MbShea@PWP@English@UMCP

Abstract: JR’s Guide to Graduate School, written by yours truly, Jenna Reimer, is a guide personalized to my search to find a graduate program that is appropriate for me. First, I compare the difference between a master’s program and a PhD. A master’s program takes less time and effort than a PhD; however, both are more intensive than undergrad. A master’s degree leads more towards a career, while a PhD leads more towards research. Then, I analyze three different Earth Science programs; the University of California, Santa Barbara; University of Nevada, Reno; and the Colorado School of Mines. The University of California, Santa Barbara has the best professors in the field I want to enter when I graduate, seismology. In addition, they work with students to establish in-state residency so graduate students are paying in-state tuition by the end of their freshman year. However, the University of Nevada, Reno has the cheapest out-of-state tuition by a factor of one-half. The Colorado School of Mines has high admission pre-requisite standards, most of which I do not meet, so it is highly unlikely I would be admitted. At the end of the guide, I analyze the different programs and conclude that pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Santa Barbara is the best choice for me because I don’t mind paying extra to get access to the best opportunities to learn from the best in my field.


WC=235

Reader’s profile: A broke college student drowning in student loans who is sick of school and tests and paying 60,000 dollars a year in out of state tuition.


Reader’s response: I just spent 60,000 dollars a year on tuition at the University of Maryland for my undergraduate degree; I really don’t want to spend more money and time on a graduate degree especially after the tax reform that was just passed. The schools discussed in this guide are all west coast schools; I don’t want to travel that far for school and be separated from my family, friends, and most importantly, my hedgehog Persephone. I have spent the past 16 years of my life in school and classes; I want to enter the professional world and get a job. According to this guide I might make more if I get a higher degree, but I can always go back to school later in life if I find that that is something I want to pursue. I need to start making money to pay off my college loans and begin building a fund so I can move in with and get married to my French painter boyfriend Jacques. This guide could be useful to me later in life, but right now I’m not ready to make the commitment to two to four more years of school.

REVISED THESIS OR PROBLEM STATEMENT:
VOICE:  first person, informal
CITATION: Each section will have citations based on what school is being discussed

J, you do not have to address the heartbroken and dismayed student you describe. Yet, you do capture a real problem about loan debt that is just now becoming apparent to social policy and economics experts.

What you have described here is a deeply personal journal entry of grad school decisionmaking. Let that goal be more hidden. Write more generally about how to approach seismology graduate school, a line of inquiry within geology.

Also, you will profile all these schools, right? For one reason, you would need to apply to several places as entrance to the one dream school is not assured.

Touch base with me in person to chat briefly about this guide. For example, about citation, I would use APA as this is an academic inquiry/science topic.