Yes, another "can I make it?" Thread.

[Kefir King]

So OP, did you get into the butcher's union?
(A far more marketable skill than an MA or PhD in American Studies (whatever that is.)

[Mr. Ryu]

Originally Posted by Javawood

I feel like the Museum of Sex should try to use this one day

i would buy a lifetime membership to the big tidday museum..

[Harlem resident]

Originally Posted by Kefir King

So OP, did you get into the butcher's union?
(A far more marketable skill than an MA or PhD in American Studies (whatever that is.)

Academic job market is a mess. Academia broadly speaking is a mess. I would definitely go with handwork.

There is such a butcher in Harlem - Shambles.

[powellmacaque]

Originally Posted by Kefir King

So OP, did you get into the butcher's union?
(A far more marketable skill than an MA or PhD in American Studies (whatever that is.)

Sorry for the delay in responding, I've been busy with thesis work and the start of a new semester so I haven't had time to check this post and adequately reply.

I live in the south, unions are a bad word down here so there was no opportunity for me to join any union. In Florida, teachers/police officers/firefighters/other public service workers are often not unionized, never mind laborers. I worked for one of the best grocery chains, in terms of quality, profitability, and customer service, in the country (Publix supermarkets), and since we were a quality grocery store (probably a bit better than Shop Rite or Wegman's if you've ever been there), I cut meat the old fashioned way off of primal cuts and without wasting any ounce of it.

I don't think a master's in American Studies is any more or less marketable than any other terminal master's degree or bachelor's. Sure, if I wanted to work "in American Studies" or "in academia," the job market is complete garbage. I got my degree in American Studies because I wanted to integrate my knowledge of economics and integrate it with an understanding of how economics influence cultural decisions and trends. I don't think there's really any master's degree or bachelor's degree that's inherently more valuable, save for engineering. Even hard science and "real math" people have trouble finding jobs "in their field" these days - the people that tend to do well in "in their field" placement are pre-professionals like educators, accountants, business, engineers, etc (ironically enough because in the history of higher education, many of these fields were not considered worthy of further academic study). I got my degree because I would like to be able to check the "masters degree required" box on future job applications. Also, carrying out large research projects while teaching undergrads and taking my own classwork shows future employers that I can balance long and short term goals while under stress, and I can take on my own projects without too much oversight.

I asked this question not because I'm unsure of my own skills, but because I honestly do not know what it would take to live in New York City. I have moved without a job lined up before to different cities (Orlando, Tampa, Tallahassee, New Orleans, etc) and it's worked out, but I know that New York is a different animal entirely with broker's fees, city taxes (my state doesn't even have income tax), parking, subway passes, etc. I'm simply wondering (and many have more than adequately answered) if it's possible for somebody like me to live in Queens, have a job where I can pay my rent and electric, and maybe go to a Mets and Nets game a year.

[EastBoundandDownChick]

NYC is a very skill-based economy. So you should definitely capitalize on your skills as a butcher first because that's what is going to pay your rent if you come here. I have a background working in restaurants and know there is always a demand for that type of work. Peter Luger's comes to mind. There are many other steakhouses like that, where the butchery is done onsite. They pay fairly well because the work needs to be done correctly- one bad review from a respected critic and their restaurant could be toast. It would provide you with enough income to at least live with a roommate and experience the city. The question is, what do you want to do long-term? It could provide you a start but...

The city will quickly burn you out. You won't have the same quality of life you did in Florida. A 15 X 20 apartment is likely to cost upwards of 1,700-1,800 per month minimum if you want anything that resembles normalcy. Take whatever you pay in utilities and multiply that by 1.5 as well. It's unlikely you could afford that on a butcher's income. With a roommate though, I'd say yes. I'd also imagine that to live comfortably you'd need a second job and supplemental income. So you should expect that and expect to work at least 60 hours a week.

Make the move only if you accept the reality, are willing to live with roommates, and know what you are getting into. If you have a long-term plan. Because nothing would be worse than you moving here and waking up one day hating life with no exit strategy.

I know a lot of those types. And it isn't pretty to be around, trust me.