Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with MA

How useful is a Chinese studies M.A.?

Mummy of a Lady Named Jemutesonekh — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:40:57 -0800

I'm thinking about getting an M.A. in Chinese studies. How useful a job qualification would it be if I didn't go on to get a Ph.D.? I majored in a subject unrelated to Chinese studies in undergrad, but have subsequently become very interested in China, particularly Chinese cultural history. I want to further my interest in an academic program, but don't want to do so if it won't lead to interesting China-related career opportunities. At this point, I'm not sure whether I'd want to get a Ph.D., so I want to confine this question to opportunities an M.A. can help provide. Here are some of the possibilities I can think of. How much would an M.A. help to get these sorts of jobs? What others are there?

- Government (e.g., State Department)
- Nonprofit with a focus on or including China
- Entry-level researcher at a think tank or some other sort of research institution
- Teaching at a high school
- Teaching at a community college
- Teaching at an English-speaking university in a developing country
- Journalism (would a Chinese studies M.A. matter at all as a qualification in this field relative to previous experience or publication record?)
- Business (increased opportunities in the business world are frequently cited on Chinese studies M.A. program websites, but it's difficult for me to imagine how the degree would lead to a job at, e.g., a company with operations in China; if it could, how?)

Thanks in advance for your help!

Where can I find a list of Postgraduate Photography courses in the United States?

stackhaus23 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:10:56 -0800

Where can I find a list of Postgraduate Photography courses in the United States? I've been looking at taking a Masters Degree in photography here in the UK. However, since I love to travel – especially to the US – somone asked "Why not look at courses in the United States?"

...good question! The only problem is, I don't know where to start... other than Google.

Any suggestions?

Tha ma ra boum de hé (not the dirty schoolyard chant)

Overzealous — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:11:31 -0800

Can anybody track down a version of "Tha ma ra boum de hé" or "Tah Rah Rah Boom Di Ay" performed on solo accordion (no vocals or anything)? A digital version is preferred but if I need to track down an old LP somewhere I'm willing to go on a quest.

Cheap extended stay in Cambridge

paulesque — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 11:13:03 -0800

(Very) Cheap places to stay in Cambridge, MA, for about 7 nights? Inbetween some conferences I'm spending a couple of weeks in Cambridge, and while I am sleeping on friend's couches for part of that time, I'd rather not infringe too much :). It really only needs to be a bed and a shower (but clean, quiet preferably).
For mid-Oct, places near MIT ideal. And I'd rather not couchsurf, thanks!

Creative people - teach me how to make my wedding magical.

semacd — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:48:42 -0800

Design our "First Summer's Night Eve" wedding, creative people! Ok, so I think we figured out where to hold our wedding (on a lawn in MA, by a lake). And when to hold it: Memorial Day weekend.

So now we're looking for some inspiration to make the night feel magical, special, romantic in a breezy flowing fabrics and candles and flowers sort of way. We're thinking we'd like to loosely use "Midsummer Night's Eve" (or in this case, "First Summer's Night Eve") as our theme (not the play, the ancient celebration). We're thinking this would involve lots of flickering candles, maybe something woodsy, mossy. Possibly lanterns. Possibly things our guests could float off into the lake bearing wishes (and candles) [I've done this as a grade schooler on Midsummer Night's Eve using handmade little boats and candles, and in India using flowers on the Ganges]. We're trying to evoke the headiness, magic of the first summer's night. I'm thinking maybe Art Nouveau style maybe could be integrated, or a Where the Wild Things Are sentiment for a bit of playfulness.

Can you think of anything we can do that could subtly suggest that theme: the magic of the first summer's night? What would our centerpieces look like (in a rather austere series of function-rooms, unfortunately, but adjoining the lake with huge glass windows everywhere)? How can we incorporate the lake and the lawn? There's a beautiful teensy stone bridge just around the corner too. What cool things can we do with candles? Would our save the dates and/or invitations have this element included? Would our wedding website? If so, how? Anything else we should be thinking of? (Band? Transportation? Attire? After party? Other events? Beverages? Appetizers? Food? Cake? Late night snack? Table names? Place cards?) What would our flowers look like, and would we use them in any unique ways? Gifts to bridal party?) Anything else?

I'm not very creative but I can take a spark of an idea and run with it, and I can execute directions. Help me out! We don't have unlimited funds, but we have a decent budget to work with.

The location is fairly fancy. There will be a band, open bar, decent food, etc.

Bonus points for links for where we can buy design elements/create our own design elements/examples of pictures for inspiration?

