How To Disappear Completely

Getting a job sounds good. Unless of course being a musicologist requires more study.

Being a musicologist ALWAYS requires more study...the word literally means "one who studies music" so by definition I'll never be able to stop...

Hey!
Of course Cambridge would be respectable for almost any discipline, musicology as no exception. Just a couple of quick thoughts.

First, looking at their site, it said something about the majority of Ph.D. students specializing in an interest area of one of the professors. Is there a professor there you would like to study with?

Second, a Ph.D. is a long time commitment. Are you willing to spend 5+ years overseas?

And just a couple of general comments. Wherever you go, TALK to the graduate students. From my experience, it doesn't matter how prestigious the institution's name is, if the professors are too busy to assist you in your research. Being homeschooled is a nice perk as far as being trained in studying independently, but you still need that support. Actually, I remember reading an article awhile ago that argued that the more prestigious the university, the more benefits the professors got and the less that the students got. Also, try to find out if the graduate students function together socially.

Good luck!!!!!!!!

Ah yes, the time commitment. Something of a dilemma for me: on the one hand, I don't want to get tied down to 50 year plans, because what if Mr. Fantastically Right comes along? In all honesty, I'd rather get married than have a fabulous career. Or at least, I'd rather put family first (I'm not opposed to small careers). However, I don't really want to twiddle my thumbs waiting for someone who may not ever show up in my life. So at the moment, I am living life a couple years commitment at a time. But that makes me feel like some sort of butterfly who doesn't know what she wants to do with her life. I suppose I could plunge into the 5 year plan and just ditch everything if called upon to do so. But it seems so disloyal to the Academy which will be paying me to do ground-breaking things for them (cause I am not going to grad school unless they pay me to do so--this is how I am getting through McMaster, on full ride scholarship). So...I'm kind of torn. At least in England, one can get a Ph.D in three years (programs are shorter there--one gets a bachelor's equivalent in three years and a master's in one). For that reason (and just the fact that I really liked England), I am looking mainly at the UK for Ph.D opportunities. Otherwise, I will just get me a job, I think.

A UK PhD is definitely the more timely option. Mostly because you're not bogged down by as much annoying coursework. On the other hand, then, are you ready to find a diss topic and have at it? Since you're more in the music crit. bent things, the UK is more relevant than the US, and having the independence of a UK program might be more suited to you.

When I finished my coursework, I thought that there was no way that i could write a diss in three years. After watching other people go through the process, perhaps it is a reasonable amount of time after all, especially if you're funded, which, of course, makes all the difference. (And I wouldn't have been funded had I kept going at current institution from which I am now getting a MMus.)

And, who knows, maybe you could meet Mr. British Fantatiscally Right. I know of a wonderful church in Cambridge where a couple of really good friends go (one actually just became asst pastor).