Job Responsibilities
Graduate Student, presently M.Ed. with Ph.D. to follow, and
Graduate Research Assistant (Webmaster, Systems Analyst, &c) in
Temple University's College of Education. Statistical research,
web design, and other tasks as delegated by the Chairperson.
Between grad student and grad research assistant, probably about
80 hours/week. Until I retired from industry a year ago, I used
to invest that amount of time on-the-job and attending school at
night.
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Job Requirements
Excellent program. It was my second of now five masters
degrees, and was the most rigorous. At the time (1977-1981),
the School was making its name: "A"s were hard to come by, as
grad school "grade inflation" had not yet come about. Now that
it has it "name," it has gotten easier. Hardest 4.00 GPA I ever
got, but I learned a lot and have retained the learning. In a
word -- "AbFab" -- for ABsolutely FABulous.
Not much difficulty getting the right classes. Temple is a very
student-oriented school. It does help to make friends,
especially among the administrative staff. I have guest
lectured in the 1990s and 2000s; the classes have become much
more hands-on.
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Uppers
My "job" as a grad student / grad reseach assistant is exciting, particularly as
the "job" is a transition from industry into teaching and academia. Temple gets
a former A.V.P. with a wealth of experience; I get the seque from commerce into
academia. It is totally a win-win situation.
Every day is a new adventure. As a grad research assistant, I interact with the
standing faculty; as a grad student, I take their courses. While it was my goal
to become a teacher, I
am being "seduced" [I am an active participant, I must admit] into remaining and
pursuing the Ph.D.
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Downers
None.
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Lifestyle
As I am otherwise "retired" (call it "semi-retired"), my lifestyle vis-a-vis my
former role in industry in unaffected. Philadelphia is a very diverse yet highly
bonded community; Temple University is no exception -- in fact, it is a leading
example. The dress code is casual which, at Temple, means anything-goes. It is
okay to sleep in one's clothes (or so I infer from the appearance of some) or to
dress in Versace and Zegna (as I do). The social structure is equally
wide-ranging; most interaction is informal and with one's colleagues such as
lunch at the Diamond Club.
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Compensation
I now earn in a year what I used to earn in a month.
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Advice to Jobseekers
Temple is a great place to make friends among faculty and
students who are practitioners of their arts. All of Temple is
a "trade school" [I say this in praise!]" I have also received
two degrees from Philadelphia's Ivy League University, which we
will call, say, "Penn".
Philadelphians know something that non-Philadelphians may not
know. If you're sick and want to get well, see a Temple doc; if
you want to be studied as you die, see a Penn doc. Same for
teaching: if you want to teach, go to Temple; if your want to
think about teaching, go to Penn. Ditto for business: if you
want a job, go to Temple; if you've already got a fancy job [as
I did], then a Penn degree or two will be a beautiful ornament.
Temple made me what I am; Penn polished the result. "You pays
your money and you takes your pick." [forgive the grammar, as
this is a quote]. I retired at 55 with no company-pension.
Temple made this possible, and has now welcomed me back to
pursue my retirement dream of becoming a teacher and, likely, a
Ph.D. As one of my professors [also of Penn] remarked, "Welcome
home, Jim."
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