Bonus points for ideas that would surive a cold, rainy Boston Memorial Day evening.

Also, oh crap - is Memorial Day weekend in the Boston area too early for this fantasy?

Churches with weekday services near Westborough, MA?

bobdylanforever — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:28:41 -0800

Does anyone know of churches with weekday services in the Boston Suburbs (Westborough/Southborough/Shrewsbury/Framingham/Natick, etc) area?

NH Camping

Miko — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:53:20 -0800

Can you recommend some good, rustic camping areas within three hours of Portsmouth, NH? We're trying to book for next weekend, which is kind of crazy, so we need to cast a wide net. We're looking for a less commercial area (no resorts or KoAs), something like a state park, national park, or old-school tenting campground. Have you stayed anywhere you'd really like?

MA Health Insurance

Elsie — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:16:47 -0800

Anyone know about Massachusetts Health Insurance? I'm between a rock and a hard place. I'm about to move to MA from overseas. I sent off application for the low-cost insurance, Commonwealth Care, but it may be weeks after I arrive to hear whether I qualified. I do not want to go one minute without coverage in the U.S. so I thought I'd get a short-term policy. However, as I understand it, if you have any prior health insurance at all in the U.S., including short-term, you can't qualify for the Commonwealth Choice low-cost option. The other available insurance, a high deductible polict or Health Savings account is $500 a month. Any advice on how to proceed? Based on fruitless calls to MA Insurance Dept. it seems to be a Catch 22 situation unless I'm missing something. Any advice?

Can an MA graduate fill an MS job?

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:52:38 -0800

A job opportunity opened up that requires an "MS degree". I have a MA. I know that I have the knowledge and experience for this position. Is there any way I can apply for this job? It's an adjunct professorship at a school focusing on Information Technology. I have around 12 years experience directly relevant to the open positions. I received a MA in International Studies but did my thesis on information science. I fulfill all of the other requirements. I have teaching experience and I think I would do a really excellent job. What, if anything, can I do?

Your favorite karaoke bar in NH/MA

Thrillhouse — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:23:03 -0800

Looking for the best karaoke bar in southern NH, Northern MA. We've experienced Harry Karaoke at a couple different places but now we're looking for a new place to go. Somewhere along 93 between Andover and Manchester. Current music (unlike Harry's stuff) and a fun, laid back atmosphere. NOT a meat market.

looking for wonderland

ndicecco — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:00:03 -0800

I'm writing an MA thesis based (in part) on American McGee's Alice... problem is I haven't played it and can't seem to find a copy for Mac OS in Canada. Amazon.ca doesn't have it at all. Amazon.com has it, but won't ship it to Canada (also costs about $75-$100). Ebay only has it for Windows. I could get that and load parallels (or something), but I'd prefer to find a copy for Mac. So far no luck on Craigslist. The only other option I've come up with is to have Amazon ship it to a friend in the US, and have them ship it to me. Again, I'd rather just take a trip to Toronto, if possible.

I'm in Hamilton, ON - is there anywhere in this area (including Toronto) that I might find a copy of this game. My supervisor is putting the pressure on.

Helpful people/info in Woburn, we needs it!

JonahBlack — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:10:06 -0800

We are moving to Woburn, MA and need helping finding a variety of services there. We finally closed on our new house in Woburn, and we need to find a variety of things nearby. We need a plumber to do run a gas line, someone to put up a nice fence around our yard (or where to buy fencing material to put it up ourselves Lowes and Home Depot were surprisingly unhelpful), a good electrician to put in a 220v for a stove and dryer, a good general contractor (in case we need one, and possibly to install Ikea cabinets), a good eye dr (my wife has horrible vision that likes to act up, so someone good at dealing with that is a must), good restaurants (we've live in Arlington, Medford, and Somerville, so we know those areas and Boston restaurants, but not those up in Woburn), good delivery/takeout places, and anything else we must not miss up in Woburn.

We know of Angie's list, but we want personal recommendations as well.

Thanks!

Know this grad program?

scribbler — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:36:31 -0800

Has anyone had any experience, first- or second-hand, with the Communication and Culture MA program jointly offered by York and Ryerson Universities? I'm also interested in graduate study experiences at both schools in general. I'm interested in doing a program that combines theory and practice - and not necessarily interested in a long-term career in academe. But having looked at this thread I sort of get the impression an MA at Ryerson would not be a wise use of resources (financial or otherwise)? Or not?

Acquire me! I'll take you to dinner first!

