Anyway, just a post about another Postgrad day I went on today!
I finished my second year exams on Saturday so I'm back home in Sheffield for a few days. I looked round Sheffield University, at the American History course I might apply for. It wasn't an open day specifically but they do 'visit days' that they don't advertise, but if you search on their website they offer a day every month for people to look round and meet faculty and students.
I'd organised a meeting with Catherine Fletcher from the History department when I booked a place on the visit day months ago. But fortunately Susan-Mary, my scholarship supervisor at Newcastle, had requested library access for me for this summer while I do my research, at Sheffield University, and did so through contacting Dr Andrew Heath, an American History lecturer there. So I emailed him and said I was going to look round the University and he invited me to his office for a chat before the tour started, so that was brilliant.
He was a very lovely guy and really helpful giving me information about the MA course, and was interested in my project this summer in Charleston. I then went on a campus tour of the University, and had a general MA/finance talk, and lastly met with Catherine who was also extremely helpful. We actually ended up discussing career options, and how beneficial further study would be for my aspiration to work in museums.
She suggested looking into summer internships (most of them paid) in the US in museums, which got me really excited. Or even doing a PhD in the US, as again, it's standard for Doctorates to be paid; rather than you paying to study like in the UK. Very tempting, and certainly something to think about!
Part of what also sells the course to me is that there are modules I could take on public history, or do a work placement, that are obviously more vocational based and could give me an edge in a museum career without doing a museum studies MA directly.
Catherine warned me that to get a good job in the sector it is becoming increasingly advantageous to have a PhD.
On a sidenote, while I was sat eating my lunch two girls came up to me and asked if they minded if I sat with them, so of course I was pleased to chat to them. It turns out they are from the US on an exchange program; Lauren is from Atlanta and Torrin from Minneapolis! They have been in the UK only about a week. So obviously I was really interested in them. We sat chatting nonstop for so long I was actually late for my tour, which I didn't really care about because I made some lovely new friends! We were all interested in eachothers cultures, and how the UK/US are perceived by eachother. They asked me so many interesting questions! Anyway, they wanted to know things to do in Sheffield, and I recommended Meadowhall as they said they love shopping, and I told them about the museums and that I volunteered there. And as I was saying bye they asked me if I would take them on a tour of the Sheffield museums! I was surprised haha but it was so nice of them to want to meet up! So we have eachother's numbers and are facebook friends and hopefully I can give them a satisfactory tour!
Overall, I was extremely impressed with the University. I was born in Sheffield and it will always be home to me. Coming back to study an MA in the thing I am most passionate about is a pretty good option for me right now. Depending on finances of course! And I am still thinking of doing it over two years.
Manchester and the museum studies course was wonderful, but I think my heart wants to carry on studying US History, regardless of whether it is the safer option for job prospects.
And to round off my great day, I bought a gorgeous teapot for £1.50 from a charity shop. I have a bit of a thing for sunflowers, and anything brightly coloured.
I know it might not be everyone's cup of tea...
