Sanity Vs. Honours
September 15, 2008 | Filed under Uni/Work
I’ve been told by my university to apply for fourth year Honours in Communications and Media Studies, because I’m such a 1337 student. The chances of being accepted are apparently relatively high in my case because of the marks I’ve received thus far in my university career. This could solve my “what to do next year” problems, if not for the fact that it would mean that:
- Logically, I’d continue living at home because it’s only ten minutes away from my campus. I’ll go insane if I have to do this for another year…and I’m not even exaggerating when I say that.
- The 18,000 word thesis expected of me is a daunting thought. I’m an excellent bullshitter, but even I can’t bullshit 18,000 words on a specific topic.
- Next year would be eighteenth consecutive year I’ll have spent in formal education. For someone who’s not a fan of formal education institutions (I believe in learning and knowledge accumulation, but not in an official setting where you’re restricted by the ‘learning objectives’ that some random person has decided matters most), it’s a ridiculously long time.
While I’ll definitely be applying (why not try every avenue open to me, especially as I suck at getting an actual job), I’m still in a quandary as to whether I’d accept the offer if I was to receive it. It’s a decision I think, between maintaining my sanity (e.g. moving out of home and starting work) and the possible academic and professional advancement that having an extra Hons. tacked onto the end of my degree can afford me in future.
…and I think I’m future-focused enough to sacrifice my present sanity for the possibility of future benefits. Unless of course, I suddenly come into a lot of money, in which case I’ll just up and leave for Europe for a couple of years, bumming around the Continent.
8 Responses to Sanity Vs. Honours
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Can you defer for a year or two? Like… accept the offer but postpone it for a year?
Rachael on September 15, 2008 #
I’ve always held the idea that having a degree with extra letters in there somewhere is always a good thing, but if you don’t want to be in school any longer, don’t do it!
Or take Rachael’s suggestion. If you’re accepted, they won’t have a problem with letting you do it when you WANT to. Work for a year or two, become independent and then go back.
You have the rest of your life to study!
Nellie on September 16, 2008 #
Plus, getting your honours would be an awesome excuse to move on to your Master’s, doing it in a exotic foreign country! :)
Nellie on September 16, 2008 #
Honours, unless you can append “Sane” to the degree.
But, uh, 18k words…
Vickie on September 16, 2008 #
I can’t wait to get out of the house. But I think it would be wise to sacrifice your sanity for the meantime, sadly :/
Shen-Shen on September 16, 2008 #
Do you get to be a tutor while studying honours? I had a couple of those tutors (they weren’t very good! But anyway….) they got paid pretty well I heard! :D
Reply: You do, but as I’ve pretty much forgotten everything I did in first and second year, I probably won’t be any good! :P
kat on September 16, 2008 #
It’s a good idea to apply for it, I mean… what’s harm can it do? Meanwhile, keep looking for that job and if the God’s are in your favour, you’ll land a kickass job and the decision is automatic =D
Though like Kat said, you may get to be a tutor which will rake in some moolah.
Jess on September 16, 2008 #
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