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 11:38:36 -0800

What happens when a little company is interested in getting purchased by a big one? (Take two.) (Sorry if you happened to spot the first question. I used bad html and broke it.)

In the exact reverse of this previous AskMe, I need some advice about acquisitions and venture capital. I am a senior executive at a small young company (less than 200 employees) that is a leader in the niche tech field of doodad design. I run the unit that handles all our North American doodad efforts.

For several solid business reasons, the founder/president has always been open to selling this unit, although not extremely motivated (there are other sexier units of the company that he likes to be more involved with). But there has been a change in the market: last fall, quietly, a big multi-national technology conglomerate with no previous doodad business picked up a similarly sized small doodad company (an indirect competitor of ours; their doodads don't serve the same customer base that ours do, but it wouldn't take long to add that functionality via development). Since then, several competitors of the conglomerate have been discreetly sniffing around us.

I have convinced the president that right now is a good time to accelerate the acquisition effort. He has given me the green light to go forth and seek a potential buyer. After much research, I have created a short list of companies that I think will have interest. I believe that our NA doodad unit offers everything that improves shareholder value as a bolt-on acquisition (including exceptional market share and brand awareness, synergy, cutting-edge technology, human resources that are tops in the field, and high return on the economies of scale) and very little that decreases shareholder value (we have no debt, it would be a relatively cheap acquisition, and so on).

So... what next? How would a huge global entity expect to be approached in this case? And to whom? I literally have the clearance to call up [some top person at a conglomerate on my list] and say, "So, do you have a few million lying around?" (I kid; I know that wouldn't be the tactic.) But what is the best tactic? What's the best way to get my foot in that door? What should I expect in a get-to-know-you process? What will they expect to see in the pitch? I understand pitching the broader strokes: valuation, projected revenue, being able to demonstrate our market activity, and so on... but is it presumptuous to plan for how I foresee the unit functioning as part of a new entity? Or does a global conglomerate not really care about the suggestions of Tim Smith, Doodad VP? I'm not worried about the legal and financial due diligence part, since once a solid lead came into the picture, my president would bring an outside team in to handle that part of the process.

Also, I have seen that in several similar deals in my industry over the last few years, the two parties came together via a consulting firm, some group that advises specifically on this kind of dea. Do we really have to consider using an intermediary? (I've been offered a finder's fee by the founder if I can bring in a legitimate buyer candidate and the deal goes through, but I wouldn't want to have to share it with a broker.)

FWIW, I believe that we are in the best position to get acquired, as opposed to obtaining (what would be) stage 3 or mezzanine funding. But, I also know very little about the VC world and what the trends in the market are right now, so I could be wrong: is mezzanine funding the way to go here? The founders are going to want to divest of the unit completely, not just get a cash injection in order to then have to futz with it even more; this would necessitate restructuring the management of the unit (which wouldn't really be a bad thing). Am I right in my understanding that a VC firm won't want to bother with an outfit that isn't already fully contained, that needs to fill some management holes?

Also, I am very nervous about the possibility that I am opening the door to being out of a job. There's really no way to absolutely guarantee that I stay employed if we get purchased, is there?

I'm sure there are additional questions that I should be asking that I don't know to ask. Any thoughts, resources, experiences are welcome. Btw, I'm also looking for a mentor to help me navigate this (frankly overwhelming but exciting) opportunity so if you can suggest anyone, I'm all ears. Email me at acquisitionaskme@gmail.com if you need more info.

'His Life of Academic Freedom', or 'School Is No Good For You'?

ZaphodB — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 19:23:34 -0800

I'm applying for a Masters in Theory, Culture, and Politics. Will I ever work again? Hey folks,

It's quarter-life crisis time. I'm in the fifth and last year of my BA in English and Political Science at a small Canadian university, and have now applied for a variety of Masters programs at other programs. My top choice is the Masters in Theory, Culture, and Politics at Trent University. I've enjoyed the hell out of my BA and want more, I love the topic of the MA, and the more contact I have with the program and Trent U as a whole the more excited I become.

I'm not too concerned about the academic rigmarole of the program., but I am concerned about the effect that such a degree will have on my resume. Trent has a bit of a reputation (not entirely undeserved) as a hippie, liberal arts kind of place, and the name of the degree is less than business-oriented. I'm going into this with a desire to go into academics and become a professor - I love the work, I love teaching, and I'm (a little too) driven. But I'm also 22, and I know that it's pretty likely that I won't always feel that way.

