Korean Job Discussion Forums

[quercus]

hello, while i am teaching in bundang i thought i may as well take some courses. i am interested in photography and ceramics. what uni's are located reasonable close to bundang?


has anyone ever been to a uni in korea? just taken courses or received a degree? any comments on how it was?

thanks,
quercus

[Sucker]

I'm studying for an MA at Korean Uni.

Can't speak for all uni's here, but as for mine (Sejong), the teachers are highly qualified - my Korean Politics teacher worked for Kim Yong Sam and Dae Jung as well as did a stint running the KCIA while my East Asion Economics teacher was something like the 2nd or 3rd guy in the Samsung corp. These are not the run of the mill Korean Uni teachers though, my school is pulling out all the stops to promote its international course, hence the high quality of the teachers.

So far (1 semester down, 3 to go) I'm impressed with the quality.

[djsmnc]

Is it possible to study at a university here and work at the same time? From what I've seen it isn't legal...do they make exceptions?

[Ryst Helmut]

DJ,

It is legal, just will need to get a secondary stamp from immigration. I think the visa is titled ( Permission for engaging in activities not covered by the status of sojourn)....at least, mine has that...but I don't have an E-2, so may not apply to you.

As for 'should' you go to a Korean univ....well, depends. What is the reason why you are wanting to attend? Bored? Ph.D? I got accepted into Seoul National for my MA in English Lit (BA in the same), but then called some schools back home and asked about the benefits of getting my MA in Korea, and they said (after laughing), not to....UNLESS it was in a field that would logically be better here <i.e. Korean/Asian Studies>. I have enrolled full time in a Korean language course at a univ. and will take some Korean studies courses for the heck of it, however, I was told by several schools in Canada and America specializing in Asian studies that I most definitely would need to get my additional advanced education from them (North American schools).

If I recall correctly, SNU was ranked 37th in Asia, and some 200 and something in the world. In Korea, SNU is far better than all the other schools (ofcourse, depending on program, but on the whole it is), so why study at a sub-standard institution?

I WISH it weren't this way, as the cost and ability to get into a good school is so bloody easy!

Yes yes, Koreans graduate from SNU, HUFS, Ewha, and then head off to Ivy League schools Stateside. One difference, we aren't Korean, and didn't have to go through the same entrance qualifications as them. We are accepted nearly 100% of the time because we RAISE the school/department's overall standing. For example, Sunmoon University has grown SO fast in such a short time for one big reason, the amount of foreigners that attend. They were ranked 8th in Korea overall...then again, their president has buku bucks to chuck in.

As for tiers, well, those in education will know what's up. For example, if 2 Koreans were to get their MA from American univs., it would be easy to tell which of the two were lazy, as many Koreans go to univs. that don't use the GRE as an entrance eval. tool, and usually these schools are 3rd tier. When the Koreans come back, the professors know what was up.

If you are wanting to be in academics, teaching at a univ. usually means that if you graduate from a 2nd tier school, then you may ONLY teach at *some* 2nd tier, but mostly 3rd tier schools.

As for taking courses in photography or the like, I suggest finding hakwons that teach that. Better yet, find a univ. that has a *pyoung saeng kyo yook kwan* (continuing adult education) program. It's kinda like the universities hakwon, (not like a foreign language institute). Our univ. offers phys. ed. certificates, English ed. certs., classical guitar, baby massage, yaddy ya...you're bound to find a program that offers what you want.

I think this covers it for now...

Shoosh,

Ryst

[quercus]

hello,
i was interested in attending a uni in korea for ceramics most of all, but maybe a little photography as well.

korea is very well known historically and today for there ceramics and the quality of their pottery. also, i am just going ot be a potter and open my own little store, so im not trying to go back to an ivy league or anything.

i dont know what an american school would think of that. that was a good idea to investigate. we will see. thanks for the info. i will investigate more when i arrive.

Q