Acceptance Letters and Grad School
Ok, so I’m feeling a little guilty about the lack of blogging, though I’m not sure anyone but myself and Catherine are really reading this. The point is, it’s been 2 weeks since I last posted, and I’ve actually had some things to write about. First off, I got my first (hopefully of 3) acceptance letters to grad school at Oklahoma State! I’m super excited about this and am looking to fly out there and check out the campus. Now I just have to wait and see if I get accepting anywhere else, and then decide where I’m going to pack my family to for the next 4-6 years.
Honestly, I have no idea what I want there. Utah State and BYU have very good programs in Instructional Technology, and are right near family (I even have two brothers and Catherine’s brother living in Provo). Oklahoma State also has a good growing program, and most important to me, my mentor, Dr. Curry. However, it is in Oklahoma, and that is really far from both of our families.
My other dilemma is whether I am really going to uproot my family and go back to school for an extended period of time, when I already have a job that I love! Don’t get me wrong, I really do want to go back for my PhD, I love Instructional Technology, and Catherine is also excited. It’s just scary, and I want a voice in the back of my head to tell me that it’s worth it. Now, just to be clear, this has nothing to do with John’s post, “How to Get an Instructional Design Education Without Paying Tuition“. Really, it doesn’t. I just love my current job and am scared about what life will bring if I leave it (especially supporting my family). Any comments? Can someone out there squash my fears?
February 20th, 2008 at 5:20 am
It all just depends on what you want to be “when you grow up.” If you want to keep doing what you’re doing now, then you don’t need the terminal degree. However, if you don’t want to stay doing that, then you need to get used to wearing black and orange
February 20th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Actually, I wear orange and black now. I just need to hide the tiger emblem.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:02 pm
If it depends on what you want to be “when you grow up” we are going to be in limbo a long time.. are you ever going to grow up?
I don’t know how to get rid of your fears other than to say.. you’ll know whats right.
February 23rd, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Having been on the LONG road of education myself for a while (and finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel) it goes by faster than you think! You’ve heard the saying “short-term sacrifice for long-term gain”. 4 yrs really isn’t that long (of course it seems long on the front end of it)! All in all though, I have to agree with both John and Cathrine – it all depends on what you want to do…and are you ever going to grow up? (and do you really want to?)
Personally, that is why I like continuing education so much…being an “Eternal Student” (to borrow your Blog title) keeps me feeling young!