Tumblr crosspost (though not an old one)

[anghraine]

As time goes on, the more I actively resent that my MA has basically no value for my peers except as a requirement for other things. I worked harder to do well in my MA program than in anything else, I learned more from it than anything in my PhD, but … nope, it’s just this bridge to other things, apparently.

(The direct inspiration for this: I was just thinking about how I don't really have any qualifications or credentials for anything, just an MA, and then was like ... wait.)

Comments

[elperian]

I think this must happen because of the variability in quality in MAs. It sounds like you had a very rigorous MA, but a lot of MA programs are just slightly advanced undergrad programs.

[anghraine]

Hmm, I wouldn't call mine super rigorous? It was a very small, poorly-funded program with a lot of freedom of direction, and we were very conscious of existing around more demanding CA universities/programs (I went to a CSU). But it was certainly a very different experience than the BA in terms of opportunities and demands.

Regardless, I think that academia treating the (often expensive) MA as a) absolutely necessary and b) basically worthless, at the same time, is ... not cool.

[elperian]

I didn't realize lit treated MAas as absolutely necessary. In econ, some people get them but as many or more don't; the emphasis is being put on pre-doctoral fellowships now (which I also think is unnecessarily burdensome and distorts opportunities in favor of those who are In The Know as kids of other academics).

[anghraine]

Oh, interesting! Yeah, everywhere I applied required an MA (either explicitly or in practice). Econ's approach does sounds screwed-up in its own way, though. That's academia for you, I guess.