academia

[prosodic]

I'm reading an autobiography by William Zinsser and I got to this part that made me laugh out loud. He was instructing at a writing conference in 1968, and a big banner was hung up on the first day of the conference that said "WELCOME WRITERS!" Three days later, the banner was changed to "TRY BOWLING!"

That just struck me as hilarious. HAHAHAHA. Zinsser is delightful. I had to teach excerpts from his book On Writing Well in my first year composition courses, but I've never read the book in its entirety. I should pick it up.

Lance and I were talking a lot the other day about my graduate school days. I really miss academia so much. I am keeping up with the people I worked with in the English department, and most of them are just now finishing up their doctorates. I can't believe how time flies. Of course, I made the choice of getting married and moving to Europe instead of finishing grad school - a choice I don't regret at all. But if I had it to do over again, I would've done things a little differently.

I just wish there was some way we could figure out financial aid so that I could go back to school. I don't want to take out any more student loans. We are deep enough in debt as it is. I just really have the itch to go back.

Comments

[jenny-rambles.livejournal.com]

I know that spouses are going to be able to use the GI bill soon - would that be an option?

[prosodic.livejournal.com]

It is, but it won't come close to covering all of the tuition. I still owe so much from my years at Ohio State and Miami University...I will be in debt for the rest of my life unless we become suddenly wealthy or something.

Maybe if we move somewhere less expensive and have a smaller mortgage, it might be manageable.

[inateapot.livejournal.com]

ooh, I know how it is to miss academia!! I really hope you get the chance to go back...most doctoral programs (I thought) accept you on a full tuition covered basis + stipend - mine did - so perhaps there's a chance?? I know you'd find it incredibly fulfilling. Given a chance would you pursue English again or a different degree?

[prosodic.livejournal.com]

I would be going after an MLIS, but I doubt there would be any chance for a stipend and full tuition coverage. That would generally require me to teach classes, and since I don't have a background in Library Science, I don't think I can teach.