So my question is this: how negative can a flippantly-titled Masters degree be in the real world job market? Would it even be remotely possible to find a job that would value that kind of academic experience? I know that this kind of program - abstract and theoretical - is often talked about as kind of a resume-killer, but is that really the case? Does anyone have experience with this kind of thing? I've been applying for other, similarly-titled programs: McGill's MA in Communication Studies, UVic's MA in Cultural, Social and Political Thought, so these questions aren't tied to Trent specifically.

Thanks for any reassurance!

Defining the Japanese Concept of 'Ma'

0bvious — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 07:36:20 -0800

What do you know about the Japanese word/concept of 'Ma'? I know it denotes the negative space between objects and it relates closely to the similarly used Japanese word 'Mu'. Since there is no Wikipedia entry for 'Ma' I have started it myself. Feel free to add to it. I will eventually compile any information I find and add it to the page. I would ideally love to find the Kanji for the word and any references defining it (whether on the internet or in books etc).

Thanks

where can I buy a rabbit outside Boston?

Mayor Curley — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 07:11:40 -0800

Where can I buy a pet rabbit near Newton, MA? I can't believe I have to come here to find out. We decided that we want a new pet rabbit yesterday. My local Petco is one of two in the state that sells rabbits, but they only have those ridiculous tiny ones with even tinier ears and we want a full-sized rabbit with normal ears.

I don't want to adopt someone else's rabbit. I want to purchase a rabbit.

I've contacted a few people via Craigslist ads, but they've not responded to the emails that I sent last night and I'm tired of waiting for them. So there must be places I can go locally to hand someone money and walk away with a rabbit-- besides that smelly, cramped place on Harvard Ave in Allston. I'm having no luck finding anything via google.

Help with MA auto insurance

Marit — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:43:47 -0800

I need help understanding MA auto insurance; specifically, are rates really identical among insurers? Is there anything I can do to lower the cost? Here's the background -- I'm 24, I live in Massachusetts, and I am a brand-new driver. I'd like to buy a car soon. So -- for insurance, I tried an online quote finder, and the agent who called gave me an estimate of $3200-3900 a year for full coverage with a $500 deductible*. He said I could not get an exact quote without the VIN of the car I want insured. That seemed like a lot of money to me -- he said it was because I'm a new driver, and since I didn't have any knowledge of what other people pay for insurance, I let it go at that. I later asked friends who began driving in other states, and the general response is that that is an insane amount of money, even for a new driver. A year of insurance could potentially cost more than the car is worth!

Here's the question part -- my understanding of MA insurance is that it's set by the state and it will cost the same no matter what agency I choose. So is there no point in calling around to get other quotes? Can I do anything to lower the cost? As it is, I've never been in an accident, I commute 4 miles, and I live in a good area of a so-so city. I could understand if my zip code drove up the cost, but gosh, it's not like I'm in Boston any more.

Also, if you or your kids recently began driving in MA, I'd really like to know if the number I was given is.. normal.

* I asked specifically about a 2000 Cherokee, which is in the ballpark of what I want. He said Cherokees are not the cheapest to insure, but they are not the highest either. I am definitely open to choosing a different vehicle. I need to haul around a lot of stuff regularly. I only need to worry about accomodating one other passenger.

Where should I go kayaking near Boston?

david1230 — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 17:40:34 -0800

Where should I go kayaking near Boston? About six friends and I want to go kayaking within an hour or 2 drive of Boston. We'd need to rent equipment and maybe want a guide. I'm thinking salt marshes, not big waves. Does anyone have experience doing this? Any suggestions for places to go or companies to rent from?

A Cabin with a Kitchen?

toddst — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 09:27:37 -0800

My girlfriend and I are planning a weekend get away . The place we normally go for a quick break is booked the only weekend we have free this summer. Does anyone have any recommendations. This is what we are looking for: -A cabin/cottage that has space around it (rather than being right next to another cabin/cottage)
-Less than 3 hours outside Boston
-Less than $80 a night
-Has a kitchen with oven/burners (this is a must)
-Hopefully has a fireplace

We have checked out places online, but it is hard to really get a feel for a place based on pictures, review websites, or the owner's own description. That is why I am looking to you for a MeFi approved mini-vacation spot. And, I have searched the archives, and noted that people have asked similar questions.

Thanks!

