From Lurking to Querying (questions about graduate studies)
I've been following the ranging (and sometimes boomeranging) topics on this list for several weeks now, I've even gone as far as to contact some of you personally for advice on the subject of graduate studies, but having conducted a fair amount of my own research, I find myself no further progressed than I was a month ago. So I find myself asking you all directly for advice. I'm a fourth year undergrad, doing an honours BA in English and Social & Political Though. I'm looking to move onto graduate studies next year, focusing more carefully on Cyber culture, the impact the Internet and digital technologies have on our language, the English western discourse, and the related fields of video gaming and comics (print and web based) as forms of narrative. I've been flipping and flopping back and forth between finalizing my study field, it's not something I want to commit to til I'm sure of it, but I'm looking at masters programs in Ontario, Canada, for the time being, then hopefully PhD programs elsewhere. The two main schools I'm looking at for an MA are York University (Toronto) and Western (London), both Ontario schools that seem to have programs that look at related fields to my interests -- but I'm wondering if I have missed any institutions in my research that might be applicable. York has a Humanities MA that addresses my research, and I could probably find faculty in the English department that would also be interested, Western, however, seems to have at least half a dozen minds working in that field, but it means moving (something that might not be possible for a year at least). Any advice or insight you can offer, or opinions in general, are greatly appreciated. Ivan Mulkeen -- -------------------------------------------------------------- Gone, Gone O'Form of Man, And rise the Demon, Etrigan!
Dear Ivan - I figure a public reply might help as things may vary considerably in Canada from US or Australia (where I am based). In the "olden days" the student picked a supervisor and followed them wherever they went, even moving universities to stay with the supervisor, possibly as a teaching assistant, but most certainly as an active participant in her/his research. Even today, I think that the relationship with the supervisor is still vital. (I had five supervisors in total - poor planning on my part played a significant role, other factors were mot mine, such as retirements, ill health, etc.). But the FINAL supervisor was the best!!! In a field outside of mine, in a school outside of my knowledge base (BUT) a guy willing to discuss anything with me and conscientious about meetings, drafts, reviews, and etc. So I personally would never pick a school over the person that would be supervising (which was my previous mistake - I looked at the disciplinary possibilities without considering the person). Having said all that, if it is a coursework Master's then naturally what the school has to offer is essential. Hope this helps. Cheers, Denise Denise N. Rall, PhD thesis submitted, School of Environ. Science, Southern Cross University, Lismore NSW 2480 AUSTRALIA Tuesdays: Room T2.17, +61 (0)2 6620 3577 or Mobile 0427 245 497 http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/rsm/staff/pages/drall/ Virtual member, Cybermetrics Group, University of Wolverhampton, UK http://cybermetrics.wlv.ac.uk/index.html __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
participants (2)
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Denise N. Rall -
Ivan Mulkeen