Graduate School Round Three
In 1999 I returned to college to finish my undergraduate degree so I could go to graduate school. Unfortunately, just before I started, my mom had a massive stroke and lost the ability to do much of anything. I decided to put off graduate school for a year or two to help her get back on her feet (literally and metaphorically). In 2006, I realized that waiting for her to get back on her feet, or die, or for me to win the lottery just wasn't going to happen, so I applied to graduate school and left practical thoughts like how to pay for it and where would I find the time to the wind.
Either I'm too old or too dumb or something as I was rejected by all the programs I applied to (a total of three). In the fall of 2007, I quit my job and entered into my own version of graduate school. I took classes in literature, writing, publishing and received a grant from the Elizabeth George Foundation to finish my novel. I also attended a three day symposium on The Art of Writing at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, California.
My first introduction to depth psychology and creative writing and tending the soul of the world was like seeing my heart outside of my body. I've always known it was there, but seeing it made be want to learn more about it.
The desire for graduate school hasn't gone away either and I'm trying again. This time I'm expanding my horizons. In addition to MFA in Creative Writing programs at UC San Diego and UC Riverside, I'm going to apply to Pacifica. The only problems is there are two programs I'm interested in there: an MA in Engaged Humanities and a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies.
My heart wants to apply for the Ph.D., but my brain says the MA would be easier to fit into my life. Either way, there is knowledge and wisdom that I am lacking to help myself and my community in the twenty first century and I'm feeling that an advanced degree will help me shore up my skills a bit in the area of "changing the world" and writing about the amazing people that I admire from the depths of my heart.
Wish me luck.
Either I'm too old or too dumb or something as I was rejected by all the programs I applied to (a total of three). In the fall of 2007, I quit my job and entered into my own version of graduate school. I took classes in literature, writing, publishing and received a grant from the Elizabeth George Foundation to finish my novel. I also attended a three day symposium on The Art of Writing at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, California.
My first introduction to depth psychology and creative writing and tending the soul of the world was like seeing my heart outside of my body. I've always known it was there, but seeing it made be want to learn more about it.
The desire for graduate school hasn't gone away either and I'm trying again. This time I'm expanding my horizons. In addition to MFA in Creative Writing programs at UC San Diego and UC Riverside, I'm going to apply to Pacifica. The only problems is there are two programs I'm interested in there: an MA in Engaged Humanities and a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies.
My heart wants to apply for the Ph.D., but my brain says the MA would be easier to fit into my life. Either way, there is knowledge and wisdom that I am lacking to help myself and my community in the twenty first century and I'm feeling that an advanced degree will help me shore up my skills a bit in the area of "changing the world" and writing about the amazing people that I admire from the depths of my heart.
Wish me luck.
Labels: Aspiring Novelists, Caregiving
posted by Karin Zirk at
6:49 AM
1 Comments:
Good luck!
Is it possible to apply for the MA and then use those classes to transfer midstream to the PHD if the situation seems do-able?
Yay you! Go for it!
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