Graduate EE programs in NE Massachusetts & Southern NH

dumbledore69 — Wed, 16 May 2007 09:22:48 -0800

Does anyone have recommendations for graduate electrical engineering programs in northeast Massachusetts or southern NH? They would need to be night/weekend based and if there are online classes available that would be even better (but at a brick & mortar, legitimate universities). This is on behalf of my spouse. We work in Tewksbury, MA & live in Nashua, NH. Looking for the least stressful (if possible) way of obtaining a masters in EE before we start a family.

Acquire me? Shouldn't you take me to dinner first?

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 11:01:18 -0800

What happens when a big company is interested in acquiring a little online venture? I currently have a small online media project that flies under the radar most of the time. It's been building an audience steadily and has gotten some niche press attention. A high profile firm has contacted us to talk about acquisition possibilities and I have no experience in this area. I run this web thing out of my bedroom. I imagine I should lawyer up although I have no idea where to find a lawyer.

What can I expect from beginning the process? What will they ask me? What will they want to see? Anything I should watch out for?

It's a Web 2.0 thing that a few companies have expressed interest in. Other people have told me that I might be targeted for acquisition but I was a bit skeptical. I should have parked my skepticism earlier and have done more research, I guess. I'm still not expecting much. I just want to enter into this with my eyes wide open.

I can take more questions at helpaskme@gmail.com if I haven't provided enough info. Thanks MeFites.

My car was beeping when a state trooper wanted to pass me. How come?

good for you! — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 07:23:01 -0800

My car was beeping when a state trooper wanted to pass me. How come? I was driving on the Mass Pike last night, going 75-80 mph with traffic. I was in the far left lane when I heard beeping in my car, but figured it was the radio. The car behind me moved over to let the car behind him pass, and this second car moved right up to my bumper, indicating that he wanted to pass. I heard the beeping again as I moved over to let the car pass. Turns out it was a statie. Oops. He passed me and the rest of the ride was uneventful.

The beeping sounded as if it could have been the radio, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't. It was a series of single beeps, and I only heard them twice. I don't have a radar detector or anything like that, and it definitely wasn't my cell phone. I think it was more on the driver's side, but I could be wrong. It's an '89 Volvo 240.

Was it my car? Was it the trooper? Help, it's driving me nuts!

How can I finally start doing something with my life?

xanthippe — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 06:13:16 -0800

What should I get an M.A. in? I have a 2-year-old B.A. in Philosophy and have been wasting time since deciding not to go on to become a lifelong academic. I excelled at math and foreign languages in school, and probably should have studied engineering or computer science, though I feel it's too late at this point and I'm not certain enough to commit myself to any particular field. I also considered studying psychology, linguistics, and comparative literature at various points.

I've recently been trying to reassess my goals in life, and I think I'm leaning more towards the business world at this point, though I have little understanding of its mysteries. I want to acheive financial independence (though not necessarily wealth) and apply my intellect to something practical that yields visible results and allows me to take responsibility and credit for my actions and decisions - admittedly I also respond better to instant gratification and can be a bit impatient. I also want to feel that I am being productive or creative in some satisfying way whatever I end up doing, rather than simply working by the hour (or semester) at a task that constantly renews itself with no end in sight - though I am able to take pride in doing this sort of work with quality as well, as I currently am. I want to enter a field or industry that is dynamic, lucrative, and challenging that will reward good performance. I also insist on living abroad, if not travel internationally on a regular basis. I realize this is vague and ambitious, but I have no idea where to start.

More personality backgound: I am intelligent and extremely motivated but completely unskilled. I used to be an extreme introvert, but have been working on developing into more of a type-A personality and become depressed when I'm not immersed in something productive and satisfying, or at least perpetually busy. I'm clearly somewhere on the Asperger's-Autism-ADD spectrum, but I find myself able to thrive and excell in circumstances that require me to overcome the constraints of those traits provided I am sufficiently motivated, though I do sometimes find it exhausting. I'm not sure whether to let my personality type determine which path I take (and whether such a decision would be prudent or simply avoidant); for the first time, I feel optimistic and driven enough that I think I could make anything happen if I worked hard enough at it, and I don't want to lose that momentum for lack of something to apply it to.

I now have an opportunity to to go back to school (most likely in the USA, though studying in Germany may be an alternative) and am determined not to waste it, though I'm at a complete loss as to how to make use of it. Please advise!

Roehampton Creative Writing Masters

0bvious — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 14:44:00 -0800

What do you know/think about the University of Roehampton, London? Most especially I am interested in its School of Arts, and its MA in Creative and Professional Writing.... Good uni? Did you attend there? What are your experiences of the Roehampton area?

Any info gratefully appreciated