True to my word I conducted an interview on your behalf. Hopefully this might help a little bit if you are considering applying for a masters degree.

So tell us what is the official title of the masters you are studying and what qualification will you receive at the end of it?

I’m doing Forensic Speech Science (sounds more complicated than it is). I will soon have mastered science, apparently, but not the world of arts.

You had to move from the town you had been living in for the last three years to a new place and the course is not free, so how are you handling the expense? Was there some sort of loan or grant available?

I did apply for funding, but it was just pot luck (or maybe based on whether you had an interesting name) so I didn’t get it. I missed the deadline for some other sort of funding too ‘cos I didn’t decide I wanted to do the course until quite late on. There is money out there, you’ve just got to be lucky to get it. Or have a good name. Or do something like town planning. Or starve. I’m working a few shifts a week at a restaurant but that doesn’t cover living expenses/rent. Get yourself a girlfriend with money.

How much of a step up is it from doing a BA?

I’ve only had one piece of work assessed so far so I can’t say in terms of that, but there’s a lot more independence to it. Undergrad felt like college at times, now you’ve got no-one to hold your hand (sorry Will). My timetable has increased by 500% if that’s any indicator of workload.

What’s the single best thing about being a master?

Having a focus on something you enjoy doing. Free printing.

What’s the worst thing about doing a masters?

Knowing there’s little room for finding more education to throw yourself into before finding work. Unless you want to spend your 20s doing a PhD.

How much do you think your job prospects will increase when you have your new qualification?

Hopefully the CREDIT CRUNCH will have passed by next year and there’ll be jobs a’plenty. In terms of having a masters, I guess it depends what I’m applying for. If I want to be forensic linguist then I’ll still have a few years left of training. Otherwise, it can’t hurt, surely?

If I was unsure on whether or not to do a master’s and came to you for advice, what would you say?

If you do one, make sure it’s something you definitely want to do. It’s a year focussed on a relatively narrow area so you’d better enjoy it. Research job prospects - you might be able to get a masters through employment.

And finally if you were a tree, what sort of tree would you be?

I’d be a Penelope Tree. Testament to how bad a joke that it, I’ll have to explain that Penelope Tree was a human being and not a tree.

So there you go, if you have any questions you want to ask leave a comment and I will do my best to answer it.

Oh also thanks go to Nathan without him this dedication would not be possile.

Thats all for now sports fan's.

Yo, what up shorties?

I would like to start by sharing a business joke with you, so make sure you're prepared for the hilarity that will ensue

What insect is good at maths?

An Account-ant!

Ha what a brilliant joke. Right now back to business, so apparently there’s a depression, recession, and a lot of other words ending in –ssion happening right now which is affecting the job market. As I am always looking at employment vacancy’s in the hope of getting closer to my dream job (being Spiderman) it’s having an affect on me and is actually turning my upside down frown back round. There is definitely a slump in the job market and as I don’t have some sort of master economic knowledge I can’t offer great advice.

However I just wanted to give you something to think about, it might be worth while looking at further education. Think about it, as there’s not a lot going at the moment it might be worth looking to get some extra qualifications. It may be possible to get funding or a loan to help you and then by the time you finish everything might be good again thus avoiding the whole economic crisis thing. Anyway as I’m a nice guy I’m going to ask some questions about the pros and cons of further education and I will report back my findings.

So keep your eyes peeled for the great depression and keep checking back for updates!

Oh also I think I should mention the great victory that the world has been talking about. How special that we were alive for this historical event, an event the world will never forget. Who would have thought that we would witness the first black man to win? I guess what I’m trying to say is well done Lewis Hamilton, we knew you could do it!