Your Opinion Counts

Well, I have turned my attention back towards school, that is to say, back towards the progression of my academic carreer. Everyone tells me that I should stay here as long as I can and make the "big bucks." I think, and I am sure that Dad and Jason would agree with me, that they lack vision.

As such, I am commited to leaving after the second year, the only question that remains is... where? I have spent a great deal of time going through various school and finding programs that fit my criteria. I have finally rounded it down to 4 potential front runners. I have spent hours going over the web sites, and now, I am recieving graduate handbooks in the mail daily... ulitmately, like so many things in life, the only person I am responsible to in making this decision is myself, that however, does not relieve me of the obligations of friend and families, nor free me from the bonds of practicality, nor especially grant me the wisdom to make the best choice...

As such I thought, just for a kick I would ask what you all thought... Here are the front runners, a brief list of thei pro's and con's and their websites in case you really want to look into it...

I don't expect anything, but for the few mins It takes to create this page, It just might prove useful... feel free to be honest. No consideration is too small, this is a big decision, it all counts...

Country University Programme Cert:

Notes:

Legnth:
Cost: .
Canada University of Western Ontario (London, ON)

Master of Arts in Media Studies

Cert: MA

Notes:

The program at Western is a really good looking package. It seems a logical extention of my current degree.

+ Close to home

- Clost to home (lacks international appeal, not close enogh to live in Hamilton)

+ Affordable (successful acceptance includes a funding package for the 1st half of the program for about 14,000 dollars

- Long program (2 full years!)

Legnth: 6 Sem. (1.5-2 years, no summer break)
Cost: 5,860 / Yr.
Australia Australian National University Master of Arts in New Media arts & Tech Cert: MA

Notes:

The ANU program is really practical and skills based. That doesn't appeal to me too much, but it does make it a really employable degree.

+ Well recognized school

- Expensive

50/50 progarm legnth.

!)

Legnth: 3 Sem. (1-1.5 years)
Cost: 15,000 per annum AUS (13,282 Can) total cost just under 20,000 Can + living
Australia Griffith University Master of Arts and Media Cert: MA

Notes:

I really like the look of the griffith program. It is quick and the classes look really interesting. The program costs here are based on 1 year coursework. There is a 1.5 year honors version with a thesis which may be more my line to get into PHD studies later...

+ Decent price

- Unknown University (I might as well say a masters from Australia.)

50/50 progarm legnth.

Legnth: 2-3 Sem. (1-1.5 years)
Cost: 13,400 per annum AUS (11,860 Can) + living
Australia University of Sydney Master of Multimedia Design Cert: MMDES

Notes:

The Sydney program is interesting, it is offered by the school of arts, and therefore not on the main downtown campus. I bit further away... it is unknown how this will translate to higher/lower living expenses.

+ Price

+ Good University with Internationally recognizable name...

+ Progarm legnth.

- Really high cost of living (Sydney Australia.)

- Program is totally course based, and as such, largely professional. It may have limited appeal as a springboard to PHD studies.

Legnth: 2 Sem.

1 Year

Cost: 12,500year, (11,068 Can) + living

Well there ya have it folks, give it a read, and if you feel like it drop me a line at Socrates@mountaincable.net to let me know what you think... Heck, I would just like to hear what you think about the site even...