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I have a dilemma. As some of you may know, I'm doing journalism at university. I'm currently doing Generic journalism, which basically covers everything in journalism, effectively making me a "Jack-of-all-trades", which equals brilliance in the journalistic world. I've been wanting to go on to be a film critic for a while now and was thinking about moving onto magazine journalism, if only to become more associated with that particular side of it, though generic would likely be more useful to me in the long run. However, there is a catch. In my last year of generic, I'd have to do a dissertation. In effect, a 12,000 word essay. Now to a lot of people this is no problem, but for me, it's a nightmare. I am not disciplined enough AT ALL to do a 12,000 word essay. I'd wait until the night before and then do a 26 hour constant. Despite my constant, I'd still hand it in a day late. I ask you this, SG, with your infinite banks of wisdom...what should I do? Should I continue with my generic, the course that would eventually be more than likely the best option for me in the long run, or go for magazine, which would likely help me out MASSIVELY at the start of my career, but may keep me stuck in a hole later on, but as a bonus, does not have a dissertation to do at the end. Please help me SG sad

Sorry, dear, but you need to grow a pair and do the damned dissertation. You know your problem ahead of time, so just talk to someone, either a resource center at your university or a friend, to keep you accountable when the time comes.

I appear to have missed out a couple of details...sorry...I absolutely love writing reviews. I'd do it all the time, granted not a single 12k review, especially since nobody would read it, but nevertheless, I still do them. The thing is, if it doesn't interest me, I have to force myself to do it. I worked out today that it takes six hours in total to do 2000 words including research and referencing. That roughly equates to 36 hours on the dissertation. Which also roughly equates to six days of frantic work or two weeks of calm, but steady-paced work. The topic will be an area of journalism I have no interest or passion for and I'm not sure how much concentration I'd be able to put to it.

That said, I take all of your advice on board. I thank you all for it. I just need help in getting disciplined, that's all. I have three weeks to decide. After that, I have to chose one or the other. My mind is still slightly toward magazine journalism, but it's less affected by the prospect of the dissertation now.

Honey, take it from me-- there are a LOT of things in life that you aren't going to want to do. There will be a lot of things required of you in ANY job that doesn't interest you, but if you want to be successful, you still have to do the responsible thing and do it.

Why make it into such a negative and say you have to 'force' yourself to do it? Why not make it into a positive and be excited and motivated to do the work because you know that it will eventually help you reach your goals...

*shrugs* Don't run away or take the easy way out when life gets challenging, PLEASE, I've seen too many wasted lives because of that particular habit...

Currently, sweetheart, I don't-- but if I think of any I'll be sure to tell you. In the meantime, my E-mail is rianagiammarco@hotmail.com and if you ever need and help or a verbal a**-kicking ((I'm good at those, ha ha)) feel free to contact me. smile

O...k. So when I left it there, I was under the impression that I should do generic because I'd be a fool not to thanks to your helpful arse-kickings. Now I'm all, "Lol, wtf?" since I've spoken to my lecturer. Apparently generic doesn't look very good to employers and is mostly useful if you want to go into an academic job involving journalism, such as a teacher of any English subject apart from literature. With magazine journalism I have the option of designing my own magazine which I can then show to any prospective employer and say, "This is mine, oh yeah, suck it b***h." and they'd be all, "Wow, KeJo, this is amazing!" because I'd obviously tell them my gaia username instead of my RL name. On the other hand, it's still fairly restrictive and it means that while magazine employees would be more likely to hire me immediately, news paper, online and broadcast employeees would not. I have another option though: transfer to News journalism. Now this...doesn't interest me in the slightest. While I've developed a new interest in news-y things, it's not as interesting a course to me. I'd have to sit in board meetings as a ghost (albeit a ghost who writes stuff about what everyone's saying) and do the same for court cases. However, if I take on magazine design as an option, it means that I'd be able to impress every single kind of journalistic employer. Except for sports journalists, but I don't give a s**t about that. I'm leaning strongly toward doing the news one, despite my bias against it. What do you all think?

Yeah, that's really helped cement my mind. You seem to be on a great wavelength with me lol. I think I will take news journalism since it encompasses both, though with that I'll definately have to start at the bottom of the ladder, whereas with magazine, I'd be able to start a couple of rungs up the ladder, but then I'd be trapped, sort of, and then...

You see how much of a dilemma it is razz

But seriously, unless someone comes up with an epic other reason, next week, I'ma get that transfer sheet biggrin

I suppose so. I've heard art courses are quite obscure. My biggest guess for that is that the art building for my university is in the middle of nowhere...literally. It's on the other side of the town...Also it's really run down...