As I wrote a few months ago, I’ve been trying to get into a Master’s program at LMU Munich called “Logic and the Philosophy of Science.” Two amazing people provided recommendation letters, I submitted a “published article” of mine, I tweaked my resume for an academic submission, and I ran down my inspiration in a cover letter. And then I waited a couple of weeks.
Well, I didn’t get into the program. It’s a real shame, because what I would have gained from it would have been really useful in carving a unique path through the rest of my life. Not many people apply a Master’s in Logic and the Philosophy of Science to the business world. At least, they don’t according to LinkedIn.
What I received from the program coordinator was an e-mail that said he regrets to inform me that I wasn’t admitted, and that he’s sure I understand that he can’t discuss application specifics with individual candidates (maybe if I can transcend my individuality, then he’ll tell me?). That sounded like a lot of generic blah blah, so I e-mailed him about the rejection, anyway.
“I appreciate that you cannot comment on my application specifically. Might you be able to offer me a few descriptors of the ideal candidate? I will be able to use the information to strengthen myself for my future.”
I thought I was sly. Of course, if he tells me about the ideal candidate, then I can cross check that profile with mine and figure out why they didn’t let me in. It didn’t work, though. I sent that e-mail 24 days ago and haven’t received a response.
That’s just an inescapable bummer of competition for which people determine the results subjectively–most of the time, you have no idea why you win or lose. Maybe my article wasn’t published enough, maybe my background isn’t non-business enough, maybe my goals aren’t academic enough, maybe 500 better versions of me also applied for the program, or maybe the guy in charge got ripped off by a car salesman named Ryan one time. I’ll never know. The program is like, two years old, so I can’t find alumni, yet. Maybe I could get to know a good sample of current students, but there would have to be 0 other useful degree programs out there for me to devote that kind of time.
Anyway, this post isn’t about solving the rejection problem. It’s about what I’m doing now that I’m back at the drawing board.
Here are the decisions I’ve made:
- Learning to speak German is the most important thing I’m doing right now related to my career
- Getting my Master’s degree is more important than resuming my career with a conventional full-time job, right now
- I want to start making money again, soon
And here is how those decisions affect the way life plays out for me over the next few years:
Learning German is the Most Important
This one’s easy. I keep taking German classes, keep speaking German when I’m with Germans, keep watching TV, and keep refraining from skipping the German-language ads on YouTube. I’ll be done with class in January or February (depending on how long Winter Break is, and what our January trip to Mexico will do to my class timing). That puts me right in the beginnings of university application season and internship application season. Mmmhmm.
Getting a Master’s Degree: More Important than Full-Time Work
Right now, this means I’m looking for scholarships. In practice, these are living stipends, since university education in Bayern is free. But, they’ll make wages and hours less important when I seek an internship, so I can focus on skill building.
In a month or two, I’ll be working earnestly on my applications for admission.
In January, I’ll apply for more Master’s programs. The local universities are Technical University of Munich and, of course, LMU. I’ve identified three programs worth pursuing so far:
- Consumer Affairs: Described in a way that sounds like “psychology of consumption.” In any case, it’s a program that teaches marketers how to get to know consumers more effectively. Delicious.
- Economics: If your background is in business, and your future is in business, you can’t go wrong with Economics. An understanding of the ways in which the world around a company can effect that company’s business can only help an aspiring business leader.
- MBA: Yep, I’m considering it. My heart is changing, because I’ve started to see this degree in a light similar to the one in which I saw Logic and the Philosophy of Science. That is, one of the best ways to practice philosophy is to discuss philosophy with others who are interested in discussing it. I’m believing that might be a similar trait of business management.
I’ll have finished learning German formally by this time, so I’ll also be investigating German-language Master’s programs. Ja wohl!
I Want to Start Making Money Again, Soon
I’ve been here 4 and a half months, and I’m becoming tired of spending my savings without ever replenishing them. So, while I’m looking at scholarships, I’ll also be looking for part-time work. Corporate internships and temp jobs are pretty much out of the question, because obtaining those would require a level of dedication (sending out a million CVs and networking so that 10 people give me interviews) that would preclude learning German and applying for college. I’m not really competent in German, yet, so that leaves the jobs that only need people who speak English. Namely, I’ve considered these so far:
- English Teacher: Following in the footsteps of every English speakers who’s lived in another country, ever, I could teach my mothertongue to eager youngsters and jaded oldsters alike. There seems to be a respectable demand for people like this ,here, but I may need to get certified (spend 250 EURO on a CV line), and I’ve heard that working hours are unpredictable and occasionally really disappointing.
- Tour Guide: I can be a supremely enthusiastic showman in front of groups of tourists! And I know some Chinese, so at least 95% of my clientele would be in for a pleasant surprise. Bonus points for this one, because it would let me exercise my marketer chops.
- Transit Authority Information Rep: You know–one of those people at the big train stations who tells terrified out-of-towners where to go?
- Guy Who Throws Luggage Onto Airplanes: The bottom of every totem pole is always interesting, and as part of a repetitive process, I could figure out a thing or two about process management. Who loves Gantt charts and bottleneck analyses? This guy.
- Garbage Man: I’ll do it. You watch me do it.
So, that’s the state of things in a nutshell. Whew–glad I wrote this stuff down.