan, I don't have any answers to give you. But I can say you're asking the right questions, and sometimes that's the hardest part to get right.

But there are two important criteria for a question to be an effective tool. First, are you asking the right question to get the information you need (I believe you are) and are you asking the right person(s). I suspect there are better places to ask where more of those "right persons" might abide, but among the people that hang here, for these particular questions, I am the wrong person.

I admire your dedication and perseverance and am envious of your dilemma.

[Solumina]

I just want to tackle the cost thing, it doesn't have to be expensive to go to grad school, especially if you are as bright and as motivated as you are, fellowships are a wonderful thing. Apply to wealthier schools as they have more scholarships available and apply early as most of the financial aid is given away by mid to late spring. Also if there is a particular school that you want to go to you should try contacting some of the professors in your field, if you can start building a relationship with them they may be able to help you by setting up a job as a research assistant or something.


I would also like to point out that while you may feel as though you are on a deadline taking a little time off wont hurt your future potential. In this economy a lot of companies are offering at least partial tuition reimbursement for courses related to your field so if you want to go into law then see if you can get an entry level position in a law firm or perhaps local government that will allow you to be a part time grad student. There are a lot of things that could give you some great life experience that you may not be able to easily do later in life, like joining the Peace Corp, which actually has a couple of programs that will help you with grad school.

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

[Despanan]

The last option and the one that seems to appeal to most people is that apparently in UT Austin, and probably several other universities, I can study law at the same time as I finish a masters in a relevant field, namely philosophy. So I get a masters and a law degree in three or four years, but I don't get a masters in political science.

Didn't you tell me like, six months ago that you gave up wanting to study law "years ago?"

[Alan]

Yeah, what of it? It is still an option, and would give me a trade if going towards my PhD fails.

Originally Posted by FlowerGirl

No Doppleganger. I havn't. And you?

I was talking to Alan. Afterall, he is the one looking for advice isn't he?

[MollyMac]

Law would be the practical side of philosophy and poli-sci, and I can see that working for you. But I cannot see you being an attorney in the sense that many are familiar with the concept- doing so would be sacrificing a lot of your current beliefs and ideologies. You do have many of the traits of an awesome litigation attorney, though, and I mean that as a compliment even though most take it as an insult....

yeah, you're still young, but when you are young is the time to tackle this. Everyone says, about a gap year, that they will go back. Life gets in the way, few go back, and soon you are old.

I advise you to go full steam ahead, take an international/abroad studies option if possible- you will kick yourself for rejecting it. Pursuing two masters at once is feasible in terms of time, but the cost can be killer- if you can do it and owe little to nothing- do it. Do not shoot yourself in both legs with debt.

[FlowerGirl]

Originally Posted by Doppleganger2

I was talking to Alan. Afterall, he is the one looking for advice isn't he?

That's so personal...why would you ask him that?

Originally Posted by FlowerGirl

That's so personal...why would you ask him that?

I'm just trying to help. As testified to in the politics forum, the guy obviously can't argue his way out of a cardboard box. Since his mental faculties are shakey at best, I was merely pointing out that a career in the sex industry might be an option.

[HumanePain]

One career that would take advantage of your interests: become a lawyer for rock bands.
"Mr. Alan, my royalties aren't meeting my court costs, what can I do? I totally trashed this hotel room you see, and then ***** the room service girl..."

[gothicusmaximus]

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[Despanan]

Originally Posted by Alan

Yeah, what of it? It is still an option, and would give me a trade if going towards my PhD fails.

Well that's all well and good, but what about your whole "anarchist" thing? Don't you think that's a bit hypocritical?

Not to mention, you seemed pretty insistent that you'd "abandoned that option two years ago" at the very best you're waffling and at worst you lied so you could score points in a Gnet flamewar.

[Alan]

Or at very best, and somewhat at very worst, I want to please my father with something that I know I won't like but I know I can accomplish with little challenge while getting the PhD I desire in the same swipe.
Seriously dude, you don't find something wrong into swaying this into a "ha! I knew it!" post?
By the way, Ricardo Flores Magon, Karl Marx, and Benito Juarez, all studied law.

[Saya]

Originally Posted by Alan

Or at very best, and somewhat at very worst, I want to please my father with something that I know I won't like but I know I can accomplish with little challenge while getting the PhD I desire in the same swipe.
Seriously dude, you don't find something wrong into swaying this into a "ha! I knew it!" post?
By the way, Ricardo Flores Magon, Karl Marx, and Benito Juarez, all studied law.

I'd say "don't do something just to please your parents", but I'm sure you know what I'm going to say.

Anyway, I do agree that studying law does have it advantages for activists, it doesn't automatically mean going into a law firm, a few people I know use their law degrees for various works with social justice, Amnesty International being the most famous example I can think of. They don't make a whole lot that way, but they love what they do.

[Despanan]

Originally Posted by Alan

Or at very best, and somewhat at very worst, I want to please my father with something that I know I won't like but I know I can accomplish with little challenge while getting the PhD I desire in the same swipe.
Seriously dude, you don't find something wrong into swaying this into a "ha! I knew it!" post?
By the way, Ricardo Flores Magon, Karl Marx, and Benito Juarez, all studied law.

This is less of a "Ha, I knew it!" and more of a "wait a minute" post. I think your plan to become a lawyer and/or professor is fine, I'd just like you to admit the dissonance that it has with the values you claim to support so fervently.

I have no problem with you studying law, even if it's only to please your father. As Saya pointed out: it's a useful trade to have. I have a lawyer friend who works in a pro-environmental lobby, and he kicks ass.

However, if the whole point of your existence is to tear down the governmental structure which created, enforces, and maintains the law, and you become a lawyer to please your father and/or avoid the McButtfucking you're going to get when you manage to get into the real world...

Hey wait, did Jillian's life just become the plot of SLC Punk?

[Alan]

I never wanted to "tear down the governmental structure."
That's stupid. I simply want to help in its complete transformation. There's a reason I help the Partido del Trabajo.
See? You never pay attention to me. And in St. Valentine's no less.

[Despanan]

You've tried this strategy before Jillian. Supporting socialism is all well and good, but with the ideals and principals you have claimed to support here on gnet, you should be a terrorist, not an attorney with two PHDs (In fact, if I remember right, right after you told me you'd "Abandoned that option" you implied that you were taking part in illegal direct action, what happened to that?).

"Completely transforming" a democratic republic into an anarcho-communist or anarcho-syndicationalist utopia would completely alter the laws and the very mandate for the laws you would be studying. Whether you do it quickly or slowly is of little consequence intellectually. From where I'm sitting, it looks like you're just backing off for realistic reasons. That's all well and good, but as I mentioned previously, if you haven't changed your outlook on government and commerce that's really just neutering yourself.

[vindicatedxjin]

I think you should be a male stripper... hey you can get really good money if you travel to Japan!

[Despanan]

God Dammit.
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