So since I have a week of vacation (Yay!), I'm now in the process of searching for a M.F.A. or Ph.D. program.
Why do I want to do this?
Well, it's a pretty easy answer... I want to 1-up Corinn. 
In all seriousness (or as much as I can deal with), it's been one of the many lifelong goals of mine since I was in high school. One of my friends asked me back then if I wanted to pursue anything after a 4-year degree. I answered, "Yeah, I want to get 7 Ph.D.'s!" I think he about died laughing.
Obtaining a Ph.D. is ultimately my goal, but to find one in the arts or creative side of computing is fairly scarce and difficult. I'd like to obtain a doctorate through a reputable university/college... So far the only one that I think encompasses everything I can want in a degree is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. The Doctorate is in Electronic Arts which sounds pretty cool already. I just wish somehow that a degree like this would allow me to continue working at the EMC as I'm really into the work we're doing. I also wish it wouldn't potentially set me back $50,000 a year! Lastly wishing, this particular program requires that I already have a Masters level degree before participating in the Ph.D. program. I wonder if I could wiggle myself out of this requirement…?
In any case, RPI seems like the only college at this point to offer a degree in the field I'm interested in. Ann DeMarle, my boss and infamous wonder, told me at one point in time to look for a program that will allow me to research my thesis. I remember when she gave me this advice, I thought to myself, "I need to come up with a thesis prior to applying?!" If this be the case, while it probably is, I guess I should start jotting down what exactly I want to do research in; maybe that'll help me explore the concept for my thesis.
The next question for me to figure out, probably even before searching for a degree program, is to understand what I want to do after I obtain the degree. A slightly big concern is that I might be unemployable...? Then again, many people with a Ph.D. at IBM and Pixar have done research on future proponents of computing. Teaching is another function I’d like to fulfill when I feel like I have had enough experience to do so. This is why I'd prefer to get a Ph.D. or an M.F.A. as both are currently considered terminal degress... And terminal doesn't mean that it'll kill you thought spending 2-8 more years on this type of program might kill me!
Talking about teaching, for those interested, here are some useful links I’ve discovered in my search:
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Ask not what your education can do for you - ask what you can do for your education (or something like that):
The interview process
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Here are other programs I'm considering:
If anyone viewing this blog has any suggestions or recommendations, let me know!!! 